Does your slice float?

Tip of the day

A common frustration for many pickleball players is watching their slice return hang in the air for far too long.

When a slice floats, it essentially invites a high-velocity drive from your opponents that can quickly end the rally.

To fix this, you must differentiate between a defensive float and an aggressive, linear knife shot.

Knifing the ball requires you to stay low during the transition while driving through the ball with a ribbon-like arm.

The energy for this offensive maneuver should originate from the ground, with your legs and hips doing the heavy lifting rather than a tight grip.

Mastering this distinction allows you to use the slice as a strategic tool to buy time or force your opponents into difficult, low contact points.

Key points

Floating slices are useful for buying time during stacking but are vulnerable to aggressive drives.
Knifing the ball creates a linear trajectory that keeps the slice low and difficult to attack.
Using a light handshake grip is essential for maintaining the fluid motion required for a quality slice.
Driving through the ball with your legs ensures that the arm remains relaxed and under control.
Practicing slices against a wall improves your feel and ability to execute effective drop volleys.

Don’t understand!! 🤣

Watch the full video here.

That’s it for today! As always, thank you for reading. 🙏

If you’d like to support Pickleball Daily and want to read ad-free, please consider a premium membership.

Happy pickling,

Paul