Grip: Without the proper grip, hitting with backspin is nearly impossible. To hit slice shots, you must use a continental grip for the forehand and the backhand. This grip allows you to swing from down on the ball.

High to Low: The most important element of backspin is the swing motion. For backspin to occur, the racquet must start out above the ball, and finish below the ball. This concept is commonly referred to in tennis as a high to low swing.

Flat racquet face: Although you are swinging from high to low, the contact point must be flat. This means that the racquet cannot be at an angle when you hit the ball.

Tips and Suggestions:

1. If you are popping the ball up into the air when you hit backspin, it is because your racquet is not flat. You need to eliminate the angle that is causing that to happen.
2. Only use backhand slice. One of the biggest reasons people hit backspin is because they need to take two hands of the racquet to reach a ball on the backhand side. Therefore, on the forehand side, there should be little reason to hit slice since there is that extra reach already.