Chop, Slice, and Drop Shot

Did you know there is a stroke in tennis called a chop shot? We are familiar with the slice and drop shots. The term chop shot may have been popular in the era of Bobby Riggs. :)

The chop stroke is explained in this manner: In Tennis, a chop stroke is a shot where the angle towards the player and behind the racquet, made by the line of flight of the ball, and the racquet traveling down across it, is greater than 45 degrees and may be 90 degrees. The racquet face passes slightly outside the ball and down the side, chopping it, as a man chops wood. The spin and curve is from right to left. It is made with a stiff wrist. Got that?

The slice shot is a shot that is used frequently by many players. In fact, Steffi Graf used a backhand slice very effectively the majority of time. The shot differs from the chop by reducing the angle mentioned from 45 degrees down to a very small one. The racquet face passes either inside or outside the ball, according to direction desired, while the stroke is mainly a wrist twist or slap. This slap imparts a decided skidding break to the ball, while a chop "drags" the ball off the ground without break. Both shots can be employed as defensive measures. A slice deep to the opponent baseline, though, is very effective when attacking the net, if the ball stays low and is penetrating. Both shots are not recommended when trying to pass a player at the net.

The drop-shot is an extremely soft, sharply-angled chop stroke, played with the wrist. It should land within 3 to 5 feet of the net to be effective. The racket face passes around the outside of the ball and under it with a distinct "wrist turn." Avoid swinging the racket from the shoulder. The drop shot has no relation to a stop-volley. The drop shot is all wrist. The stop-volley has no wrist at all.

The tendency in today's tennis is to drive the ball with topspin, although you see the slice with some regularity. The tennis novice should be aware that having a variety of shots in their arsenal will help you win points. It is good tennis fundamentals. Practicing these shots will pay off in match situations.