How to Handle a Slice Return in Pickleball

Here's how to counteract that backspin and get back on top of the point.

If you've ever found yourself hitting a slice return straight into the net, you're not alone. That low, spinning ball coming back at you during the third shot can feel impossible to handle.

But according to Tanner Tomassi, there's a straightforward system to neutralize it and keep the rally alive.

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Spot the Slice Before It Beats You

The first step is recognizing when your opponent is hitting slice.

Look for a chopping motion in their swing, almost like they're cutting down through the ball. Once you see that motion, you know what's coming: a low, spinning return that wants to dip fast and hard.

Forget the Drop on Slice Returns

Here's where most players go wrong. When you see that slice coming, your instinct might be to hit a third shot drop and keep things soft. A slice for a slice.

Don't.

A drop is too difficult to control against slice because the spin makes the ball unpredictable.

Instead, commit to a third shot drive at about 70% power. You'll have much better control and a higher margin for error.

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Two Keys to Making Contact

The mechanics matter here.

1. As the ball approaches, make contact lower than you normally would on a regular drive – because of the backspin, the ball's not going to kick up very high

If you typically strike the ball at chest height, drop your contact point down several inches or more. You need to go meet the ball where it is.

This adjustment helps you stay on top of the slice's spin.

2. Then, critically, aim about 2 feet higher than your normal target.

This sounds counterintuitive, but the slice's backspin will counteract your forward momentum and cause the ball to dip aggressively into the court. By aiming higher, you're accounting for that spin and landing the ball in the kitchen instead of in the net.

Bonus: you can hit a heavy topspin drive to fight against the slice's backspin, just know you'll have to over-exaggerate the swing pattern or else the ball will, again, just dive into the net.