Selected area x‐ray diffraction was employed to study the localized structural changes resulting from sliding of a hemispherical copper stylus on the (001) face of a copper single crystal. Although a relatively large (0.25 mm) x‐ray beam was used, significant structural deformations were resolved. Features observed included deformation of boundary regions by rotation from slip, crystal bending in areas of pileup, the micro‐crystalline Beilby layer, a preferentially oriented transition region, and transferred crystalline particles. The observed deformations exhibited a dependence on sliding direction.