To be an efficient and effective tennis player, you must learn to develop a toolbox of shots and understand the best time to use them during a match.
A less frequently used and practiced shot is the overhead smash. An overhead smash in tennis is where a player hits returns a ball by striking it above their head and is very similar to the motion of a serve.
Despite this being one of the easier shots in tennis to execute, many players struggle with overheads in match play, so we’ve come up with some tips to improve your stroke and the steps to perform a basic overhead smash.
TIPS
1. Keep your eyes on the ball. Don’t focus all of your attention on what your opponent is doing, instead focus on executing your shot.
2. Bring your racquet up and back early. If you wait too long you will rush the swing which can throw you off balance.
3. Use your free hand. This helps you keep track of the trajectory of the ball and better estimate where it will be landing.
4. Get behind the ball early. Ideally you will making contact with the ball in front of you while taking a step forwards.
5. Don’t be scared to let the ball bounce before hitting your overhead. It is not necessary to hit the ball before it hits the ground and after a bounce the ball will be moving slower. Taking the extra time to set up and execute your shot will lead to fewer mistakes and better outcomes.
6. Focus on placement rather than power. Slowing the swing speed down will allow you to more accurately execute your stroke. You don’t need to bounce it out of the court.
7. It’s easiest to let the ball bounce prior to smashing the ball. This gives you more time to prepare and also slows down the speed of the ball. Once you’ve mastered this technique then it’s time to move on to smashing the lob.
How to Overhead
An overhead is very similar to THE SERVE, but with a few nuances like court positioning, no throwing the ball etc.
1. Get into the ready position facing the opponent, not knowing if opponent will be hitting a ground stroke or a lob.
2. Using the Continental Grip turn your body with both hands on the racquet with the non-hitting hand supporting the throat. Keep your elbows up and strings pointed down, similar to palm down position while serving.
3. Reach up with the non-hitting arm as you swing the racquet over your head, similar to “knocking off the birthday hat” while serving.
4. Tuck the non-hitting hand into the body as you bring the racquet around on edge.
5. Hit the back of the ball as you pronate. This could have top spin, flat or slice features.
6. Fully pronate through as you hit the ball.
7. Follow-through the swing with the racquet going to the opposite side of the body.
Conclusion
The best way to learn how to overhead is by practicing drills and learning from match play.
Happy smashing!
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Recommended Drills
IMPROVE YOUR VOLLEY AND OVERHEAD (overhead starts at 6mins)
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