How to Hit a Tennis Overhead Smash

The overhead smash is something of a misnomer. The shot is best thought of as a partial service motion, not a smash. The key is not to think of the smash as automatically requiring you to end the point.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. When lining up the shot, the best practice is to align yourself squarely with the descending ball. The shot itself is executed by first aligning yourself with the airborne ball. Drop the racket, allowing the handle to point to the sky.

2. Complete the shot by keeping your head up and reaching for the sky as the ball descends. The one sure way to miss is to redirect your raised gaze from the ball in the sky.

3. A lob over the backhand side presents a distinct challenge. The key is to turn your back almost completely to the net, and then turning your shoulder around with the racket following across the ball.

Tips & Warnings

• The lob over your backhand creates a very challenging moment. The key to the shot is to turn your shoulder blade almost completely to the net. Similar to the back-hand ground-stroke suggestion (Show them the blade)means that you should turn your shoulder blade far enough to fully show the shoulder to your opponent.
• This gesture creates leverage with which to come across the ball, directing toward the open area and away from your opponent.
• Soft shoulder high sitters provide endless opportunity for missed shots. The shoulder-high volley is the easiest to miss. It is begun by hitting with a swing and a flourish. The player must take care to hit this shot as if it were a forehand volley. The racket is kept high and you move through the ball at an angle, going for the post and taking care to hold the racket high and steady, without excess movement. This shot is completely distinct from the overhead smash.