overhead situation

[patrick922]

i have no confidence in my overheads [if you have read my other thread about the partner thing, maybe this is why he was a bit frustrated]. i just cant hit a clean overhead. whenever i am at the net i say to myself 'i hope they dont throw up a lob' whenever i hit an overhead or prepare to hit one i feel a little bit tentative and it either goes into the net or it is a weak one.

i am a pretty solid player... my groundstrokes, volleys, serve, etc are rock solid but my overhead sucks.

any tips on how to hit solid overheads?
my overhead problem maybe mental as well so anytips regarding that?

[4brotherdrive]

practice it and try to get under the ball, dont let the ball bounce like I use to do cause it will really throws off your timing, and one last thing stand sideways! perpendicular to the net!

other than that, you are lacking confidence in that shot, try to use mental imagery before practices.

if all else fales you can use the swing volley :D

[Slazenger]

Just a few tips

be in a continental grip

close your stance a bit. You don't want to be completely sideways to the net and you don't want to be completely facing the net either.

stretch your left hand (for righties) high, to the ball. Good for balance and shoulder inclination.

Hit the overhead with the ball slightly in front of you. Don't let the ball get behind your head.

Have someone feed you lobs or better still practise with a wall.
Throw up a lob and smash it such that it bounces off the ground and onto the wall and ricochets off the wall into the air and continue the process.
I find that practising overheads with the wall translates much better to match play than someone feeding you lobs.

[TriCitiesTennis]

I've never been a master of hitting the overhead smash either, so I learned to take that shot with a backhand full stroke (topsin) out of the air. Ive found to have much more control doing this and my opponent is rarely seeing a full swing bh shot from the net.

To give you some quick advice, let the ball hit the ground, then while the ball is on its way back up, think of it as a serve toss, try to hit it at its apex. Be patient, it's not a rush shot....its a closing shot.

[damasta55]

does any1 like, i dk how to explain but like slice serve their overheads?

[TriCitiesTennis]

does any1 like, i dk how to explain but like slice serve their overheads?

Is there any other way to hit an overhead?

I prefer the slice overhead unless i get a ball right at the net that I know I can slam and bounce over the opponents head.

[Solat]

number one dont think of the overhead being a power shot, use the height over the net to get good angle, the overhead is a naturally strong shot, but often people try to hit it too hard.

i think a lot of people tend to take too long to get their racquet above their head quick enough, it should not go around like a serve, it goes straight from ready position to above the head

http://www.theage.com.au/ffximage/2006/01/19/serena_gallery__470x305.jpg

get the racquet up first and move under the ball with it prepared

hit short and wide if you can

[Slazenger]

does any1 like, i dk how to explain but like slice serve their overheads?

I add some slice/sidespin to overheads I end up hitting at or behind the baseline. The slice makes it travel further in the air so it makes it a better option when hitting an overhead far away from the net.

Anywhere else I'll probably hit a flat overhead.

[psp2]

Play hector and his wife in doubles.............

[TriCitiesTennis]

Play hector and his wife in doubles.............

Thats funny!!!

[mucat]

What help me is off-hand to track the ball and visualize where you want to contact the ball...and don't think too much, just hit it naturally, don't have too hit hard at all.

[Dashbarr]

its a mental thing for me, my overhead hasw always been a monster. if its a lob that bounces high infront of the service line, i just think, theres no way i can mess this up. behind the service line, i just think its a serve with more room to place. my overheads can kill thoguh.

[Swissv2]

get back FAST and then adjust your steps. Better to hit the overhead going forward then backing up.

[Hondasteve]

I have found that practicing them on the wall has drastically improve dmy timing an placement on my overheads. Also as mentioned above, trying to picture the ones you have to hit farther toward the baseline like a serve does the trick for me as well.

It is not a shot that you have to kill, either. Just the natural motion gives the overhead enough pace to be a winner.

[Cindysphinx]

Gotta keep the feet moving *the entire time* you wait to hit the shot.
Gotta keep the ball in front of you.

Those two tips (offered by the folks here) have helped me square away my overhead.

[patrick922]

i was hitting the wall to practice overheads and with all your advice it seemed to work. i got behind the ball, pointed, etc..... ill see how it goes in a real match. ;)

[Andy270211]

Pretend that you are serving the ball. Think volleyball.

When the ball is coming, mimic your ball toss and shoulder coil, then swing at the ball.

[Trinity TC]

Pretend that you are serving the ball. Think volleyball.

When the blal is coming, mimic your ball toss and shoulder coil, then swing at the ball.
...except that your footwork is different. Unlike the serve, load your weight on your back foot not your front. It keeps your arms and legs from getting locked or tangled up when you accelerate into the ball.8-)