Hitting smashes off high dropping balls

[kickingbird]

This is one shot I just cannot make. I can hit smashes if the ball is not dropping at a high speed, but if it travels high up in the air, I just cannot time it properly. Yes, letting the ball bounce might be a good idea, but I really want to be able to hit it on the full too.

My main problem is that I always seem to hit the throat of the racquet. And what I've noticed is that the contact point for these smashes seem to be ontop of my head, whereas when I hit my routine smashes I seem to be contacting more to the right of my body. Which is the correct way? I've heard coaches saying that you should line yourself up so that the ball will hit your left shoulder, but that would mean you would contact around the middle of your body.

What might be a good solution? I just cannot seem to be able to judge the distance between myself and a fast dropping ball. Should I get behind the ball as quick as possible and step into the smash? cos I am often caught off balanced when I hit these smashes too... it may also be a confidence thing. As soon as I see a high one go up I'm like 'uh oh...'.

Please share any tips that you found improved your smash!!!

 

[USCfan]

Don't feel like you always have to take it out of the air. Even the pros usually let extremely high lobs bounce first. It just helps your timing.

 

[DX_Psycho]

i make sure to track the ball with my left hand and hit it like i'm hitting a serve using a continental grip, meaning i hit it in front of me (like a serve) and pronate.

 

[kickingbird]

Do you take the smash on the right side of your body or do you take it near the middle of the body?? I find that hitting on the right side makes it easier to swing at.

 

[TommyGun]

Very high, quickly dropping balls are very hard to smash on the run, or without letting them bounce. Now, having said that try two things:

1. Use my favorite tip, Choke up on the handle. Just a half inch (although an inch is better) will give you better control of the head, make it more maneuverable and allow you to get through to the ball quicker, so, probably no throaties.

2. Hit up and through. As you swing at it say out loud, "up" and when you make contact "through". Do this until you feel good about the shot. Most people forget that its just like a serve, so think this.

Try it, and like I told FatMike in another post, if it doesn't work, I won't charge you for the lesson...(LOL)

 

[Rickson]

If it's that high up, just let it bounce.

 

[kevhen]

Let it bounce. You can hit a defensive lob overhead without really swinging the racquet very much but I would only suggest that when you are backpedaling on a deep ball. High balls aren't going to bounce much deeper so just bounce them and attack after the bounce.

The ball is falling so fast that it's extremely difficult to time a hard swinging overhead no matter what level you are.

 

[paulfreda]

Two things ...
1/Ball position; It is death if the ball is in front of you AND is even with or left of your head.
2/ Since the ball is falling so fast from such a height, try hitting a topspin like serve off this ball rather than the tempting flat smash.

But always have the "let it bounce" option in your arsenal. On a critical point, it puts the percentages in your favor. Smart tennis.

 

[Kryztof]

how much smash is the same shot mecanic than serve?
because i've got the same problem for smashing...

 

[papa]

One thing you might want to practice doing is to have someone hit you lobs and try catching them with your left hand which is pointing to the ball. Try a dozen or so and see if it helps your timing.

Having the ball bounce of course helps but it gives your opponents a lot more time to react. Be very carefull about "backpetaling" too far especially on very high lobs - turning and watching the ball over your shoulder might be a better solution depending on various factors such as age, weight, etc.

 

[Pirc Defense]

One word: practice.

My brother and I were pathetic at overheads. I mean we were wiffing overheads in matches (doubles), or hitting the ball with the throat or the handle, or worse. I mean we were bad.

So we practiced and practiced. We are not great at overheads now, but we put string on the ball and will bounce the ball over the fence and out of reach if you give us an easy one. We win points with our overheads now, as it should be.

We practice easy, at-the-net overheads, running to our left/right, running back, and even the skyscraper variety that you're talking about.

Practice my friend.

 

[paulfreda]

Smash vs Serve

how much smash is the same shot mecanic than serve?
because i've got the same problem for smashing...

An overhead on a very high and thus fast falling ball is very different from a serve. On serve the ball is almost staionary, even if you toss it as high as Stephie Graf or Dominick Hrbaty.

The Mayer brothers, who were on tour in the 70-80's had a father who was a teaching pro. He would teach them the overhead by dropping balls to them from one or two flights of stairs above them and have them hit up on the ball so as to almost hit it back to him. This is pretty much using/hitting a topspin service motion. Makes sense. Ball is falling, hit up at it to meet it solidly.

 

[Geezer Guy]

INDOORS - The ball can't go TOO high, so it's just a matter of timing and practice.

OUTDOORS - The HIGHER the ball goes up, the FASTER the ball will be traveling when it comes back down. Set up behind the ball, LET IT BOUNCE, then move in and hit it AFTER the bounce - like the pro's do. Aside from the bounce helping the timing, it will also lessen the effect of the wind, and help you line up so the sun isn't as bad.

 

[jimiforpres]

If for some reason you REALLY want to take it in the air then maybe take a little bit of your swing and concentrate of solid contact and placement.

 

[Bungalo Bill]

This is one shot I just cannot make. I can hit smashes if the ball is not dropping at a high speed, but if it travels high up in the air, I just cannot time it properly. Yes, letting the ball bounce might be a good idea, but I really want to be able to hit it on the full too.

My main problem is that I always seem to hit the throat of the racquet. And what I've noticed is that the contact point for these smashes seem to be ontop of my head, whereas when I hit my routine smashes I seem to be contacting more to the right of my body. Which is the correct way? I've heard coaches saying that you should line yourself up so that the ball will hit your left shoulder, but that would mean you would contact around the middle of your body.

What might be a good solution? I just cannot seem to be able to judge the distance between myself and a fast dropping ball. Should I get behind the ball as quick as possible and step into the smash? cos I am often caught off balanced when I hit these smashes too... it may also be a confidence thing. As soon as I see a high one go up I'm like 'uh oh...'.

Please share any tips that you found improved your smash!!!

Take the high percentage shot and let it bounce. You already have the advantage if you have good court position and can hit the overhead - why risk more??????

Just like the serve, the higher you toss, the harder it is to time your motion to hit a clean serve. When a player hits his serve with the ball reaching its climax from the toss, the ball stays in the sweet spot of the racquet 15 times longer then if you tossed a few feet higher. Although many players toss about 1 - 2 feet higher then they hit it, most coaches do not recommend tossing any higher due to this very reason.

Let it bounce to slow the ball down so you can time your swing better.

 

[Rickson]

How many people do you have to hear it from?

Take the high percentage shot and let it bounce. Let it bounce to slow the ball down so you can time your swing better.

OUTDOORS - The HIGHER the ball goes up, the FASTER the ball will be traveling when it comes back down. Set up behind the ball, LET IT BOUNCE,

Let it bounce.

If it's that high up, just let it bounce.

 

[kickingbird]

Gee, who dug this thread back up! It's a month old! Anyway, during the month I've been persisting with hitting smashes off high balls. Not surprisingly I am much more confident and consistent with this shot now. It's all about getting used to 'reading' the ball. If you get used to seeing various high balls, you'll know where you're supposed to stand, and when you should swing at the ball. Obviously it can be done, and it doesn't hurt to be able to hit a variety of shots.

In my view, smashing is left out in a lot of people's training menus. Now I've discovered how important it is to practice this shot.

And yes people, I will let the ball bounce if I am playing a match! Thank you!

 

[Rickson]

Gee, who dug this thread back up! It's a month old! Anyway, during the month I've been persisting with hitting smashes off high balls. Not surprisingly I am much more confident and consistent with this shot now. It's all about getting used to 'reading' the ball. If you get used to seeing various high balls, you'll know where you're supposed to stand, and when you should swing at the ball. Obviously it can be done, and it doesn't hurt to be able to hit a variety of shots.

In my view, smashing is left out in a lot of people's training menus. Now I've discovered how important it is to practice this shot.

And yes people, I will let the ball bounce if I am playing a match! Thank you!

Good man! Letting the ball bounce is a high percentage shot. I can understand going for a ball on the fly that's only a couple of feet above your head, but if it starts off in another ozone layer, letting it bounce is the way to go.

 

[Bungalo Bill]

Gee, who dug this thread back up! It's a month old! Anyway, during the month I've been persisting with hitting smashes off high balls. Not surprisingly I am much more confident and consistent with this shot now. It's all about getting used to 'reading' the ball. If you get used to seeing various high balls, you'll know where you're supposed to stand, and when you should swing at the ball. Obviously it can be done, and it doesn't hurt to be able to hit a variety of shots.

In my view, smashing is left out in a lot of people's training menus. Now I've discovered how important it is to practice this shot.

And yes people, I will let the ball bounce if I am playing a match! Thank you!

Kicking****,

I agree with you that with practice you can improve your chances to be successful with any shot.

But handling a high lob is still a lower percentage shot compared to letting it bounce. So many things can affect that high ball on any given day. The sun, the wind, where you're hitting from etc...

If you let it bounce in match play, in practice, to perfect your form and your placement - you should do the same - let it bounce.