Overhead Problems

[Roy125]

Most of my problems arise from hitting into the net too often. It always goes into the same place on the net cord. What are some things that I could be doing to fix this?

Also, I always get nervous whenever a high overhead comes up. I usually let it bounce first which cuts my nerves in half but I know that there are a lot of problems to this as well.

When you're facing an overhead, at which point in the court do you replace the flat overhead with a safer slice one?

 

[Steady Eddy]

There's a recent thread on this, so you might want to check into it. I'd say that it's likely that you're pulling your head down as you hit if the ball keeps hitting the net cord. For your second question, I always hit flat on overheads, I think there's plenty of room. Compared to the serve, you're in closer, yet are allowed to hit past the service line. See? Also, hit deep on the overhead. When you "spike" it, it gets a high bounce that the opponents might be able to get to. If you aim deep, it bounces and goes into the back fence with a satisfying rattle. Even if the opponents are in the path, they've got to hit the ball on the rise, which is tricky for most players. So your shots shouldn't go into the net in the first place, when you miss, you should miss long.

 

[paulfreda]

Netting your OH's ??

My guess is you are hitting it in front of your body.

Carefully look at the word ....OVERHEAD = OVER YOUR HEAD

If you take the ball so it would drop just behind you, your problem will
be hitting long for which the solution is to hit it on a sloping down trajectory.
Not down, but on a slope which will end near the baseline.

If you are already taking it over your head then you must be using wrist flexion [folding]
too much. And or you are pulling down on the ball rather than hitting thru it.

 

[anchorage]

Could also be that you're not getting any forward momentum into the shot. I see a lot of people actually moving (almost falling) backwards even on relatively easy overheads.

So, you need to get fully side on, position as early as you can and make sure the weight is going forward into the shot. Oh, and take the ball high; a lot of people let it drop too low.

If you're nervous on overheads, there's a good chance you're starting to quit on the shot. Don't; just let it rip.

 

[LeeD]

As usual, practice.
Let the ball drop to your tossing hand shoulder.
Hit thru the ball when you have confidence, slice when you don't. WHEN each depends on your skill level. I hit flat back to around 6' of the baseline, then tend to add sidespin. Then again, when I'm backed 8' behind the baseline, I go for flats again.