Overheads

[Dan R]

I can't hit an overhead to save my life. I'm closing in on 4.5, and as this is an obvious weakness I have been trying to improve this shot (especially since I serve and volley about half the time). Despite constant practice I still can't reliably hit a stinking overhead. Swinging volley no problem, overhead nope. I don't recall a shot that I've had this much trouble with.

My approach is to get the racket up immediately, get side ways, watch the ball through impact, short swing more hands and arm than anything not a lot of body. Slice it off to the left, or pronate to the right. I'm not trying to kill it.

Problem is I can't get the spacing right, the balls either too far behind me or too far forward, and I can't find the center of the racket. Any tips or hints appreciated.

 

[Alexrb]

I can't hit an overhead to save my life. I'm closing in on 4.5, and as this is an obvious weakness I have been trying to improve this shot (especially since I serve and volley about half the time). Despite constant practice I still can't reliably hit a stinking overhead. Swinging volley no problem, overhead nope. I don't recall a shot that I've had this much trouble with.

My approach is to get the racket up immediately, get side ways, watch the ball through impact, short swing more hands and arm than anything not a lot of body. Slice it off to the left, or pronate to the right. I'm not trying to kill it.

Problem is I can't get the spacing right, the balls either too far behind me or too far forward, and I can't find the center of the racket. Any tips or hints appreciated.

I have the same problem, so I'll be following this thread. What I think it is (for me) is;

1) Foot work
2) Grip (I don't know if I hold a proper continental, and on top of that I feel like I don't hold it the same on any given day)

 

[jm1980]

I can't hit an overhead to save my life. I'm closing in on 4.5, and as this is an obvious weakness I have been trying to improve this shot (especially since I serve and volley about half the time). Despite constant practice I still can't reliably hit a stinking overhead. Swinging volley no problem, overhead nope. I don't recall a shot that I've had this much trouble with.

My approach is to get the racket up immediately, get side ways, watch the ball through impact, short swing more hands and arm than anything not a lot of body. Slice it off to the left, or pronate to the right. I'm not trying to kill it.

Problem is I can't get the spacing right, the balls either too far behind me or too far forward, and I can't find the center of the racket. Any tips or hints appreciated.

What are you trying to do with your overhead? Hit it as hard as possible and have it bounce over the fence?

If that's the case, then maybe you could benefit from a more measured approach. Try to go for placement and angle it off if you're well inside the service box. If you are in a little more trouble, just hit it deep - between the service line and baseline, and make your opponent(s) hit another tough shot. If you are in deep trouble, just focus on getting it back in play

You don't have to crush the overhead to be successful

 

[Dan R]

What are you trying to do with your overhead? Hit it as hard as possible and have it bounce over the fence?

If that's the case, then maybe you could benefit from a more measured approach. Try to go for placement and angle it off if you're well inside the service box. If you are in a little more trouble, just hit it deep - between the service line and baseline, and make your opponent(s) hit another tough shot. If you are in deep trouble, just focus on getting it back in play

You don't have to crush the overhead to be successful

I'd love to be able to go for placement, but first I need to make semi clean contact. I'm not trying to kill it. I'm just trying to find the center of the racket and get in somewhere. Once I do that I can work on more advancements.

 

[Dan R]

I have the same problem, so I'll be following this thread. What I think it is (for me) is;

1) Foot work
2) Grip (I don't know if I hold a proper continental, and on top of that I feel like I don't hold it the same on any given day)

I'm in a continental grip, and footwork is an issue since I can't get the spacing right. I've worked with instructors on this and they say that I tend to let the ball get too far behind me, but that's not a consistent error.

Frankly, it's all that time I spend looking up at the ball waiting and waiting, with no confidence I'm going to pull this off. In a match I just hit a swinging volley and totally bail on the overhead, seems like the overhead should be easier.

 

[OnTheLine]

from lowly 3.5 who has a great overhead .... can't believe I am even responding to a 4.5's thread .... are you turning sidewise or are you trying to hit straight?

 

[Dragy]

I'm in a continental grip, and footwork is an issue since I can't get the spacing right. I've worked with instructors on this and they say that I tend to let the ball get too far behind me, but that's not a consistent error.

Frankly, it's all that time I spend looking up at the ball waiting and waiting, with no confidence I'm going to pull this off. In a match I just hit a swinging volley and totally bail on the overhead, seems like the overhead should be easier.

1. On overhead you can get behind the ball and then step forward right before the swing if you recognise you need. Also, many overheads have margin to hit it higher or steeper into the court, so no much to worry about like in serve where toss should be right in place.
2. Just like serve, swing up at the ball. If the ball is at least just in front, you'll still send it descending with an upward swing. If the ball is way in front and you have trouble vizualising swinging up, swing directly at the ball, don't try getting on top of it. Racquet will pivot.

All provided you do the basics: grip conti, turn sideways before adjustment footwork, get your off-arm high and hitting arm to trophy.

 

[jm1980]

I'd love to be able to go for placement, but first I need to make semi clean contact. I'm not trying to kill it. I'm just trying to find the center of the racket and get in somewhere. Once I do that I can work on more advancements.

Without looking at footage, I'd guess it's the same problems most rec players have with overheads: bad footwork and not turning sideways

 

[steve s]

Slice it off to the left,

Try to keep the ball in front of your head , just to the right. You will have a more relaxed swing moving forward with adjustment steps.

Would like to try to pronate when hitting to the left, will give yourself a new feeling.

Stay on the plus side.

 

[IowaGuy]

Problem is I can't get the spacing right

Instead of hitting an overhead, try just catching the ball with your outstretched left hand (while in trophy pose).

Can you catch a lob with your left hand 10 out of 10 times?

Practicing this will improve your spacing issues.

 

[RetroSpin]

Tough to help without video, but bad or inconsistent contact sounds like maybe taking your eyes off the ball or pulling down too soon. Obviously if it is behind you, your footwork was poor. A lot of people seem to try to time arriving under the ball just as they are trying to hit it. Result, rushed or late hit. Ideally you set up behind the ball and take a step forward.

Overheads are a confidence shot, at least to me. You can't be tentative or wooden, but you don't have to put a hole in the court with it either.

 

[Dan R]

from lowly 3.5 who has a great overhead .... can't believe I am even responding to a 4.5's thread .... are you turning sidewise or are you trying to hit straight?

Yes, I turn sideways. I'm "trying" to slice it to the left side, or pronate to the right side.

What part of the ball are you trying to hit?

 

[Dan R]

Instead of hitting an overhead, try just catching the ball with your outstretched left hand (while in trophy pose).

Can you catch a lob with your left hand 10 out of 10 times?

Practicing this will improve your spacing issues.

I'll try that and see. I have to admit when I practice them with the ball machine I try and make them difficult. I have the ball going very high, and deep so I'm making contact well behind the service line.

 

[OnTheLine]

Yes, I turn sideways. I'm "trying" to slice it to the left side, or pronate to the right side.

What part of the ball are you trying to hit?

I am trying to hit just above the midline of the ball ... from the sidewise position, my own body motion imparts any slice I may add to it ... but if I think about adding slice it is does not jump off the court in the same satisfying way.

For me the key is keeping ball in front and above my right shoulder and not letting it drop too low so I contact it nearly at same level as I hit my serve

 

[SystemicAnomaly]

Instead of hitting an overhead, try just catching the ball with your outstretched left hand (while in trophy pose).

Can you catch a lob with your left hand 10 out of 10 times?

Practicing this will improve your spacing issues.

This is pretty much what I planned to say after reading the OP. Note the the outstretched left hand should be high & a bit to the right for the trophy pose/position. Move the feet/body to make the catch. Do NOT move the left arm independently to make the catch.

Note that the left hand/arm might be a bit higher for high trajectory lobs than for low trajectory lobs.

 

[IowaGuy]

Overhead progression drill using catching of a lob first, after the bounce:

 

[S&V-not_dead_yet]

Maybe you have poor depth perception?

What if you stood at the SL and tossed the ball a few feet higher than you would for a serve: can you make clean contact? Is it the height of the incoming ball that's messing up things? Bad footwork adds to the problem but if you can't acquire the ball, you're not even making it to the footwork stage. Try to hit a clean OH when the feed is to you.

As a tangent, how are you at catching high fly balls in baseball?

The point of this regression is to find at what point you are comfortable and work forward from there. You're obviously comfortable with the serve so start from there.

Note also that the serve toss trajectory is different from a lob trajectory in that the lob is coming towards you.

A great drill for you is with the wall: hit an easy OH/serve down at the wall such that the ball bounces a foot or so from the wall. The ball will hit the ground, bounce up, hit the wall, and continue up. Then hit another OH. Then another. They don't have to bounce high and they don't have to be hit hard. Try to establish a rhythm.

If that's too variable [you will need great footwork to keep this up] then have someone feed you low lobs.

What happens when you hit OHs?
- shank
- long
- wide
- net

 

[Steady Eddy]

I can't hit an overhead to save my life. I'm closing in on 4.5, and as this is an obvious weakness I have been trying to improve this shot (especially since I serve and volley about half the time). Despite constant practice I still can't reliably hit a stinking overhead. Swinging volley no problem, overhead nope. I don't recall a shot that I've had this much trouble with.

My approach is to get the racket up immediately, get side ways, watch the ball through impact, short swing more hands and arm than anything not a lot of body. Slice it off to the left, or pronate to the right. I'm not trying to kill it.

Problem is I can't get the spacing right, the balls either too far behind me or too far forward, and I can't find the center of the racket. Any tips or hints appreciated.

The part in bold is the trouble. I know because I tried it that way for years. You always hear, "Get your racquet back." But on the overhead, that will restrict your movement too much, and you'll have a hard time getting into position to hit the ball.

Get to the ball, then take it back as you are going to swing at the ball. Much easier!

Also, when you're alone, hit balls really high, let them bounce and smash 'em.

And, you don't have to hit it 'over your head', you can take it a bit in front, and lower, with good results.

 

[FiReFTW]

Positioning and spacing is key, your technique can be flawless but if you are positioned poorly so the ball is too far back or forward or sideways you will most likely miss it.

 

[Chas Tennis]

This video shows a Federer overhead at 11 seconds. It is a difficult overhead. The biomechanics resembles that of a serve. Does it resemble the serve in all biomechanical sub-motions?

For stop action single frame on Youtube use the "." and "," keys.

I don't know what percentages of ATP level players use other techniques for all or some of their overheads.

It should be noted that for pace, Federer is both closing his racket as it moves forward and doing ISR rotation of his arm with racket - pace comes from two distinct racket head motions. If only closing the racket is used for pace, the racket head speed from closing has to be higher and the ball is more difficult to control in height, more shots in the net or out, especially due to how far away the falling ball is from you.

Justine Henin overhead technique, the same as Federer's overhead in the video.

(For a year or two after I first saw this Toly picture I thought that it was a serve!)

Record high speed video of your overhead technique and study ATP overheads in slow motion.

The most common overhead technique for active tennis players resembles a Waiter's Tray serve. The ball often goes down if you are too far from the falling ball or it often goes out if you are too close. The technique of rotating the arm with ISR should add pace and have less rapid racket closing as it moves forward - be easier to control.

 

[dominikk1985]

Get behind the ball quickly. Most of the time you are in trouble it is because the ball gets on you and you have to hit it behind your head. Move back as fast as possible and 3 feet more than you think you need to, from there you can still take a quick shuffle forward if you need to.

 

[travlerajm]

Get behind the ball quickly. Most of the time you are in trouble it is because the ball gets on you and you have to hit it behind your head. Move back as fast as possible and 3 feet more than you think you need to, from there you can still take a quick shuffle forward if you need to.

This.

 

[moonballs]

Move back fast, err on the side of over shooting it then step a step forward to hit. Maybe cut down the pronation to help connect with the sweet spot.

 

[samarai]

overheads are very difficult shots due to spacing and timing. I seriously doubt that any 3.5 have great overheads. And by great I mean u are able to hit it back with pace and placement. What I see is most people will just tap it back unless they are standing still and the ball comes directly at them.

 

[samarai]

some skills just naturally go with each other. when I see someone with great overheads, they usually have great serves, great movement ie, they are not 3.5's.

 

[Mongolmike]

Also, when you're alone, hit balls really high, let them bounce and smash 'em.

I do this all the time when it's just me and a bucket of balls after hitting serves.

Stand at service line, try to hit a ball straight up with an underhand shot. Let it bounce, hit an overhead.
It is very difficult to hit a shot exactly straight up...which is a good thing here. You don't want the ball skying into the next court, but if it moves 6-7 feet left or right or back or forward...good. You move to position, let it bounce, hit an overhead.

 

[Dan R]

I am trying to hit just above the midline of the ball ... from the sidewise position, my own body motion imparts any slice I may add to it ... but if I think about adding slice it is does not jump off the court in the same satisfying way.

For me the key is keeping ball in front and above my right shoulder and not letting it drop too low so I contact it nearly at same level as I hit my serve

I am trying to hit just above the midline of the ball ... from the sidewise position, my own body motion imparts any slice I may add to it ... but if I think about adding slice it is does not jump off the court in the same satisfying way.

For me the key is keeping ball in front and above my right shoulder and not letting it drop too low so I contact it nearly at same level as I hit my serve

That's interesting. I'm trying to hit more on top of the ball. I watched some slo mo of pros hitting and it's much more of a drive shot. They take it out front and hit through the ball more. I'll try that. Thanks.

 

[Dan R]

Maybe you have poor depth perception?

What if you stood at the SL and tossed the ball a few feet higher than you would for a serve: can you make clean contact? Is it the height of the incoming ball that's messing up things? Bad footwork adds to the problem but if you can't acquire the ball, you're not even making it to the footwork stage. Try to hit a clean OH when the feed is to you.

As a tangent, how are you at catching high fly balls in baseball?

The point of this regression is to find at what point you are comfortable and work forward from there. You're obviously comfortable with the serve so start from there.

Note also that the serve toss trajectory is different from a lob trajectory in that the lob is coming towards you.

A great drill for you is with the wall: hit an easy OH/serve down at the wall such that the ball bounces a foot or so from the wall. The ball will hit the ground, bounce up, hit the wall, and continue up. Then hit another OH. Then another. They don't have to bounce high and they don't have to be hit hard. Try to establish a rhythm.

If that's too variable [you will need great footwork to keep this up] then have someone feed you low lobs.

What happens when you hit OHs?
- shank
- long
- wide
- net

I played baseball as a kid, outfield so I think my catching skills are pretty good. I have a better serve than I should for my level. So, in theory this shot should not be such a problem. What happens most often is an off center hit, and I spray the ball around (that is every where except in the court). Again, I usually practice difficult overheads. Balls that are as high as I can get them and deep. I'm hitting them from well behind the service line. I feel like I get the most benefit when I'm challenged, as long as frustration does not set in. Footwork is an issue, but I think it's more finding the right spot to hit the ball. I can usually get into a consistent position, but I think I'm letting the ball get too far behind me.

For now the swing is very minimal, little backswing and just using my hands to get the racket on the ball. I can work on power after I figure out how to find the center of the racket. I had issues with swinging volleys as well, finding the center of the racket, but that went away pretty quick compared to this. Now swinging volleys are one of my better shots.

 

[Chas Tennis]

Starts with slower warm up overheads. Shows overheads with ISR.

This shows the immediate initial turn of the upper body good to run back.

Also, backhand overhead with racket rotation.

However, as for the Waiter's Tray serve, I see most rec players swinging without arm rotation with a WT like racket swing (the racket closes as it moves forward.)

 

[Deleted member 120290]

That's interesting. I'm trying to hit more on top of the ball. I watched some slo mo of pros hitting and it's much more of a drive shot. They take it out front and hit through the ball more. I'll try that. Thanks.

I played baseball as a kid, outfield so I think my catching skills are pretty good...

I had the same problem as you did on overheads, usually catching them late.
I played baseball like you.

I now see lobs as fly balls that I step back and catch in front of me.
It is much easier to step back and track the ball keeping it in front of you the whole time.

Then you catch the BACK of the ball in front of you as you would do a fly ball.
A good outfielder would never catch the top of the ball above his head or behind him, but always in front of him.
I use this same concept in overheads and now it is much more consistent and powerful.

 

[justRick]

I treat an OH as a serve+movement. Point at the ball, if you can keep it in front, jump to it, follow through. If you belong to a club or ymca, use their ball machine. Set it to hit in random areas.

 

[SystemicAnomaly]

@Dan R

Overhead progression drill using catching of a lob first, after the bounce:

This is part of the progression that I use with students. First step is hand tosses from same side of the net. Hit on the fly, like a serve -- but with a contact point that is slightly more forward (toward the net) than a serve.

Next, I feed them very high tosses (also from the same side of the net) that they must catch with the left hand after a bounce -- with the body in the proper position relative to the ball. Third step is high feeds from the other side of the net as shown in your video.

This progression works very well for most students.

 

[J011yroger]

Don't swing at the ball, just reach up and snap it down. Don't try to slice it, just hit it square.

J

 

[Fintft]

Triangulate the ball like Federer with the tip of your racquet and your left arm.

 

[Chas Tennis]

Started searching on the backhand overhead.

This video has an unexpected technique. I'd like to understand how this works.
2104 video

2011 video

Federer's Overhead Backhand. His back is to the net, suggest use of the lat muscle. ??

For single frame on Youtube use the "," and "." keys.

 

[Dan R]

This is very helpful in terms of seeing where the contact point is, and where on the ball they hit. I know this will vary some based on how far from the net you are. I think I'm letting the ball get to far behind me and I have to use my hands too much to snap over the top of the ball. Also, the further back the ball is the less power you have. He's clearly hitting it in the power alley.

 

[Chas Tennis]

This is very helpful in terms of seeing where the contact point is, and where on the ball they hit. I know this will vary some based on how far from the net you are. I think I'm letting the ball get to far behind me and I have to use my hands too much to snap over the top of the ball. Also, the further back the ball is the less power you have. He's clearly hitting it in the power alley.

Where the racket first contacts the ball is too small to see. But you can see the angles of the racket. The angles of the racket determine exactly where the first contact point is. Try it with a ball and racket. Start with a closed racket and see that the top of the ball is first contacted. Think about a plane touching a sphere.

 

[S&V-not_dead_yet]

I played baseball as a kid, outfield so I think my catching skills are pretty good. I have a better serve than I should for my level. So, in theory this shot should not be such a problem. What happens most often is an off center hit, and I spray the ball around (that is every where except in the court). Again, I usually practice difficult overheads. Balls that are as high as I can get them and deep. I'm hitting them from well behind the service line. I feel like I get the most benefit when I'm challenged, as long as frustration does not set in. Footwork is an issue, but I think it's more finding the right spot to hit the ball. I can usually get into a consistent position, but I think I'm letting the ball get too far behind me.

For now the swing is very minimal, little backswing and just using my hands to get the racket on the ball. I can work on power after I figure out how to find the center of the racket. I had issues with swinging volleys as well, finding the center of the racket, but that went away pretty quick compared to this. Now swinging volleys are one of my better shots.

In your original post, you wrote "I can't hit an overhead to save my life." By this I assumed you meant you could not hit easy OHs.

If so, why are you practicing difficult OHs: "I usually practice difficult overheads. Balls that are as high as I can get them and deep."

I would think you'd want to practice easy OHs and work your way up. For example, you say you are making off-center contact. So fix it by hitting easy OHs so you can track the ball more easily.

Video yourself so you can see what's really happening.

 

[RetroSpin]

Balls that are as high as I can get them and deep. I'm hitting them from well behind the service line.

A deeper overhead is the one you just try to slice back deep. Hitting a winner from behind the service line is going to be a big ask for anything below 5.0.

 

[Dan R]

In your original post, you wrote "I can't hit an overhead to save my life." By this I assumed you meant you could not hit easy OHs.

If so, why are you practicing difficult OHs: "I usually practice difficult overheads. Balls that are as high as I can get them and deep."

I would think you'd want to practice easy OHs and work your way up. For example, you say you are making off-center contact. So fix it by hitting easy OHs so you can track the ball more easily.

Video yourself so you can see what's really happening.

I can’t hit easy overheads like I should either, but I improve fastest when I’m practicing with a high failure rate - failing 30% to 50% of the time, the trick is to not get frustrated by that. I’m trying to force the issue. Also, I rarely get an easy overhead. The point is whether it’s easy or hard shots this is a weakness for me and so that’s what I practice.

From what I’ve gleaned from this discussion and watching the videos is that I’m to wristy and hitting the ball too far behind me. I’ll practice hitting out front and hitting through more and see how that goes.

 

[S&V-not_dead_yet]

I can’t hit easy overheads like I should either, but I improve fastest when I’m practicing with a high failure rate - failing 30% to 50% of the time, the trick is to not get frustrated by that. I’m trying to force the issue.

You wrote that you were closing in on 4.5 which likely means you've been playing awhile. If you can't hit easy OHs after all of that time, I don't see how practicing difficult ones is the optimal path.

Also, I rarely get an easy overhead. The point is whether it’s easy or hard shots this is a weakness for me and so that’s what I practice.

How often you get an easy OH is not the point; rather, it's establishing the skill in an unchallenging environment so you can develop sound fundamentals which you can then take into more and more challenging environments.

 

[Dan R]

You wrote that you were closing in on 4.5 which likely means you've been playing awhile. If you can't hit easy OHs after all of that time, I don't see how practicing difficult ones is the optimal path.



How often you get an easy OH is not the point; rather, it's establishing the skill in an unchallenging environment so you can develop sound fundamentals which you can then take into more and more challenging environments.

I started playing late in life, about 3 years ago. I feel like I’ve learned quickly because I force myself to. I adopted that approach after playing for about 20 minutes with a vastly superior player one time. In the beginning I got killed by end I was able to rally with him pretty well. I improved more in that 20 minutes than I had in the prior several months. Since then I really try and press in practice,

I get working on fundamentals, but I don’t get much out of practicing something I can do 80% or 90% of the time. Maybe that’s just me.

 

[IowaGuy]

Started searching on the backhand overhead.

This video has an unexpected technique. I'd like to understand how this works.

Edberg had one of the best backhand overheads of all time (and of course, coached Fed for a period).

This video has some good slow-motion of the stroke, considering it was taken in 1993:

 

[Chas Tennis]

Edberg had one of the best backhand overheads of all time (and of course, coached Fed for a period).

This video has some good slow-motion of the stroke, considering it was taken in 1993:

Thanks. That appears to be the same stroke as Federer used and that Jeff S describes. Edberg's back looks to the net. Is that just desperation or a preferred technique?

Why the racket is reversed suddenly is very interesting. The lat is a big muscle and it probably plays a part in powering the stroke and maybe that is why the stroke is reversed forcefully. ??

 

[S&V-not_dead_yet]

A deeper overhead is the one you just try to slice back deep. Hitting a winner from behind the service line is going to be a big ask for anything below 5.0.

There's a lot of possibility between just slicing it deep and going for a winner. I will take practically any lob [possibly off of the bounce] as an OH even from behind the BL, depending on how well the stroke is working that day. Maybe I'll hit 70% as an average. I'll typically use more slice than flat, though.

I'm not trying to hit a winner but I'm not just trying to hit it deep: I'm trying to make my opponent run to set up the next shot, which will hopefully be an approach.

 

[IowaGuy]

Thanks. That appears to be the same stroke as Federer used and that Jeff S describes. Edberg's back looks to the net. Is that just desperation or a preferred technique?

Back to the net is preferred technique (assuming you don't have enough time to run around it to hit a "regular" overhead, which is the best option). So, a backhand overhead is always a bit of desperation because otherwise you'd just hit your regular overhead.

My HS coach played D1 and that's also how he taught us the backhand overhead. I wouldn't be surprised if Rod Laver and some of the other old-school guys also hit it that way.

Mine's not so great because I don't practice it enough

 

[ChimpChimp]

>the balls either too far behind me or too far forward
Too far forward is much better than too far behind, because you step forward a lot easier and faster than stepping back. I would concentrate on footwork first to make all balls too far forward, then to make them not so far forward. Racquet movement can be dealt with later.

 

[Deleted member 23235]

Instead of hitting an overhead, try just catching the ball with your outstretched left hand (while in trophy pose).

Can you catch a lob with your left hand 10 out of 10 times?

Practicing this will improve your spacing issues.

+100
my biggest problem with overheads, is not moving well enough to get into position, and then let the ball drift behind me...

other tips: (after you've done the catch-with-left drill a million times)
* the last step before the oh, should be a weight xfer (up and) forward,... don't get lazy, and rely on the scissor kick to hit oh's... the scissor is the last resort
* go up and get the ball... don't wait for the ball to come down... you have to attack the contact... pretend like you're hitting a top slice serve...
* spin everything in you're having trouble... and miss long if you must... avoid the net at all costs, use the spin to bring it down... especially on deep ohs
* keep your #@$!%$%$#% head up... if you see the ball hit the net... that's your problem
* when practicing overheads... the ones past the serviceline (nearer the baseline) are the keys to getting youbetter... don't be fooled by hitting 10 great oh's inside the service... cuz most folks are trying not to do that.
* even practice oh's from behind the baseline
* when you get better... alternate oh, then volley, oh, etc... you need to feel comfortable moving forward and back... hitting oh from a static position, with well fed balls is gonna coax you into a false sense of confidence... another drill i used to do... (if you want to elim volley and just focus on oh)... after every oh, touch the net...
* practice oh daily if you can
* don't shy away from oh practice in warmups because you don't want to "show your weakness"...
* don't forget bh oh... want to make sure you don't get oh's, hit a few hard bh oh's and folks are less inclined to lob you.
* footwork: first step of an oh, is always a jab step forward... (this was a revolutionary discovery for me at the time)
* keep doing adjusting steps until you're ready to pull the trigger,... generaly a good habit to get into, even if you're already perfectly positioned (rare)
* keep your #@$!%$%$#% head up... if you see the ball hit the net... that's your problem
* keep your #@$!%$%$#% head up... if you see the ball hit the net... that's your problem (for good measure)

 

[Dimcorner]

from lowly 3.5 who has a great overhead .... can't believe I am even responding to a 4.5's thread .... are you turning sidewise or are you trying to hit straight?

Same here!
Serve, movement and overhead are very good. Overthinking groundies and consistency of them during matches is my kryptonite :\

For me I had to adjust to the speed of the incoming ball compared to 10+ years of high level badminton overheads.

What works for me is:

*Move first, bring racket up right about when it hits apex of arc if possible. Sooner is ok if you don't have to move.
*Biggest thing is be balanced. You ideally want to hit it with you taking one step into the shot so therefore the impact would be about 1 foot in front of your racket shoulder. In real life it's not always possible but start with this and as you get comfortable with it you can adjust to hit more difficult overheads. Also it is easier to move forward than backward so err on the side of moving back too much.
*This is a big one from badminton: BIG first steps, smaller adjustment final steps. I see a lot of people take equally spaced steps and get to the spot right as they should swing. Easier to move fast first then make tiny adjustments. Keeps you more balanced.
*Raise off hand arm and shoulder up, racket shoulder back. Like shooting and arrow at the ball. Don't point up at ball and keep shoulders parallel to net. Loose grip and shoulder before swing. Relax!
*Only squeeze grip at top of swing. Relax grip after impact. Swing mechanics should be very similar to platform style serves.
*Don't worry about where it's going to land, focus on the ball. Seriously for the overhead you should make up your mind on where to hit very early so it makes no sense to look down. As nytennisaddict said "keep your #@$!%$%$#% head up."
*Spend some time practicing it. Don't blast it off the court in the beginning. Just swing at 25% speed and focus on the preparation to get the feel of it. Slowly ramp up speed. The whole motion should feel SUPER relaxed. Movement flow, smooth slow swing, squeeze at top, let racket drop and follow thru.

As a note one of the things that helps me move easily for overheads is that we used to practice a lot of shuffle and cross steps sideways moving back for badminton. You might want to check that out as it gets me in position very fast with minimal fuss and good balance.

 

[Dan R]

Update - I hit overheads yesterday on the ball machine. I tried to take the ball more in front than usual, and that helped. Also, I significantly reduced the back swing and follow through. I just thought of it as an overhead volley. Just a quick punch or jab. That worked much better, and while I was not murdering the ball I was making clean contact and getting them in with some location control. I was hitting them from 2 or 3 steps behind the service line so I wasn't expecting to rip them.

Progress.