Tennis Overhead Smash - How To Hit The Perfect Smash In 3 Steps
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 29 มิ.ย. 2024
- Tennis Overhead Smash - How To Hit The Perfect Smash In 3 Steps.
The tennis overhead smash is a shot that you might not have to hit very often in your average singles match but in doubles, you might have to hit quite a few. If you serve and volley or attack the net, chances are your opponent will throw up lobs to force you back or discourage you from closing down the net too much.
Club players often get scared of being lobbed in tennis matches so they tend to stay just inside the service line, which helps them to reach the lobs easier but also gives your opponents more angles to work with to find passing shots. The closer you are to the net, the less space the opponent has to pass you. In order to be confident enough to close the net, you'll need a good overhead smash and in this video, we'll show you how to hit the perfect overhead smash in tennis in three steps.
Step One - As soon as you recognize that the ball is coming as a lob and will be over your head, the first step is to get side-on, sideways on to the net. This means that you pivot back with your right leg (left leg for left-handers) and turn your shoulders so that your left shoulder ends up facing towards the net. This ensures that you have a full unit turn and can generate rotational power on your overhead smash when you hit the ball. At the same time, you're turning the body, you'll start preparing your racket head by lifting it to your right side around head height whilst also using your non-hitting hand, the left-hand for right-handers, to help you prepare the racket but also get you coiled up fully with the upper body.
Step Two - Reaching a good power (trophy position) on your overhead smash. This power position will be slightly different from the serve power position because, on the serve, we are in complete control of the timing, so it's easier to have a longer swing path. On the overhead smash, however, we have less time to have a big swing because the ball tends to dip quite quickly, especially if the opponent has hit the lob with lots of topspin which will make the ball dip very aggressively. Since we have less time on the overhead smash, we want to keep the swing more compact which will make it much easier to time the contact point and ensure we hit the ball out in front of our heads. Most pros will keep their racket more on the right side of their bodies when they prepare for the overhead smash and this is the position we recommend reaching. During this phase, you'll also be tracking the ball with your non-hitting hand to help you judge the distance and find the ball. Imagine that you are going to catch the ball with your left hand in this phase and pull it away at the very last second.
Step Three - Getting into the correct position. The biggest key to having a good overhead smash is getting into the right position with your feet. This means that you use the correct footwork patterns to move back behind the ball and then move forward if you have time. It's always a better idea to get back firstly, to beat the ball and then move forward if you recognize the ball is shorter than you anticipated, rather than the opposite, moving forward firstly and then having to rush back to cover a deep lob. If the lob is not too deep and you don't have too many steps to cover, you can use the normal side shuffle. This is ideal to cover the lob when you only have to move three or four steps to the overhead smash.
If the lob is deeper or you have a greater distance to cover, then the crossover footwork pattern will be needed. This is where your front foot (left leg) will cross over the line of your back foot (right leg) and make big steps using this crossover pattern.
You'll be able to reach the deepest of lobs using 3-4 crossover steps even if you're really close to the net. Using side shuffle steps on those deep balls will take too much time and too many steps.
The final step to hitting the perfect overhead smash is then to make contact out in front of your body and really extend up for maximum power, also transferring your body weight into the shot if you can and time permits. - กีฬา
For more help with your net game, check out our Volley Blueprint course here - www.top-tennis-training.com/course/volley-blueprint/
I can't find anywhere on the website where a cost is given for the courses. I know you need to be a VIP member to access the volley blueprint course for example, but I'm not sure which level of membership I want to purchase, depending on the cost of this course as well as others.
Currently, we have 4 players who love to lob, angry at me for making this video. Let's see how this develops!
Hahahaha
Simon - Another great video thanks. One shot I have never mastered - and you've never covered - is the tweener. I practise by hitting the ball into the court, bounce against a backboard to simulate a lob over my head. But, the tweener is a zero margin shot for me, I always hit the ball into the bottom of the net.
Please help...
Thank you for watching Peter.
If we get 100 likes on your suggestion, consider it done!
All the best
Simon
Let's get this to 100 likes guyz
Done
Hey Simon, is it possible for you guys to do an analysis on the FH and BH from Dimitrov?
Keep up the good work, you are by far the best instructional channel out there!
Let's get your comment 100 likes and consider it done!
Thanks for the support, it motivates us to do even better.
All the best
Simon
@@TopTennisTrainingOfficial I asked some friends to give the thumbs up, but seems like it isnt gonna be enough!
Thanks for your reply and all the best for your channel!
Great video Simon, most people have some problems with good smash, I think film help people
Thank you for watching.
Yes, hopefully this video will help many tennis players on their overhead smash.
All the best
Simon
started playing tennis a little over a year ago and i swear i appreciate these videos bro. helps me fix my errors on the court a lot
Thanks for watching
Any lessons you'd like to see from us in 2020?
All the best
Simon
Simon you are amazing. thank you
Thanks again Edward
Many thanks 🙏
I liked that you placed the 3 balls to show that any depth after that and the ball will probably land out. Very informative as often I wrongly hit balls that would otherwise go out as I am trying to have more court awareness and to know when balls will land out if I don't hit them. Thanks!
Thanks for tuning in
Are there any lessons you would like to see in the near future?
All the best
Simon
This is the best video on overhead available. Thank you for your detailed instruction.
Thank you for watching 👍
Are there any lessons you would like to see in the near future?
Best regards,
Simon
I came back to practice tennis in my early 30s. The main confidence i had in any strike was with overheads, who was like natural. Few years later i dont know why but im dealin with it & developin some complex. Hope this video will settle it again, and make it even better. Thx a lot. Gr8 work.
Thank you for watching and good luck, I hope it helps you
All the best
Simon
Amazing guidance. Thank you.
My pleasure 🙏
You are the only youtuber that can fix my overhead error. The other youtubers are wasting my time saying a lot of useless stuffs. Two thumps up!!!
🙏
Simon thank you for another great video! 👍
Thank you for watching
Are there any videos you'd like to see from us in the near future?
All the best
Simon
Very useful thsnks a lot
Thanks for watching 👍
Great video. Made an immediate impact on my smash, esp. the cross-step technique.
Thanks for watching John
Any lessons you'd like to see from us in 2020?
All the best
Simon
Best! Thanks a lot! Looking forward to use it!
👍
The key for me is step two keep trophy position in your right hand so I have enough time to hit the smash overhead. It solved why I always late to the overhead. Thanks so much.
Thank you for watching 👍
Are there any lessons you would like to see in the near future?
All the best
Simon
Great video! I frequently hit the overhead into the net. I’m surprised I have this problem because I used to play badminton competitively and the footwork, the racquet takeback and power position are practically identical to the tennis overhead.
What are some common fixes for people to stop missing into the net?
Players tend to hit the smash into the net when they drop their heads or snap the wrist. Keep your left arm up for long enough and make sure you keep your eyes on the ball until the contact point. Stay tall and don't allow yourself to collapse.
All the best
Simon
Thanks for the great lesson. I struggle to relax and hit a well-placed overhead. I want to bounce it into the parking lot. Lots of easy points squandered.
Thanks for watching
Are there any lessons you would like to see in the near future?
All the best
Simon
Great lesson!
Thanks for watching 👍
Are there any lessons you would like to see in 2022?
Best wishes,
Simon
Love your videos and you guys go me really great at tennis and I love the sport. Thank you for everything!!
Thank you for watching.
Are there any videos you'd like to see from us in the near future?
All the best
Simon
I would love my to improve my serve and I watched all of your videos on the serve. Could you give me more tips?
@@connorbyrnes3876 The best thing you can do is keep working on the serve and if you want to go much deeper on the technique, check out our Serve Revolution course on our website
Thank you so much!!
@@connorbyrnes3876 Our pleasure!
Hi I really like the tip someone gave out that if you point at the ball while your still movement you have less balance so the tip was to use only the elbow till you get set then point up like you instructed. Thanks good lesson
Absolutely
Great teaching . I watched 4 different channels on this topic and yours was the most informative and explanatory . Only thing is, grip. Continental ?
Thanks for that
Yes, the continental grip is best
Thanks a lot for the tips, which help me greatly, but I still have a question regarding a situation I sometimes have to deal with: imagine I attack the net following a forehand down the line, then the opponent hits a cross-court lob, and I have to move not only backwards, but rather diagonal from the forehand side at the net to the backhand corner close to the baseline. Even if I turn to the side and try to use the crossover step, it is very difficult to move myself behind the ball to get the right position for the smash. Any advise for that? What footwork I should use? (and I don't want to hit a backhand smash, which will make me lose the point 90% of the time😂) Thanks in advance.
Great video Simon. I have a big question on the racquet motion while hitting overheads. Is it completely the same as serving, where I will pronate before and after contacting the ball? If it's different, which part exactly it differs from serving? Appreciate your clarification.
Same motion as the serve, if you're using the continental grip that should happen naturally.
Major difference is you might hit down more on the ball when you're closer to the net and the take-back will be slightly modified.
Thanks for watching
Any videos you would like to see from us in the near future?
All the best
Simon
Nice video..
Thanks
Another amazing video!
Thanks for watching 👍
Are there any lessons you would like to see in 2022?
Best wishes,
Simon
@@TopTennisTrainingOfficial thanks Simon, I haven't practiced any drills or seen much regarding a good lob shot yet so could be fun to be prepared for a good net player and volleyer.
good stuff
Thank you for watching 👍
All the best
Simon
Who has the best overhead smash of all time? Sampras, Federer, Nadal or someone else?
Top Tennis Training - Pro Tennis Lessons This question made me laugh!
Nadal super aggressive
@Pete Sampras - Sorry pistol. No disrespect intended.
Sampras
Hello, Simon. Great video, as always. However, I do have one question. What grip should this exercise be practiced with? A continental volley approach?
Continental grip for the smash 👍
well done great information ...one question please: what about contact point is it the same of serve ,is pronation the same???
Contact points will vary depending on the lob height and your body position.
Pronation is the same in general
Thank you guys fo the video ... I just have a question ... Do we use a contenintal grip (serve grip) or a normal forehand grip?
Thanks for watching
Continental grip all the way!
Are there any videos you would like to see from us in the near future?
All the best
Simon
@@TopTennisTrainingOfficial Sure man ... Hope you keep up the good work
First of all thanks for very informative video🙌 I've bee using and practicing overhead smash on the wall with forehand grip and masters it very well. However, I find out about continental grip later from your videos and fixed my serve (it took so many effort and double faults but worth it). So right now I have very aggressive smash with forehand grip should I change to continental grip anyway? Thanks coach Simon 🙏
It will be hard for you to have a good smash when dealing with very deep balls
Got it. Thank you so much 🙌
Hello and thanks! Could you please tell where to target to have a secure smash? I am always missing in game a target pre defined for some shots and I think a lot of mistakes in tennis are coming from the fact that we do not have defined targets for some shots. Like penalties in football. I think professionals have targets and do not decide where to hit at last moment.
Thanks again
I would always aim to hit my smash close to the service line, which allows me to snap down on the ball and be very aggressive, I'd aim away from the opponent, if the opponent is on the forehand side, go towards the backhand
All the best
Simon
Simon, at the end, that is wawrinka & grigor during 2019 us open fan week? I was there! We should all get the chance to say hello to u when u visit different tourneys. Cheers.
Yes, US Open fan week, well spotted.
Last year we had a few hundred people stop us on site and ask for pics etc
We were thinking about holding a get together but were worried about how many people might actually show up on site, could end up with quite a few.
We'll need to think about how we can do it in the future
@@TopTennisTrainingOfficial oh wow awesome! i didn't know this channel at the time of 2019 uso, glad im here now!
Good
Cheers
What grip do you select for a smash?
I've always had an issue with hitting the smash long, not so much into the net, I hit the ball to much like a serve, with zero wrist and hitting the ball forward
Make sure you're using a continental grip, a forehand grip will make your smashes go long. Hit down on the ball, aim for the service line!
Can you make a video on Fedrer,Nadal and Djokovic movements
Thank you for watching and for the suggestion!
All the best
Simon
In serious competition however a good lob doesn't land in the middle of the court it lands well over your head and near the baseline or in a corner so sidestepping back towards the baseline to get to the ball isn't the best course of action especially if the lob has top spin. In this situation the ball is moving fast so you need to run around it so you can get behind the ball far enough so that you can then run up to it, which allows you to get into the right position as the video suggests. If the lob is hit high but lands in the middle of the court that's a free point if you get yourself in the side serving style position.
A very deep lob would land close to the baseline but to reach it, you would only have to get to no mans land.
is there anything wrong with using the reverse cross over step when moving back for a smash?
It is tougher to get same distance as the cross over step can turn into a full running step whereas the reverse cross over turns into a backward run which keeps you open rather than closed (turned sideways) - so can only be used on short distance back
@@TopTennisTrainingOfficial thanks for replying, so in a nutshell if i were to use a reverse cross over step moving back for a smash i would cover less ground than using a normal crossover step?
Hmm. My sons Coach wants him to be more settled and have the head of the racquet slightly behind his head. I don’t know what to think.
Experiment with both techniques and see what works better
The problem that i unintentionally hit a slice smash like the serve i hit
How can i get used to both of them
I don't understand your issue, you smash with slice?
@@TopTennisTrainingOfficial yes
Like the slice serve
Sometimes the slice smash works great. If you want to flatten it out more, pronate the arm prior to contact and through the strike zone
@@TopTennisTrainingOfficial thanks mate ♥️
What is the contact point on the ball when you smash?
In front of your body, around the point of contact for your serve
Top Tennis Training - Pro Tennis Lessons Thank you.
Did I miss or u didnt talk about the grip - eastern, continental, doesn’t-matter? (Only reason I watched video)
The continental works best
👍🙏👦
Buh... Here for the home work......
Homework for school or tennis?
Now I’ll stop getting roasted by my peers for looking dumb when trying to do a good smash
Thank you for watching.
Are there any videos you'd like to see from us in the near future?
All the best
Simon
@@TopTennisTrainingOfficial have you done a video explaining kick serves or tweaners
Kick serve lesson - th-cam.com/video/yjpi0cMrkyw/w-d-xo.html
Net looks a touch low
The LTA don’t have funds for nets 🤣 only funds to give out 7 figure salaries to the execs
I thimk your videos are unnecessarily long,
Ask for a refund…