The tennis overhead-smash!

The tennis overhead-smash  has several forms that I generally divide in three types:

- The bounce Overhead Smash! which as the word bounce implies you let the ball bounce of the ground before you hit it.

- The Easy Tennis Overhead-Smash! where all it requires is to position yourself under the ball and hit it while in the air from an easy position.

- The jumped overhead smash (the one we are going to develop in this lesson). A more complex type of overhead which is often called the scissors jump overhead.

The scissors jump is a style used in the athletics event of high jump. In athletics high jumpers transform horizontal forward speed into vertical elevation to travel over the bar, tennis players transform backwards speed (a much more complex movement) into upwards elevation with the leg scissors action.

The great advantage of this type of backwards jump is that gives the tennis player far greater reach for lobs or high balls he otherwise would be incapable of playing.

Roger Federer in this sequence demonstrates that as a complete player he is, this jumped overhead is an integral part of his stroke repertoire.

Here are some simple steps to develop a jump overhead smash:

1 - In a basic form all you have to do is to place yourself in a sideways position in relation to the net (right hander's right foot back, left hander's left foot back). Make a shortened version of the service racket preparation and aim at the ball with your non racket hand.

2- Put all your weight on the back leg (behind) and slightly bend it.

3 - Push off upward from that leg and as you are getting air born kick the foot from that leg towards the air out in front of you in a scissors movement. As you jump swing at the ball and make contact with a pronation of your wrist. (Since you are learning, play the ball easy as you get better you will hit the ball harder).

4 - While step three is happening the leg which was in front initially will switch position with the air born leg and stretch backwards and serve as safe landing in the foot of the same leg.

5 - Once you finish your overhead smash action you ought to go back to the net following the line/direction of the ball you have just hit. Recover the racket and center it in relation to your body for an equal chance at a left or right volley.

Some important factors to keep in mind:

- Success is important so initially execute the jump overhead-smash close to the net and as you get better progressively move further back.

- As in the video, often the first step is a parallel (sideways step) followed by a cross-stitch or carioca step and finally the anchor step to generate the vertical jump.

- Before you try with the racket in your hand or ball, make this movement dry several times to get the feeling of how your body segments interact together.

- Ultimately you will want to develop a killer jump overhead smash but patience and practice is required , so take your time and enjoy it while you develop this stroke.

As I have once said, I prefer letting young players develop their own grips, I do not teach them, but I rather let them find out.

Nevertheless, I will show you the continental grip which is commonly used in serves, overhead-smashes and volleys.

 

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