As you creep up ninja-like to the net, alas the ball sails
over your head. Of course. Now you have to hit an overhead. The most important
thing about overheads, and really tennis in general, is your footwork. Gluing
yourself like a statue to the court will probably not work out for you.
Two
important things to remember on the overhead are
Numbero uno: Standing sideways, trophy stance, not belly
facing the net
Numbero dos: Reaching up to the ball rather than waiting for
it to smack you upside the head
Honestly, I could finish writing right now. Those are the
two major things that you’ll need for your overhead. But some players insist on
spiking the ball as hard as they can into the court, and other mini players
wish to do the same but don’t know how. Spiking your overhead into the court
hard enough will ensure that the player on the other side does not touch the
ball at all. The spike overhead necessitates a lot of wrist action in addition
to the numbero uno and numbero dos rules. You can practice by standing on the
service line and trying to hit the ball into the box in front of you, making
sure that the ball spikes into the court and then continues moving over the
net. Keep in mind thought that the spike overhead is allowed only when the ball
is a pathetic attempt at an overhead and is very close to the net as well as
high enough for you to snap your wrist on. All other overheads require more
extension (aka getting it over the net with follow through). Deep lobs (not so
pathetic attempt at lobs) are the hardest overheads to hit because oftentimes
the initial contact with the ball will be not above your head but slightly
behind it. This requires extensive follow through for it to go over the net,
and also equilibrium of balance between strength and depth. Hit these balls
with all your might and your chance of getting it in the court is 10%. Of
course that’s a scientific statistic! I’m in grad school after all!
It’s hard as well to keep your body sideways on the deeper
lobs. Scissor kick overheads, where you propel yourself with your legs to not
only finish with your body forward instead of stumbling backwards but adding
follow through by using your whole body, are an option for more advanced
players.
The most frustrating overhead mistake for both players and
coaches is the butt-out-I-don’t-know-if-it’s-really-an-overhead-or-a-volley
overhead. This is the ball that sails haphazardly over the net just high enough
to be an overhead and still low enough to be a volley. Most players hit this as
an overhead, eventually sticking their butt out and hitting the ball at such an
angle you could slightly imagine them being a part of the dance routine “Stop,
in the name of love!”
So, what do you do? In that split second of panic, do what’s
good for you and either let the ball bounce and do whatever you please with it
or hit a volley. For the love of anything fine in this world, please do not hit
an overhead. Just as a reminder, for it to be called an overhead, it has to be,
like, over your head.
