Let's talk about the overhead fundamentals. So in order to hit a good
overhead the first key is making sure that you move the body and you get under the ball in a
position where you can swing in balance. Okay. So the overhead is very, very similar to the serve. It is a throwing motion . So being
a throwing motion I want to make sure that I am sideways and that I am ready to
throw. So my first step as soon as I see the ball coming
I am going to take my racquet up and I am going to pivot. I will take my right leg back if I am right handed in order to be sideways.
Basically what I wanna do is to get to a position similar to the power
position of the serve. The position where I am under the ball ready to swing.
I am going to use ideally a Continental grip just like to serve. if you still not
at that stage use a forehead grip but ideally you want to switch to
Continental grip as soon as you feel comfortable with the motion. Okay so once
I see the ball coming I get into this position and I am going to use my left hand as a guide.
I am going to imagine that I will catch the ball. So my left hand is guiding me and getting me right under the ball. And when the ball is right on top of me that is when I can swing
So a good exercise would be to get sideways and just catch the ball with your left hand. The left hand is your guide. The right hand has to be in a position
ready to swing. So it's very important that before you move you get that right arm and
the racket ready to swing. A lot of players move to the ball and the racket is still low
and then they are trying to bring it up so a very important fundamental is unit here
arm up and racquet ready to hit. Once you are in this position you are going to stay sideways and you are going to move sideways to get adjusted to the ball.
So if the ball is behind me move this way. If the ball is in front of me move this way. If the ball is back... If the ball is forward . that is what I do
So I stay sideways and move sideways. Once I am under the ball what I am going to do
is throw my racquet towards the ball and use my wrist to reach full height when making contact
I want to make contact in the highest position. Same as in the serve.
my left hand is going to come down to my body, my right arm is going to go up to hit.
There is one spacial situation where I need to move back and that is the scissor kick overhead.
In order to swing when I am moving backwards and I have to jump.
all I have to do is make sure that I turn get my racquet in the hitting position and then get my weight on the back foot
With my weight on the back foot, I am going to jump and swing at the same time
and then I am just going to keep moving backwards
If I keep moving backwards, I can catch my balance and then move forwards
A lot of people think that they have to swing forwards on the overhead
No, when the ball is very deep, I just have to jump up and the momentum is going to carry me back
Let your body go back! Let your body go back and then catch up.
So very important Continental grip getting in position sideways under the ball
using the left hand to really get under the ball, using that left hand to really get under the ball,
using..staying sideways and moving to get in position
and then just making sure that the racquet is at full extension when you make contact.
If you have to hit moving backwards get your weight onto your back foot and swing it jump
at the same time allowing your body to continue moving backwards