The overhead is one of the hardest strokes in tennis for the following reasons:

– the ball is coming down faster (accelerating) compared to any other strokes in tennis
– timing is key: when to swing and where to make contact with the ball
– looking up while moving back is not something that people are very comfortable doing.

But as with any other stroke in tennis, practice improves anything. In fact, you should practice it often enough so that it becomes one of your put-away strokes.

Don’t think of your overhead as something you must get back into the court – think of it as your winning shot.

 

Tactically, we can notice two types of overheads: after-the-bounce, and off-the-air.

1. After-the-Bounce Overhead

Sometimes it is a better decision to let the ball bounce before striking it. Let’s say that one of your opponents has just delivered a very high lob. Considering that the ball will drop at a very high speed, the timing necessary to contact the ball at the optimum level is going to be very challenging. Therefore, in this case, letting the ball bounce is a very good decision.

Make sure that you consider how deep it will land – you don’t want to be pushed against the back fence to hit the overhead. Figure out quickly (before the ball bounces) where the landing spot will be (approximately) so you can back up far enough.

Always move farther back behind the landing spot so that you have room to move forward into the ball to deliver your overhead. In this way, your overhead stroke will be more powerful with your body weight behind your delivery.

2. Off-the-Air Overhead

Take the ball in the air when you know that the incoming lob is very low or letting it drop it will put you in a very difficult situation to return it. Not only that, but by hitting the overhead in the air you deprive your opponents of time to get in position to defend against it.

Compared to the “after-the-bounce overhead” where the ball is slower after it bounces, the “off-the-air overhead” is a little more difficult considering that you have less time to prepare and the ball comes down a lot faster. Try to make contact with it as close as possible to the net and at the highest point you can reach for it.

 

Overhead Placement

1. Towards the closest opposing player

That would be a wasted opportunity for a player who is just about to hit an overhead to direct it to the baseline(deep) opponent.

Think about it: the baseline player has more time to return the fast-coming ball than the net player. So, if the opposing net player does not move back seeing that you are just about to execute an overhead, hit the ball in his direction. Of course, your intention would not be to hurt the player. Just hope he will turn away or move out in time to not get hit. To make sure you don’t cause any physical harm, hit the overhead at a much slower pace when directing it toward a net player. 

This tactic will produce a winner most of the time. 

2. Angle short toward the alley – easier done if you take the ball very close to the net.

3. Down the center between the two defending players. 

 

The Overhead is a crucial shot for every respectable doubles player. It takes a lot of pressure off of you at the net, knowing that you “own” the Overhead. 

So practice it often and you will be a more confident doubles player at the net.