Overhead Smashes: Hitting the Put-Away
The overhead smash is your closer, your finisher, your ultimate offensive weapon, and it is probably the most exciting shot in tennis. You’ve already put pressure on your opponent with strong groundstrokes, a high, deep approach shot, a crisp volley, or perhaps a well-timed lob. The only thing your opponent can do now is retreat and return your shot with a weak, short lob. Now you are ready for the kill.
What you do with overhead smashes depends on where you are on the court. If you are inside the service court, go for winners by hitting into the center of the open part of the court and away from your opponent. When your opponent begins to correctly anticipate where you are going to hit and starts to move in that direction, hit your smash in the opposite direction (behind your opponent). When you have enough time to move back and let a higher ball bounce without giving up your attacking position, go for an angled winner or hit deep into the open corner.
At times, your opponent is an easy target—she is close to the net, directly in front of you, and basically helpless. The unwritten rule is to hit away from or at the feet of your opponent—never to cause an injury. In that situation, an experienced player will turn and allow you to finish the point. By not taking a cheap shot at your opponent, you win not only the point, but also that person’s respect.
At times you will be forced to use the overhead smash even though you are in a defensive position. In this situation, the idea is to get the ball back, send it as deep as possible, and hit your mental reset button to continue playing the rest of the point.
Tennis: Steps to Success Jim Brown,Camille Soulier