Returning an Overhead Smash
When you return an overhead smash, reaction time, anticipation, and luck are more important than technique. Forget success checks; concentrate on survival skills. Get the ball in play any way you can. In most cases, this means trying to return the smash with a high, deep defensive lob. Bargain for time and one more chance to stay in the point.
Try to anticipate where the smash will be hit so you can get a head start chasing down the ball. Many players develop a pattern of hitting smashes to the same area of the court. When you observe a pattern of smashes, make a calculated guess as to the direction of your opponent’s next shot. Don’t stand still and hope the ball comes close. Even if you guess, your chances of guessing correctly are at least 50-50, which may also help distract your opponent. If you show no movement, then your opponent is in total control of the situation and his chance of winning the point is even greater.
Hold your racket even tighter than you hold it on volleys. You will have no time for a backswing. Find a way to get to the ball and block it back with the open face of your racket. If you are good enough or lucky enough to return a smash, recover immediately. You may need another shot to finish the point.
If your opponent makes a mistake and hits a smash that can be returned with a groundstroke, don’t overreact. Inexperienced players have a tendency to try to blast the ball with a forehand or backhand once they realize they’re still in the point and the ball is not coming as fast as anticipated. Take that extra split-second, assess the pace, and go for a passing shot. It is most unsettling to your opponent when you prove that you are never out of the point, even when the odds are supposedly in her favor.
As the practice partner, you can use smash drills 3, 4, 5, and 6 to practice returning smashes.
Tennis: Steps to Success Jim Brown,Camille Soulier