by Jenny Foster
In pickleball, some players may find themselves having a hard time hitting an overhead or if they do, their shot lacks power to really pass over their opponent. Now, for those who want to improve their overhead shots, there’s something that they can do to turn this shot into a sure point. Let’s find out how.
When hitting an overhead smash, pickleball players should remember that they must consider the angles that they can hit the ball from. With an angled overhead smash, the goal is to hit the ball in an angled direction so that it will hit the sideline after bouncing off the court.
There are several reasons why pickleball experts would recommend an angled overhead smash.
First, given that the ball will be hit at angle, it will be directed away from the opponent, thus reducing their chance of hitting the ball back. Second, if by chance one of the opponents manages to return the ball, the gap between the other team players will widen, which will increase the space on which the ball can land.
A proper grip is important in hitting an overhead smash effectively. For the overhead smash, continental grip is the most apt to use. Next, players should be aware of their footwork if they are to hit an overhead smash. Specifically, their feet must already be in proper position before they hit the ball.
The overhead smash starts when a players gets a lob. With this opportunity, as the ball is still in the air, the player should pivot and put their dominant foot (alongside the arm holding the paddle) at the back, that is, from an open stance to a closed stance. Notably, from both shoulders facing the net in parallel, after turning, only the non-dominant shoulder should be perpendicular to the net. In addition, the player should raise their non-dominant arm and hold up the paddle behind their ear. Overall, a complete overhead smash is the combination and simultaneous execution of these movements.
Starting from behind the ear, the paddle should hit the ball with the edge leading forward. Then, the player will turn the paddle (paddle face forward), just before it hits the incoming ball.
Another important thing to consider in an overhead smash is where the ball should land. Pickleball players should always remember that their non-dominant shoulder should be pointed at their target area in the opponent’s court when hitting an overhead smash. Using the non-dominant shoulder will allow the player to hit their target position just as they turn their body to hit the ball.
A good way to practice an overhead smash is to place markers on the opponent’s court and use them as targets. In addition, when hitting from the right side of the court, the target should be preferably on the left side on the opponent’s court, and vice versa. That is, the ball should be hit in a diagonal direction. In the case when the opponent’s lob is too high, one can move a bit back to be able to smash the ball properly.
Overall, overhead smash can be used as a powerful attack in pickleball. However, it must be done properly in a way in which the opponent will have a low chance of returning the ball.