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Developing a deadly overhead is more important than ever—at all levels.
The overhead. No shot in tennis produces such a variety of shot outcomes and emotional reactions.
The overhead is the way to show your opponent you mean business – or that your confidence is fragile. Some players love the opportunity to make a statement by putting away a smash. Others freeze with the thought, “Oh no, not an overhead.”
I believe that teaching the overhead has never been more important. As players get faster and stronger and counter punching and defensive play becomes routine, the overhead is critical. Yet the mentality of so many players at the club level is that “modern” groundstrokes are the only thing that matters.
The antidote to baseline play is attack, and the overhead is an acid test for an attacking player. I believe in integrating serve and volley at all levels. (Click Here for the summary article Kyle’s series.) A great overhead is integral in mastering this attacking game.
But attack can be blunted by the lob if players cannot take the opportunity to finish. A great overhead sends the highly discouraging message to your opponent that he can’t win points by hitting…