Overhead Fundamentals

The overhead is a serve you don't control the toss for. Same kinetic chain as the serve — track, move, brake, snap. See Serve Fundamentals for the complete kinetic chain breakdown.

Key Overhead Differences from Serve

• No controlled toss — you must track and move to the ball
• Side-on stance — turn immediately, non-dominant hand points at ball
• Crossover steps — never backpedal (causes falling backward)
• Contact point — slightly in front, to the right (right-hander), above head
• Racket drop — let gravity + trunk rotation drop racket behind back; don't muscle it down
• Brake & Snap — front hip/leg brakes hard, torso stops, arm whips, pronates

Fault Signals

Symptom	Root Cause	Fix
Goes long	Contact behind head, or face open	Move feet, contact in front, pronate
Into net	Racket dropped late, or muscled down	Let gravity drop racket, let trunk rotate
Falling backward	Backpedaled, no root	Crossover steps, wide base, front foot brakes

Key Points

1. Turn sideways immediately — non-dominant hand points at ball
2. Move with crossover steps, NEVER backpedal
3. Contact: slightly in front, to right, above head
4. Let racket drop by gravity + trunk rotation; don't muscle it down
5. Front hip/leg brakes, torso stops, arm whips, pronates
6. Eyes stay on contact spot until ball leaves strings; no peeking
7. Finish: racket crosses body, weight forward, balanced

Coach's Tip: Overhead fear = looking at target too soon. Drill: hit overheads, call "contact" instant you feel ball on strings. Only then look. 20 balls — peek early = partner calls it.

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Source: Chapter 24 — Volley & Overhead, United Tennis Handbook