Generating natural power on the overhead as you’re moving backwards to cover your opponent’s lob can be a real challenge.
Too often we lock up the wrist which also locks up the forearm roll (pronation) and we end up pushing our overhead.
Pushing results in zero power.
The clip above was taken from the clip below.
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Brent’s Overhead Lesson
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Hi gang.
I’m heading over to the Berkeley Tennis Club to play some singles.
Leave a comment and I’ll respond to it when I get back this afternoon.
Brent
Great teaching aid, excellent use of technology.
Glad you like it Bryan.
Fun to do, and you’re right, a good teaching tool.
Brent
Brent:
Excellent video clips from the Australian Open. Your analysis of the overhead with stop action video was quite helpful to see the rotation of the arm resulting in a powerful return. Thanks for your teaching while following this wonderful tournament.
Morning John.
Remember, these clips are not from the Australian Open, they’re from the Brisbane tournament.
This clip was really graphic how it shows the forearm rotation on the overhead, especially when moving backwards.
Brent
Super little clip demonstrating wrist action. A visual works so much better for me as a teaching aid. Will try this at my next lesson and surprise my teacher who has been telling me for ages to loosen up my wrist. Keep em’ coming Brent. Much appreciated!
The slo-mo on that forearm roll is really a GREAT teaching tool. I also like the way you call it the roll and not just pronation or wrist “snap.” The “roll” provides a better mental model for actually implementing the shot. Thanks!
Hey Scott. Glad you liked this clip. The “roll” is much more understandable than pronation for sure.
Now get out there this weekend and work on rolling (turning) the forearm with a relaxed wrist!
Brent
Great clip, I had always heard that the overhead was similar to the serve that clip proves it . The clip shows us the angle you were teaching us a couple videos back a picture is worth a thousand words and what a great overhead. thanks a million .
Hi Jack.
Yes, the overhead is very similar. The feet are obviously moving helping you get into a good hitting position unlike the serve, but the rest is very much the same.
Even the tossing motion – on the overhead you raise your front arm up similar to the tossing motion of the serve.
Brent
I think I like the old theme music better, Brent
Hi Bill!
OK, maybe I’ll do a quick survey with 3 – 4,15 second videos with different sound tracks but the same intro clip.
You guys choose your favorite and we’ll go wit the winner …
Stay tuned.
Brent
Brent great clip to explain very clearly what should happen on the retreating smash – the serve action without the follow-through. This HD video is a wonderful tool.
Hi Jack.
You’re right about how HD technology is so helpful.
Despite the clarity of HD, Dogopolov’s forearm roll happens so quickly that it’s blurred.
Still, this video technology makes it SO much easier for me to teach without having to be an expert spelr ot righter.
Brent
I have a reasonable overhead but do tend to go up and push the ball back too much now that I think about it.Will give this more attention as after viewing this I dont do enough.
It takes some work for sure to combine the forearm turn with a relaxed wrist.
If the wrist is too tight when you roll because you’re squeezing the handle too tightly, it’s a counter productive force and sets up up for an injury.
Careful everyone …
Brent
I started without a racquet in my hand and just stroked as if my hand was the racquet to get a feel for the forearm roll (just don’t focus on the hand, focus on the forearm) and then did a real gentle serve stroke without a ball. It’s important, as I understand it, not to turn the wrist independently from the forehand – that’s also injury time if one becomes wristy.
Nice parallel between the overhead stroke and the serve stroke. Today, for the first time since I have been drilling and serving in matches using the shorter stroke, when I transitioned from the shorter stroke to the full serve stroke it felt smooth as silk and effortless, and the ball just flew in.
Several years ago, when I was first transitioning to a real serve stroke from the typical pancake forward hit rec slap, I did hurt my wrist a bit at one point, but not too badly, and later getting use to having my lower finger off the grip tossed my racquet into the ground a half dozen or so times. Since then I have lost the racquet a couple more times and clunked my knee…but not lately.
Brilliant insight again Brent. So great to see this slowed down to see the difference between a good and a great shot! Happy New Year all!
Hey RobC.
Glad you liked this one. The key now is to get out there with a practice partner and tinker, tinker, tinker …
Brent
Thank you so much for your informative information. I have been having some problems with my put away overheads and couldn’t really figure out what I was doing wrong… This is certainly something that I will try to do for my next match!
I also seem to wait for the bal to drop and then with a tight stiff wrist put the ball away… And as you probably guessed it goes straight into the net!!!
Thanks so much for spending the time and helping me figure out some corrections in my game!
Hello Eka. Good to hear from you.
Make sure you get out on the practice court first to experiment with how this works for you BEFORE your next match.
Have fun out there.
Brent
Creat overheads start with great footwork yeah..Dolgo’s got pretty quick feet.
Hi Eric.
Great observation.
No question that you can’t forearm roll IF you don’t think about the feet first getting you into position to swing.
That kid can definitely motor out there …
Brent
I would argue (and arguing is what I *love* to do
) that the key to getting some power on one’s overhead is to take more of a “racket drop”, or just a larger back-swing. Basically, if yer forearm is something like “vertical” on the deepest part of yer back-swing, then you ain’t gonna get much “hit”. If, like Dogopolov, yer racket drop or backswing puts your forearm in a “horizontal” position, then the power will be there.
Now, with the bigger back-swing, can you “time” the swing as effectively? Practice helps. . .
I also agree that the loose wrist is a huge factor – just not enough – even with a “rolling forearm”.
The pronation term has been banned. 
Kevin
Racket drop could be dangerous to suggest to anyone. In simple bio-mechanics the rotation of the shoulders will allow a ` racket drop` in a natural way and shouldn`t be a forced issue. It will become a byproduct / spinoff of the whole overhead movement. Some have defined it as a bridging phase of the integrated movement.
Hi Kevin. I sort of agree with Andreas.
We have to make this natural, and over emphasizing any part of it could be a recipe for injury.
The problem with a larger backswing is that it really forces the feet to slow down.
The feet are the key to help you quickly get into position to be able to give the overhead some “po” from a very short set up with the racket.
If you’re arm is naturally relaxed (which creates enough ‘drop’), you’ll get plenty of racket swing (power) from the forearm roll.
Brent
“The problem with a larger backswing is that it really forces the feet to slow down.”
I guess I’m gonna have to get the video camera out, again. . .
Hey Kevin. Very tough to coordinate a large backswing as you’re moving.
With the serve it’s OK, but on the move and tryng to play an overhead requires a short setup.
Brent
Interesting. I think I’m starting to understand. . .
brent – watched it this morning and went to play dubs … hit three good overheads using the technique!
thanks!
George! You’re the man … Well done.
Brent
These talkover slo-mos are great! I’ve been trying the “roll” now on my second serve (it will take me a while to get it) but clips like this really visually reinforce your message, thanks.
Dollo really accentuates that roll! And look at the first part of the clip, his inimitable backhand follow through…
Ditto comment on your theme music, I liked the previous sound better too.
Barbara, it really helps to do shadow strokes without the ball to smooth the roll out.
Good one Brent!
This awareness of becoming tense just before striking the ball and as you stated we`ll push the ball back into the court is something we`re all wary of! Looking at this clip reminds me of my own lackadaisical approach to smashing and at times poor footwork! I remind all of my avid players to shadow practice the overhead as well. An Australian coach from yesteryear told us to tap the net, push off / turn and shuffle back ,
then act out the movement. I would make this my regimen before all league matches.
Therefore , if we would make this our routine now and again then we could deliver the very pronation you mentioned Brent.
Thanks for this food for thought……don`t we take things for granted?
Andreas
Morning Andreas.
That’s a great drill that can really help with the footwork pattern for that quick lob that requires really decisive footwork.
Try it without a ball several times and then have your practice partner feed one.
Brent
Hi Brent,
I like the way the video clips break down the info that you want to convey to us. But,it looks to me like the stroke in the overhead has the same forearm roll as suggested in the kick serve. Perhaps I am doing it incorrectly. I feel quite uncomfortable with rolling my forearm in a counterclockwise direction and It worries me that I could injure my arm.
Jules
Hi Jules.
You’re correct, there is forearm roll, but the shot itself is much flatter than a kick serve. You don’t need much spin from this angle where you can literally spike the ball straight back down into the court (where you can’t from the baseline on the topspin serve).
And you’re also right, you MUST be careful any time you turn the forearm on the serve and/or the overhead.
If you try to roll the forearm WHILE you’re squeezing the racket handle too tightly, bad things can happen …
Brent
Took the advice and have had surprisingly good results with my overheads. Rather than pushing them, I have been putting them away. Also I’ve been more aware of the necessity for taking a couple more small steps to get into optimum position.Thank you.
Thanks for the tip and breaking it down with a video. I really enjoy your email tips and webcasts you do.
Jaime
Hi Jaime.
Glad to read that you’re liking these voiceover videos and webcasts.
Brent
Great comment on the pronation of one of my favorite players to watch.
I also stopped by to wish you a great year!
You rock!
Take care, Brent.
Horacio
it was a very educational part of the game i usually have problem playing the overhead shot
Ok, end of my treasure posts. Thought my fellow students would like to know that there is a great resource in the select the month archives option on this website. I’m sure some already knew about but that button is so small and easy to miss on the web page.
I am also putting together a list of research terms for the archives. Here are my search terms for 2007:
Jan-07 grip balance
Feb-07 top of skill level serve racquet speed grips spacing low skipping backhand volley
May-07 backhand drive midcourt forehand instincts classic serve singles court positioning
Jun-07 high backhand volley vertical singles strategy singles strategies
Aug-07 pronation handle kick serve
Sep-07 eastern grip topspin response to lob reflex volley volley footwork
Oct-07 approach shot practice vs match play split step half volley
Nov-07 poaching swing timing mental game
Dec-07 Tom Stow serve purpose serve tossing motion forehand slice footwork
Cheers and best of luck…I’m back on quiet mode for awhile. RodgerS.
With this great weather we’ve been having out here in northern California recently (is it a drought yet?), I’m hoping “quiet” means you’ll be working behind the scenes at one of those back courts out from the limelight.
Thanks for the time to go back and take a look at those clips and then suggest …
Brent
Yes, I have a new drill I’m going to try – “a mindset, a practice regimen where you purposely vary your length, your height, your pace, your placement,” and types of shots.