The Overhead Smash: A Challenging Stroke for Elite Players
The overhead smash is a stroke that appears simple but can be a significant challenge even for the world’s best tennis players. Novak Djokovic, a 24-time grand slam champion known for his comprehensive skill set, openly admits his difficulties with this particular shot, which he humorously refers to as the "Djokosmash."
During the French Open last month, Djokovic was asked about his overhead smash and responded with a regretful shake of the head, stating,
“You’re talking to the wrong person,”accompanied by laughter. Despite mastering nearly every stroke in tennis, the smash remains the one shot he has never fully figured out.
Now 39 years old, Djokovic’s struggles with the smash have cost him crucial matches throughout his career. Although it is often considered one of the most straightforward shots in tennis, Djokovic’s overhead is regarded as one of the weakest on the tour.
When suggested that his overhead had improved over time, Djokovic laughed again, acknowledging the common phrase heard whenever he misses the shot:
“Thank you, but I don’t know if my coaches would agree with you, or myself,”he said.
“I had a ‘Djokosmash’ name for it right now by my fans, which is not that great. It hasn’t been really the shot that I was so confident in the last 10, 15 years of my career. Maybe early on, yes, but I don’t know. I’m not a big fan of the smash.”
The Smash in Modern Tennis and Player Perspectives
Even in today’s baseline-focused game, the overhead smash remains a fundamental shot, especially on grass courts like Wimbledon, where approaching the net is still rewarded. While audiences often perceive the smash as an easy point-winning shot, players describe a more complex reality.
Jannik Sinner, the men’s world No 1, explains the inconsistency players experience with the shot:
“It’s actually a strange shot, because sometimes you feel it very comfortably, you see the ball perfectly. And sometimes you struggle,”he says, reflecting on his own early difficulties with the overhead.
The shot divides opinion among players; some expect to convert every smash, while others consider it the toughest shot in tennis. Daniil Medvedev wonders about the role of natural talent in executing the overhead:
“I always wondered if it’s something how you were taught, when you were young, to do it or if it’s like a talent where you’re born with it because I do struggle sometimes with overheads,”he remarks.
Medvedev continues,
“There are a couple of guys on tour, on the practice court you give them some lobs and it doesn’t matter which position they’re in, they do it 10 out of 10 and I’m like: ‘How?’ With me, it goes up, down, right, left. I don’t understand where it’s going down so I do struggle sometimes.”
Jack Draper’s Experience and the Technical Challenges
On Monday, Jack Draper experienced one of the most notable misses of the year during his first match back after a lengthy injury break, spraying a smash right on top of the net. Draper, usually confident with the shot, highlighted the importance of focus in executing the overhead.
Several factors contribute to the difficulty of the smash. Players must contend with environmental elements such as sun glare and wind while tracking high, slow balls. Additionally, the height and depth of the opponent’s lob affect the shot’s complexity.
Draper cites Rafael Nadal as a prime example of a player who manages these variables exceptionally well:
“I think he has one of the best smashes ever that I’ve seen,”Draper says.
“And it’s because he gets so fast behind the ball to then goes forward. That’s what Trots [his previous coach James Trotman] always taught me as well, that I have to get behind the ball to then push forward because there was a stage when I was younger where I’d just wait for it to get on top of me.”
The Mental Aspect and Player Techniques
In the modern game, where players hit the ball with great power, the slower lob can appear as a welcome opportunity. However, Leylah Fernandez, a Canadian top 30 player, explains that the extra time to prepare can lead to overthinking:
“Every shot is hard. And a smash is probably one of the hardest ones because there’s also that two seconds where you’re thinking about it a lot, where the ball is high. ‘OK, I’m in control. Let me hit the crap out of the ball.’ But you’ve got to time it right and have the full belief that you’re gonna get it, right?”
Some players rarely use the overhead smash, preferring to take high balls out of the air with drive volleys, a more contemporary approach. Diana Shnaider, a French Open semi-finalist, shares her early experience:
“I didn’t hit any overheads until I was 14. And then I had a coach, I was hitting so many overheads with him, like almost 50 every practice. And then I started hitting my first overheads in the matches. I was so proud of myself,”she says.
Expectations and Standards Among Players
Despite the challenges, some players maintain that the overhead smash should be a near-certain point finisher. Karolina Pliskova, a former world No 1, states:
“I should make nine out of 10. I think there is a possibility, that there are some harder or easier smashes, but the ones which are closer to the net, I think you should always make it. But if it’s a little bit deeper, there can be sun or wind, it can be tricky.”
Flavio Cobolli, a French Open finalist, concurs:
“Ten out of 10, maybe it’s not easy,”he says with a smile.
“But nine out of 10, I can do it. Yeah.”
