There’s probably no worse feeling in tennis than flubbing an easy overhead. This happens often in doubles because the open court is a little harder to find when you’re playing two opponents. The next time a lob drops into your sights, remember these tactics to give your overheads a little more margin for error:
Use the Middle
Not every overhead is meant to be smashed for a winner. If your opponents hit a decent lob that pushes you back behind the service line, don’t try to do too much with your reply. Hitting a solid overhead down the middle is a smart and effective way to keep your opponents on the defensive and should give you the opportunity to put the ball away with your next shot.
Spike It
It’s always a safe play to hit an overhead into the open court. But in doubles, you can’t always find that space. That’s why your team may have to hit a series of overheads in order to win a point. But if the lob is shallow and you have time to set up and get your weight into the shot, a good option is to spike the overhead down into your opponents’ court so the ball bounces over them. No matter how tall your opponents are, there’s always plenty of open space above their heads.