Smash (tennis)

Ken McGregor hitting a smash in the early 1950s

A smash in tennis is a shot that is hit above the hitter's head with a serve-like motion. A smash can usually be hit with a high amount of force and is often a shot that ends the point. Most smashes are hit fairly near the net or in mid-court before the ball bounces, generally against lobs that have not been hit high enough or deep enough by the opponent. A player can also smash a very high ball from the baseline, generally on the bounce, although this is often a less forceful smash.

Smash commonly refers to the forehand smash; backhand smashes are rarer and more difficult to execute, especially for beginners, since they are basically high backhand volleys generally hit at an exact angle causing the ball to spin. Rod Laver and Jimmy Connors, both left-handers, were known for their very powerful backhand smashes. The forehand smash was first used in Tennis by Helena Rice on championship point in the 1890 Wimbledon Championships final.

In his 1979 autobiography Jack Kramer, who had a fine overhead himself, devotes a page to the best tennis strokes he had ever seen. He writes: "OVERHEAD—Schroeder just tops here, ahead of Rosewall and Newcombe.

Grip and action

Main article: Grip (tennis)

The grip used for a tennis smash is either a continental or an Eastern grip. Most people use the continental grip. The positioning, footwork and direction are similar to a volley. The main difference is in the swing. The swing is similar to a slice serve. The smash is executed with one or both feet on the ground. Pete Sampras had a jump smash which he would hit in mid-air.

Jimmy Connors invented and popularized the skyhook, a version of the overhead smash in which the Eastern grip used to hit the ball further behind the body than is possible with a traditional overhead smash.

Pete Sampras (and before him Yannick Noah) popularized the jump smash, where the player jumps and then hits the smash in mid-air. The shot is often also called a slam dunk, as in basketball.

Roger Federer possesses the unique ability to hit all the different types of smashes mentioned above.

External links

• Video: Tips for a good smash
• Video: Sky Hook Overhead Smash - Video and Analysis