Pro Tip: How to Handle Overhead Smashes

Top 5 pro player James Ignatowich

Hey guys, this is James Ignatowich, and today I’m going to cover how to defend against the overhead.

When players have overheads being hit at them, the first thing they should focus on is their feet. The initial step should be getting back with your feet and lowering your paddle (Figure 1).

You don’t want your paddle up high because you’re defending nothing behind you (Figure 2). If the ball bounces past the baseline, it’s out, so the only area you need to defend is in front of you.

Figure 1

Figure 2

Your paddle should be down, ready to respond. When you see someone about to crush an overhead at you, start moving back and keep your paddle low. If an opponent has an overhead and you think they’re going to smash it, you should move behind the baseline to give yourself some space.

One very important aspect of pickleball is that once the ball bounces, it slows down dramatically. No matter how hard you hit the overhead, it won’t continue at the same pace after the bounce. So remember: get back and get low.

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James Ignatowich is a top 10 professional pickleball player originally from Connecticut, now residing in Delray Beach, Florida. A former Division 1 tennis player at Vanderbilt University, James made a transition to pickleball, quickly rising to prominence in the sport and often playing doubles with Tyson McGuffin and Anna Bright. In addition to his athletic achievements, he runs his own podcast, where he shares insights into the game and interviews other professionals. jamesignatowichnewsletter | PPA | MLP | My paddle