Eliminate these common mistakes on the overhead to quickly improve this skill:

1. Lacking Preparation – Quickly recognize when the pickleball is sent into the air on a lob or other high shot. Upon recognition, prepare the paddle, point your finger, rotate your feet and upper body, and quickly shuffle your feet to move into the proper position.

2. Allowing the Pickleball to Drop – Remember that the proper contact point on an overhead is in a fully extended position. If you let the pickleball drop too much, you will likely hit the pickleball into the net. If the pickleball is too low, bend your knees so that you are at least fully extended from your paddle to your waist.

3. Dropping Your Head – Watch the pickleball all of the way to the contact point. If you drop your eyes lower than the contact point, you will likely cause your head, shoulders, and paddle to also drop, which will, in turn, cause you to hit the pickleball lower than desired and into the net. So, keep your head up and eyes on the pickleball all of the way to the contact point.

Key Takeaways:

1. As soon as the pickleball is sent into the air, prepare for your overhead with your proper mechanics, especially with your footwork.

2. Hit the pickleball in a fully extended position. Bend your knees if necessary.

3. Keep your head and chest up throughout your overhead swing.