The Butterball

Synonyms

Smash, overhead shot, smash

Introduction

In tennis, the butterball is one of the strokes with which a direct point win is aimed at. In principle it is possible to hit a butterball from the entire court, but normally the butterball is only played near the net for safety reasons. In order for the ball to be played at the highest possible speed, it must be hit centrally at the club head. To be able to hit the ball successfully, a good starting position is of elementary importance. Since the approach direction of the ball is steeply downwards, and the player’s gaze is therefore directed upwards, it makes orientation in the playing field considerably more difficult, and the butterball is thus complicated for beginners.

Differences to the markup

Before the player can kick a ball, he must first get into the correct position. In contrast to the serve, there is no backswinging movement with the ball. Since the ball is mostly played close to the net, the trajectory of the ball is steeper downwards than on serve and the point of impact is further in front of the body.

  • The feet are shoulder width apart, the knee joints are slightly bent
  • The load of the body weight is on the ball of the foot
  • The tennis racket is held with a backhand grip
  • For right-handed players the left hand is on the neck of the club
  • The view is directed to the ball
  • In the starting position the player stands on his side. The load of the body weight is on the back leg. ( for right-handed players the right)
  • In order to be able to orientate better in the playing field, the non-stroke arm points to the ball
  • The racket is guided to the back with a backhand grip
  • Stretching the abdominal muscles causes body tension.
  • The club head is located far behind the body
  • The upper body still points to the list side
  • With the butterball from the jump.

    Jump with the right leg, hitting the ball, then landing on the left leg.

  • The club is accelerated to the point of impact. First the stretching of the knee joints begins, followed by a rotation of the upper body. Only then does the actual impact movement from the shoulder occur.
  • The ball is hit with the arm stretched out in front of the body
  • Depending on the distance to the net, the hitting surface points diagonally downwards
  • The load of the body weight is shifted when hitting the ball on the front foot

The body weight is completely shifted to the front foot

  • The swing is done on the backhand side. The upper part of the body is turned to the side so that there is no slap arm.
  • The body weight is completely shifted to the front foot