Getting Your Head in the Game

 I swear I wrote this post a while ago, but a modest searching effort didn't show it, so maybe I wrote it in my mind and let it go at that.

One of the points that JillyB talks about in her YouTube videos is getting your head close to your paddle when hitting a shot.

"What?"

No, really.  If you can have a posture that keeps you close to the ball, it's much easier to hit a good shot.  You will hit balls when they are closer to your torso, so well within reach.  If you do that your elbow will be closer to your body and you're not stretched out.  You don't have a lot of touch when your arm is extended fully, a bent elbow is a wonderful thing.

This is easy to try when you are dinking.  Think "crouching" for the shot and you can get a feel for this way to hit the ball.

The timing of when you hit the ball changes dramatically when you require the ball to be close to your body.  It might require a bit more movement, but the shots are so much more in control and solid.

Zane Navratil, also on YouTube, suggests that the overhead smash that ends up in the net is due to hitting the ball when it's too far away from you.  Let it get closer and see if that makes your smash a bit more consistent.

Added bonus for this stroke...  It also works quite well when hitting golf balls.  You are also a bit bent over and you maintain good posture and head position during the ball strike and when all that happens the club is on a good path through the ball.  Try it with your next pitch shot.