🎾 Beach Tennis

Smash: the basics

AttackHigh ballForehandFrom the shoulderFlat
Smash: the basicsVideo coming soon

The smash is the main attacking shot in beach tennis: it finishes the rally whenever the ball comes in high.

Backswing

  • The moment you see a high ball, turn your shoulders sideways to the net.
  • The racket goes behind your back, elbow pointing up.
  • Your free hand points at the ball — it helps you aim and keeps you balanced.

Contact point

  • Hit the ball in front of you, slightly ahead of your head.
  • Your arm is almost straight at contact — the shot comes from the shoulder, not from the elbow.
  • Make contact above your fully extended arm: don’t let the ball drop.

Footwork

  • Adjust to the ball with small steps, not one big lunge.
  • The last step lands on your support leg; your weight moves forward with the swing.

Pros

  • The most reliable way to finish a rally
  • Puts pressure on opponents: after a couple of smashes they stop feeding you high balls
  • Doesn't require big muscles — the contact point decides, not strength

Cons

  • In the wind the contact point drifts — easy to mishit
  • Energy-expensive: a series of smashes wears you out
  • A bent-arm smash from an awkward position is a gift to your opponents

Tips

  • Watch the ball all the way to contact, not the court
  • Keep adjusting with small steps until the very last moment
  • Hit at 80% power: accuracy wins more often than force