Fix Your Pickleball Overhead for Good

Your overhead fix doesn't require hours of practice. Jilly B breaks down the four most common overhead flaws and shows exactly how to correct them with simple footwork drills and positioning adjustments.

According to Jilly B, a professional pickleball coach who recently worked with the highest-level junior players in the country, most players struggle with overheads because they're making the same four predictable mistakes.

The good news? These flaws are fixable, and you don't need months of training to see results.

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The Four Overhead Flaws Holding You Back

When Jilly B taught a camp session with elite junior players, she noticed something striking: nearly every player made the same mistakes when hitting overheads.

These weren't subtle technical issues either. They were fundamental flaws that cost points and, more importantly, were completely preventable.

The four most common overhead problems are:

The backpedal
The no shoulder turn
The too slow to react
The let it bounce

Each one has a specific fix, and understanding why these flaws happen is the first step toward correcting them.

Why Your Footwork Is Everything for an Overhead Fix

Here's what most players get wrong: they think the overhead is about arm strength or swing mechanics. It's not.

Your overhead fix starts with your feet.

Jilly B teaches a foundational footwork drill that mimics the old tennis warm-up routine.

The drill involves three synchronized movements:

Your left hand points at the ball.
Your right hand comes to your ear like you're answering a phone call.
Your feet shuffle sideways.

This isn't just busy work. This is the foundation of every good overhead.

The reason this matters is that your shoulders need to turn perpendicular to the net.

If your shoulders stay facing forward, you have nothing to put on the ball.
If your shoulders don't turn, you'll fall backward when you try to hit the overhead.

The shuffle comes from torso rotation, and that rotation is what keeps you balanced and in control.

When you're in the correct position, just getting into that posture should feel uncomfortable.

If you feel like a caricature of yourself, you're doing it right.

Jilly B has logged over 400,000 hours of tennis, so the position feels natural to her. For you, it should feel exaggerated.

The Cardinal Sin: Letting the Ball Bounce

One of the most critical elements of an overhead fix is understanding this rule:

Never let the ball bounce.

This is non-negotiable.

Jilly B emphasizes this point repeatedly because it's where most players lose points.

Even if you think you're going to hit the worst overhead ever, even if you're barely there, take it in the air. Do not let it bounce.

The moment that ball bounces, your opponent has gained control of the point.

Why? Because a ball that bounces gives your opponent time to react and position themselves. A ball taken in the air puts immediate pressure on them.

It's really hard to hit a bad lob if you're catching it in the air.

You can hit a bad lob off the bounce, but in the air, the geometry of the shot is already working in your favor.

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Quick First Steps: The Reaction Problem

One of the biggest issues Jilly B sees at the professional level is a slow first step.

Players see the lob go up and their instinct is to watch it, stand in the lobby, and then jump for it. That's backward.

The moment you see the ball go up, your feet need to move first. Your eyes can follow the ball, but your feet should already be moving.

This is where the quick first step comes in. It's not about taking one big drag step or one big jump.

It's about taking lots of little steps, itty bitty ones, that get you moving immediately.

The difference between a slow first step and a quick first step is the difference between hitting an overhead at full extension and hitting one where you're already positioned.

One feels desperate. The other feels controlled.

Where to Aim Your Lob Defense

Here's something counterintuitive: your lob doesn't have to be good.

Jilly B spent years trying to make her lob perfect, and it wasn't until she worked with elite juniors that she realized the real secret.

Bad lobs work. What matters is where your opponents are standing.

If your opponent is leaning in, that's when you lob.
If they're back, don't lob.
If they're in the middle of the court, aim for the corners.

Jilly B taught this drill to the highest-level juniors in the country, and they threw every single lob to the middle of the court.

Once she corrected them to aim for the corners, they started winning those points.

The positioning of your opponent matters more than the quality of your lob.

A mediocre lob to the corner beats a perfect lob to the middle of the court every single time.

The Stable Base: Your Secret Weapon

A good overhead fix comes down to one thing: a stable base and stable footwork.

If you're still moving and you're off balance, you should not lob. Period.

When your feet are set and stable, you should feel like you have every option available to you on the court.

You can dink, you can speed up, you can lob. Nothing has changed in your swing.

It's 90 percent the same. But from that exact same posture, you can execute any shot.

This is why Jilly B emphasizes that you can tell if someone is going to hit a good overhead just by looking at their feet.

Are they set? If yes, the overhead is coming. If no, they're going to struggle.

The Drill You Can Do at Home

The beauty of this overhead fix is that you don't need a court or a partner. You can do this in your backyard, alone, with just a paddle and a ball.

The drill is simple: focus on keeping your arm up as long as you can and your chest up as long as you can.

Don't worry about finishing the swing with a big follow-through. Keep that arm elevated.

This single adjustment changes everything about how your overhead feels and performs.

Jilly B wouldn't have spent as much time on this detail if it weren't really important. It is. This is the drill to take home and practice.

Why the Overhead Matters More Than Ever

The lob is being called the shot of 2026, and for good reason.

On the professional tour, the overhead is such a weak point that players are winning free points just by lobbing.

If that's true at the pro level, imagine how many free points you could be earning at the amateur level.

Making an overhead fix isn't just about looking better on the court. It's about winning points you're currently losing.

It's about taking away one of your opponent's favorite weapons.

It's about confidence.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the four main overhead flaws?

The four main overhead flaws are the backpedal, the no shoulder turn, the too slow to react, and the let it bounce. Each one has a specific fix, and understanding why these flaws happen is the first step toward correcting them. According to Jilly B, these are the most common mistakes she sees even at the professional level.

Why is letting the ball bounce such a big deal?

Letting the ball bounce gives your opponent time to react and position themselves. A ball taken in the air puts immediate pressure on them and is much harder to miss. Even if you think you're going to hit a bad overhead, taking it in the air is always better than letting it bounce.

Can I practice this overhead fix alone?

Yes, absolutely. You can do the footwork drill and the arm positioning drill in your backyard with just a paddle and a ball. You don't need a partner or a full court to work on the fundamentals of a better overhead.

How long does it take to fix an overhead?

According to Jilly B, it took her four years to learn these principles, but she's distilled them into a 10-minute lesson. With focused practice on the footwork drill and the stable base concept, you should see improvement in your next few sessions on the court.

What's the most important part of an overhead fix?

The most important part is having a stable base and stable footwork. If your feet are set, everything else follows. You can tell if someone is going to hit a good overhead just by looking at their feet.