Below is my article on the lob...Content first and then links for videos with captions at the end. Two comments...

1. Kind of ironic but for the non-tour players(Your subscribers) the lob is used often while at the tour level we do not see it frequently...One reason for this is the lack of players who come to the net...I am betting a high percentage of your subscribers are doubles players at least part of the time if not all the time whereas we all know how much television coverage doubles receives at the tour level versus singles!

2. To that thought, it was challenging to find offensive lobs in your video library...There were enough defensive lob videos...I did find some of the offensive nature but if you know of / have more....Feel free to add them.

Otherwise, I begin the article by addressing what I believe is the love-hate feelings regarding this shot...The lob fuels the most polarizing commentary I hear from students compared to other shots...There is not even a close second!

I think there is one shot which creates more of a love / hate reaction amongst tennis players than any other…The lob! Those who love it are the people who hit it; those who hate it are the people who get lobbed and may not hit the shot much themselves.

In defense of the “lobbers”…It is a “real” shot in tennis and “part of the game” as the saying goes. As well, it provides a great opportunity to neutralize aggressive net play, take advantage of people with limited mobility or those who have a weak overhead smash. Every tennis player has also used the lob in conjunction with the sun, wind or indoor lighting at one time or another to their advantage. The lob is a shot every tennis player should practice and have in their arsenal.

On the other side, I think I am accurate in summarizing the greatest frustration for those who get lobbed is often they feel the lobbers try nothing else…It is almost as if the lob is “automatic” and their only choice. For example, the person who consistently lobs when receiving a second serve in doubles. So yes it is annoying for those who would like to get to the net; have some action and exchanges with their opponents only to face someone who does nothing else but lob.

With this article I will examine some of the technical aspects and decision-making related to the lob and also address some of these “emotional issues” I just noted!

OFFENSIVE OR DEFENSIVE LOB?

In my opinion, this is the big decision which needs to be made and it involves a very simple checkpoint / question: Do you have the time to make a choice on what shot to hit?

Meaning, if someone is at the net or coming up to it and you have the time to decide whether to hit a passing shot, a ball right at them or a lob…That is an offensive situation. You have a choice. However, if you are on the dead run or your opponent just crushed an overhead at you…There is really only one option…Get the ball in air and as high as possible in order to give yourself “recovery” time.

WHAT IS THE GENERAL GOAL?

It comes down to the arc of the lob!

On a defensive lob as was just noted, often the goal is to hit the ball as high as possible i.e. Think “hang time” for a punt in football. For a defensive lob there should be high expectations the person or team being lobbed is going to have an opportunity to hit a return shot, perhaps even an overhead smash. But at that moment all the lobber is trying to do is stay alive in the point. Occasionally we hit a defensive lob which becomes offensive for any number of reasons and puts the opponents in trouble but most often this is not the case.

For an offensive lob the goal is to arc the ball high enough so it clears any chance of the opponent being able to hit an overhead but at the same time low enough so the ball either “runs” to the back fence or provides no opportunity for the opposition to chase it down.

The defensive lob is used to keep us in the point; the offensive lob is used to win the point!

CHECKPOINTS FOR HITTING A LOB

I think one of the greatest disservices teaching pros can tell students is suggesting one stroke is like another i.e. “The lob is just like a groundstroke but hit higher!” Groundstrokes and lobs are no more similar than a volley and returning a fast serve because all you need to do is “block the ball.”

Therefore while the emphasis on groundstrokes is often to hit through or drive the ball, the lob actually requires some “touch” and “feel” to hit successfully. Otherwise if your swing speed is like a groundstroke but the ball is just hit higher….It is going to be long and / or over the fence!

Defensive Lob…This may be one of the easiest shots in tennis to hit as your primary requirement is to make sure the racquet face is open. Because this shot is often hit while on the run and / or using the ball speed provided by the opponent…There is not much arm / racquet swing needed. Keeping oneself in the point is the main goal. Yes you may get an overhead smash slammed at you on the next shot but at least you made your opponent have to hit the ball again! Obviously we want all our lobs to go deep but in this case height of the ball is most important.

Offensive Lob…What can make this shot effective is the ability to disguise it. Similar to a drop shot. If you can make it appear as though you are going to hit a groundstroke and then turn it into a lob…So much the better. Adding topspin so the ball will “run” to the back fence after bouncing is a great dimension to add but not a necessity. It is the arc of the ball, spin or no spin, which creates the potential for a great offensive lob.

For either an offensive or defensive lob, if you are able, regardless of the distance to have the racquet hand / head “follow the ball” upwards it will help ensure success.

HOW TO PRACTICE THE LOB?

I doubt you will get a friendly reaction if you announce before a practice match you will be working on your lob during play! As opposed to if you said you were going to try more serve and volley tactics.

Therefore, either with a friend or instructor there are a wide range of drills and “rules” you can implement to work on the lob…For the former an approach shot – volley – overhead(Lob by you) is an excellent one; for the latter making a “rule” where both players have to hit at least one lob per game can also be helpful.

With a ball machine I would suggest rather than setting up the machine to hit the ball all over the place(Which can often lead to constant adjustments with the machine)…Set the machine so the ball goes to one specific area and then change your distance from where the ball bounces so the further you have to move to get to the ball the more defensive the lob. Then after a while change the machine to hit to another area and repeat your distances.

HOW TO DEFEAT THE PERSON WHO RELIES ON THE LOB

In my opinion there are two key issues…

1. Develop a great overhead smash(See my recent article on this shot!). Nothing will discourage a person who likes to lob more than someone who has a great overhead. Lobbers often rely on the fact many tennis players rarely practice their smash beyond “I will take a few up please” when they warm-up for their match! Also, make sure you practice hitting the overhead from different areas of the court and both in the air and after the ball bounces.

2. Analyze why someone is able to lob you! “Rewind” your points if you will and look at what type of shot are you hitting which is allowing your opponent(s) to keep lobbing. The chances are pretty good you are hitting a ball to them in their comfort zone i.e. Perhaps a weak second serve? Then hit(Or practice) alternative shots which minimize their ability to hit a lob…Make them uncomfortable before they make you uncomfortable!

So instead of complaining about the person who lobs…Work on these two areas and I guarantee you will see fewer lobs! Either way, it is important to practice the shot and also how to handle them when they are hit at you!

http://www.tennisone.com/club/prostrokes/clijsters-2/forehand/k_clijsters-fh-dlob-f.php

CAPTION: Kim Clijsters on the run executes a perfect defensive lob. Minimal backswing and making sure the racquet face is open prior to contact. Be sure to continue to watch the video after she hits the ball and you can tell the lob was well hit because of her recovery time.

http://www.tennisone.com/club/prostrokes/nalbandian-2/bh/d-nalbandian-bh-lobd-f.php

CAPTION: David Nalbandian is in big trouble when hitting this defensive lob. He make sure he get his racquet face open prior to contact. Also, despite the fact he is on the dead run, Nalbandian does a nice job of not going too far past the point of contact as he reverses his direction to get back into a better court position.

http://www.tennisone.com/club/prostrokes/ljubicic-2/fh/i_ljubicic-fh-lob-rs45.php

CAPTION: Ivan Ljubicic does an excellent job in hitting this defensive lob. On the run he makes sure his arm and racquet are extended in order to minimize any chance of being late at contact; the racquet face is open so very little swing is needed to hit the shot.

http://www.tennisone.com/club/prostrokes/wozniacki-2/bh/c-wozniacki-bh-lob-rs45.php

CAPTION: What makes this backhand offensive lob by Caroline Wozniacki effective is it begins looking like it might be a groundstroke…Then through the contact area she “lifts” the ball(Touch) rather than hitting through it.

http://www.tennisone.com/club/prostrokes/zvonareva-2/fh/zvonareva-fh-lob-ls.php

CAPTION: While it appears as though Vera Zvonareva is in a little trouble she still is able to turn the shot into an offensive lob with a preparation that looks like it could be a groundstroke. One indicator that it is offensive is the path of the ball leaving her racquet…You can tell she is trying to hit it just over the reach of the opponent rather than a straight up high ball.