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The Lob and the Lobber

Dave Kensler – Peter Burwash International (PBI)

If there is one shot that creates more of a love / hate reaction among tennis players than any other, it has to be the lob! Those who love it are the people hitting it and those who hate it… well those are the people who are getting lobbed and may not hit the shot much themselves.

In defense of “lobbers”…It is a “real” shot in tennis and “part of the game” as the saying goes. And, it provides a great opportunity to neutralize aggressive net play, take advantage of people with limited mobility, or those who have difficulty hitting overhead smashes.

And let's face it, every tennis player has 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 of the equation, everyone hates to play a lobber. I think I am accurate in summarizing the greatest frustration for those who get lobbed is often they feel like lobbers try nothing else. It's almost as if the lob is “automatic” – their only choice, like 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 the “emotional issues” I just noted!

Offensive or Defensive Lob?

This is the big decision which needs to be made and it involves a very simple checkpoint: Do you have the time to make a choice on the 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, then 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, 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 eliminates 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. Offensive lobs are usually hit with topspin, defensive lobs are usually blocked or hit with underspin.

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

Checkpoints for Hitting a Lob

I think one of the greatest disservices teaching pros can tell students is to suggest 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 volleying 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” to hit it successfully. Otherwise if your swing speed is like a groundstroke but the ball is just hit higher….Unless you impart Rafa like topspin, that ball is likely to go long or hit the back fence!

The Defensive Lob – This may be one of the easiest shots in tennis to hit. Your primary requirement here is to make sure the racquet face is open. Because this shot is often hit while on the run and 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 forced your opponent to hit the ball one more time! Obviously we want all our lobs to go deep in the court but in this case the height of the ball is most important.

Offensive Lob – The offensive lob is an aggressive shot like other passing shots. And similar to a drop shot, the thing that can make it even more effective is the element of disguise. 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 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, having the racquet hand / head “follow the ball” upwards will help ensure success.

Practicing 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 and that is because everyone hates to play a lobber.

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 and fun.

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 Lobber

there are two key issues here:

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 a match!
   
   So practice hitting overheads, and 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 you are hitting which is allowing your opponent(s) to keep lobbing. The chances are pretty good you are hitting a ball into their comfort zone i.e. Perhaps a weak second serve? Then hit (or practice) alternative shots which minimize their ability to hit a lob. In other words, make them uncomfortable before they make you uncomfortable!

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

Your comments are welcome. Let us know what you think about Dave Kensler's article by emailing us here at TennisOne.

Dave Kensler has 29-years of teaching experience with Peter Burwash International (PBI), the highly successful international tennis management company. PBI directs tennis programs at exclusive hotels, resorts, and clubs in North America, Europe, Caribbean, Asia, Middle East, Pacific, Central America, Mexico, and the Indian Ocean. Over 3 million people have received instruction from PBI Professionals during the 35-year history of the company. For information on PBI tennis destinations and employment opportunities please go to www.pbitennis.com.