Lobbing in tennis is an invaluable weapon to have in your arsenal when facing off against players who tend to come closer to the net. Lobbing requires a combination of instinct, technique, and positioning in order to be effective.
Research indicates that various aspects of stroke production can vary considerably; while others can be repeated. Here we explore the technique involved in producing an ideal tennis lob.
Backswing
As many players know, the lob is one of those rare shots that makes tennis so exciting. Though not usually crowd-pleaser, when done well it can be devastatingly powerful weapon. Unfortunately, many players overlook its use in favor of more flashy groundstrokes seen on TV; learning to hit great lobs could give an advantage over your opponent.
Typically, lobs are utilized as defensive shots when your opponent is at the net; however, when executed properly they can also serve as an offensive shot that extends a point or gives you time to regroup or even get ahead in the match. To increase its effectiveness add topspin as this will increase its arc and height for greater reachability by opponents.
As well as possessing some spin, your lob needs to be controlled. A great technique for doing this is hitting it on your opponent’s backhand side as this makes reaching more difficult and throws them off balance.
One key element of an excellent lob is finding the ideal distance between you and the ball, in order to cover any unexpected volleys and keep play going smoothly. Acknowledging this detail could make all the difference when it comes to winning or losing; so be mindful when setting your distance.
Finally, remember that lobs are delicate shots requiring great finesse to execute well and should only be attempted if you feel confident about your execution. Save it for times when an opponent has you trapped behind their back foot and time is running out to win the point!
Overall, lobping is an effective tool that should be part of every tennis player’s arsenal; however, as with all skills it takes time and practice before becoming second nature.
Follow-through
Follow through is an integral component of every tennis stroke. It allows you to maximize distance by offsetting all of the power expended during initial throw, or swing, and is what distinguishes professional tennis players from amateur players.
No matter its use – whether defensively or offensively – the lob is an invaluable shot in any serious tennis player’s arsenal. Used either defensively or offensively, it serves as an emergency solution when on court trouble arises and an effective way to win points against aggressive opponents at the net. Furthermore, its use can take pressure off of both your backhands, especially when playing doubles matches.
An unexpected topspun lob can take your opponent by surprise and throw their game out of sync, as it not only changes the pace of the ball, but can also look more like an easy groundstroke than an overhead smash. Jimmy Connors used this tactic frequently toward the end of his career; often throwing medium height lobs in between rallies in order to slow the game and give himself time to recover and regroup.
Many recreational tennis players tend to disregard lobs in favor of big driving shots they see the pros hitting on TV, which can quickly result in points being lost. A well-executed lob not only wins points but can send an impactful message to your opponent that your arsenal of shots can cause havoc when they rush the net.
One of the biggest misconceptions of learning how to hit a lob is that hands play an integral part of the follow-through. Although your hands may help synchronize shoulder and hip movement, they should not dominate it; an ideal lob should finish just above one shoulder as demonstrated by some of the greatest players such as Federer, Nadal and Djokovic.
Positioning
A lob is a strategic shot that is hit well over your opponent’s head into their court, often used offensively or defensively. Lobs can also be hit when an opponent approaches close to the net to volley, forcing them either back away from it and retreat to better defensive positions or be hit directly by your lob – an effective tactic in many situations.
Amateur players often struggle with learning the proper technique for this type of shot as they focus on playing high risk, eye-catching shots like overhead smashes – this often leads to poor ball placement and many errors.
Success lies in learning the correct positioning to hit a lob successfully. Most players can hit their first try successfully by positioning themselves well and hitting it directly, making learning these basic steps important before trying it alone.
Lobs can be powerful tools that force opponents away from the net position, particularly against taller opponents who might find it hard to reach it. A deep enough lob may even force them into playing an overhead shot or groundstroke which makes returning it even more challenging and may result in them forfeiting points.
Spin is key when it comes to successfully lobbing. Applying just enough spin will prevent the ball from flying out of bounds or back over the net and ensure its success. For guidance, contact your coach.
Timing your lob is also key to its effectiveness; aim for maximum impact before your opponent has time to react by getting it into their court quickly, giving yourself more chances to hit winning shots before their response comes in.
Control
Control of the ball is one of the cornerstones of tennis. Being able to direct it precisely where desired requires mastery of two skills: depth and speed. Depth refers to how far a shot travels after hitting the ground, with players controlling this by altering its backspin or topspin application; shots that hit deeper into opponent courts become harder for their opponents to return due to restricting attack angles and cutting off opportunities to attack from angles previously available for attack. Rallies give an additional opportunity for control by altering side-spin application on individual balls for direction control – something players have complete control of when controlling depth is not an option when it comes to controlling depth/speed ratios/rallys/volleyments/bombardamentality/etc…
A lob is an effective defensive shot that sends the ball high and deep into your opponent’s court, providing either you with better defensive positioning or can even be an offensive shot that wins points! No matter its purpose, regular practice of this shot should be prioritized as its use can prove invaluable.
Practice Lob Technique Players should prepare themselves by gripping their racket in continental fashion and side-stepping behind the net to a comfortable position under the ball. Once their opponent has established a volley position, players should quickly raise their racket above head level and begin their movement of placing a lob over his or her head.
Loading was found to be affected by the amount of leg drive used during service actions, with more leg drive causing greater loading on shoulders and elbows as more force is applied to serve, taking longer for body react and swing racket to hit ball.
Step one of improving balance in your game is becoming aware of which elements and events you can and cannot influence, then working to transform those elements and events into ones under your control such as proper preparation, eating habits, mental patterns and shot selection strategies.