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The opponent can lob or drive from the same setup. How do you wait?
Against a disguised lob and drive, wait neutral with weight slightly forward. Read the contact, then move.
A good opponent prepares identically for the lob and the drive. What is the right waiting posture at the net?
Against a disguised lob and drive, wait neutral with weight slightly forward. Read the contact, then move.
Why
A defender who disguises the lob and the drive removes the early read, so the net player has to wait in a position that handles both: normal depth, weight slightly forward on the balls of the feet, racket up, knees soft. From there the drive is met with a step in, and the lob with a turn and a step back: both from the same posture. Committing early, by leaning back or crowding in, wins the guess when it is right and loses badly when it is wrong. Against good disguise, the split step and a neutral stance are the whole answer; the read comes at contact, from the racket face.
What this means at your level
Beginner
Stand balanced, racket up, and watch the ball hit their racket. Then move. Guessing is a bad habit.
Intermediate
Make the split step your reset. Every shot they hit, you land balanced and neutral, then read and go.
Advanced
Even good disguise leaks: the racket slows into contact for the lob and accelerates for the drive. Watch racket speed in the last half-metre.
Common questions
A good opponent prepares identically for the lob and the drive. What is the right waiting posture at the net?
Neutral, weight slightly forward, ready either way. Against a disguised lob and drive, wait neutral with weight slightly forward. Read the contact, then move. A defender who disguises the lob and the drive removes the early read, so the net player has to wait in a position that handles both: normal depth, weight slightly forward on the balls of the feet, racket up, knees soft. From there the drive is met with a step in, and the lob with a turn and a step back: both from the same posture. Committing early, by leaning back or crowding in, wins the guess when it is right and loses badly when it is wrong. Against good disguise, the split step and a neutral stance are the whole answer; the read comes at contact, from the racket face.
Why not lean back to be ready for the lob?
Leaning back means the drive is at your feet before you can react. Neutral, and read the contact.
What should a beginner do here?
Stand balanced, racket up, and watch the ball hit their racket. Then move. Guessing is a bad habit.
How does this change for an advanced player?
Even good disguise leaks: the racket slows into contact for the lob and accelerates for the drive. Watch racket speed in the last half-metre.
Puzzles like this one
They lobbed you deep. Smash it or play the bandeja?
Deep ball, high hands: bandeja. The shot exists to keep you at the net, not to win the point.
beginnerThe ball is at your feet at the net. What now?
A ball below the net cannot be attacked. Block it deep and wait for one above the tape.
intermediateYour partner got pulled wide. Where do you stand?
The pair moves like one body. When your partner is pulled wide, you take the middle.