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Their overhead keeps beating you. Which lob makes it harder?
A lob that gets smashed was short. Fix the depth first; then think about height and side.
Your lobs are being smashed comfortably. What change makes the opponent's overhead harder?
A lob that gets smashed was short. Fix the depth first; then think about height and side.
Why
A lob that is smashed for a winner nearly always landed too short: around the service line, where the net player can take it in front with a full swing. The fix is depth: aim the lob to land in the last metre and a half before the glass, and the net player has to retreat and play a bandeja or let it bounce. Only once the depth is reliable does it make sense to vary height, side and pace. Beginners often add height to a short lob and end up giving the smasher more time; add length instead.
What this means at your level
Beginner
Aim your lob to land close to their back glass. If it lands near the service line, it will be smashed.
Intermediate
The deep lob needs a slightly higher arc and a firmer contact. Hit through the ball rather than patting it.
Advanced
Depth wins the neutral point; direction wins the tactical one. Once every lob is deep, direct it to the backhand overhead or the slower player.
Common questions
Your lobs are being smashed comfortably. What change makes the opponent's overhead harder?
Deeper: into the last metre. A lob that gets smashed was short. Fix the depth first; then think about height and side. A lob that is smashed for a winner nearly always landed too short: around the service line, where the net player can take it in front with a full swing. The fix is depth: aim the lob to land in the last metre and a half before the glass, and the net player has to retreat and play a bandeja or let it bounce. Only once the depth is reliable does it make sense to vary height, side and pace. Beginners often add height to a short lob and end up giving the smasher more time; add length instead.
Why not higher, so it comes down steeper on them?
A higher lob that still lands short is still a smash, with more time to set up under it. Depth before height.
What should a beginner do here?
Aim your lob to land close to their back glass. If it lands near the service line, it will be smashed.
How does this change for an advanced player?
Depth wins the neutral point; direction wins the tactical one. Once every lob is deep, direct it to the backhand overhead or the slower player.
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.
beginnerBoth of them are at the net. What is the highest-percentage ball?
Only the lob moves a net pair backwards. Everything else invites them forward.