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A comfortable lob, but too low to smash steeply. Which overhead?
The rulo: a topspin overhead for the comfortable lob that is too low to smash steeply. Brush over it, aim deep, let it kick off the glass.
The lob is comfortable, you are under it with time, but it is not high enough to hit down steeply, and you want it to kick off their glass. Which overhead suits this ball?
The rulo: a topspin overhead for the comfortable lob that is too low to smash steeply. Brush over it, aim deep, let it kick off the glass.
Why
Not every comfortable lob is a smash. When you are under the ball with time but it is not high enough to hit down steeply, the rulo is the aggressive option: an overhead hit with topspin by brushing up and over the ball, so that it dips deep into the opponents' court and kicks up and away off the glass. It is an advanced shot because the brushing contact above the shoulder needs precise timing, and because it needs time under the ball: a flat, fast lob that is getting past you is a bandeja, a víbora, or a ball to let bounce, not a rulo.
What this means at your level
Beginner
Bandeja it if you can. The rulo is a later addition; for now, a deep bandeja on this ball is the right answer.
Intermediate
Think of rolling the racket over the top of the ball. The contact is higher and further forward than the bandeja, and the follow-through goes down.
Advanced
The rulo aimed at the back corner kicks off the glass toward the middle, which pulls the defender out of position for your next volley.
Common questions
The lob is comfortable, you are under it with time, but it is not high enough to hit down steeply, and you want it to kick off their glass. Which overhead suits this ball?
The rulo: a topspin overhead that dips deep. The rulo: a topspin overhead for the comfortable lob that is too low to smash steeply. Brush over it, aim deep, let it kick off the glass. Not every comfortable lob is a smash. When you are under the ball with time but it is not high enough to hit down steeply, the rulo is the aggressive option: an overhead hit with topspin by brushing up and over the ball, so that it dips deep into the opponents' court and kicks up and away off the glass. It is an advanced shot because the brushing contact above the shoulder needs precise timing, and because it needs time under the ball: a flat, fast lob that is getting past you is a bandeja, a víbora, or a ball to let bounce, not a rulo.
Why not the flat smash, as hard as the height allows?
A medium lob does not give the height to hit down steeply. The flat smash from there goes into the glass at a playable height and comes back.
What should a beginner do here?
Bandeja it if you can. The rulo is a later addition; for now, a deep bandeja on this ball is the right answer.
How does this change for an advanced player?
The rulo aimed at the back corner kicks off the glass toward the middle, which pulls the defender out of position for your next volley.
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 coming off the back glass. When do you hit it?
Move back with the ball, let it pass you, hit it in front of your body.
intermediateShort, high and yours. Bandeja or smash?
Deep ball, bandeja. Short ball with your weight going forward, smash.