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Slice or topspin on the lob?
Slice for the controlled defensive lob. Flat for the fast one. Topspin, rarely, to make it kick off the glass.
Should a padel lob be hit with slice, with topspin, or flat? What does each do?
Slice for the controlled defensive lob. Flat for the fast one. Topspin, rarely, to make it kick off the glass.
Why
Most padel lobs are hit with a little slice or nearly flat. Slice gives control and hang time: the ball floats deep and lands softly, which is what the defensive lob needs, and it comes off the back glass low and slow, which is awkward for the opponent. The flat lob is faster and used for the attacking version over the shoulder. Topspin is the rare one: a topspin lob that lands deep kicks up and away off the glass, making the rebound hard to play, but a topspin lob that lands short bounces up into the perfect smash. It is a weapon for players whose depth is already reliable.
What this means at your level
Beginner
Hit your lobs with the racket face slightly open and a smooth lift. That gives a little slice and a lot of control.
Intermediate
The sliced lob off the back glass is the most reliable defensive ball you can own. The slice keeps it in the air and lands it soft.
Advanced
Add the topspin lob when the opponents let deep lobs bounce and play them off the glass. Topspin makes that rebound jump, and they will start taking lobs in the air instead, which is what you want.
Common questions
Should a padel lob be hit with slice, with topspin, or flat? What does each do?
Mostly slice or flat; topspin rarely. Slice for the controlled defensive lob. Flat for the fast one. Topspin, rarely, to make it kick off the glass. Most padel lobs are hit with a little slice or nearly flat. Slice gives control and hang time: the ball floats deep and lands softly, which is what the defensive lob needs, and it comes off the back glass low and slow, which is awkward for the opponent. The flat lob is faster and used for the attacking version over the shoulder. Topspin is the rare one: a topspin lob that lands deep kicks up and away off the glass, making the rebound hard to play, but a topspin lob that lands short bounces up into the perfect smash. It is a weapon for players whose depth is already reliable.
Why not always topspin, like a tennis lob?
A topspin lob that lands short kicks up into the smash zone. Padel lobs are mostly controlled with slice or hit flat.
What should a beginner do here?
Hit your lobs with the racket face slightly open and a smooth lift. That gives a little slice and a lot of control.
How does this change for an advanced player?
Add the topspin lob when the opponents let deep lobs bounce and play them off the glass. Topspin makes that rebound jump, and they will start taking lobs in the air instead, which is what you want.
Puzzles like this one
Both 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.
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.
intermediateWhat do you do with the return of serve?
The return lob is how the receiving pair steals the net. Aim over the player who is still moving.