COMMON LOB ABUSES

1. Not using the lob enough. A classic example is attempting a passing shot when a lob was the best alternative under the circumstances.
2. Lobbing the ball at an angle other than the optimum (45 degree) angle. This always results in hitting the lob too short.
3. Not maintaining a firm wrist at impact. This also usually causes the lob to land short.
4. Hitting an offensive lob with an incomplete stroke. Again, this usually causes the lob to land short.
5. Hitting the lob with too much topspin, especially in defensive situations. Defensive topspin lobs are difficult to control and usually land short.

LOB TECHNIQUES (Listed in their order of importance)

1. Decide whether or not a lob is appropriate.
2. Watch the ball all the way to the strings.
3. Hit the ball with an awareness of racket pitch at impact.
4. Maintain a firm wrist at impact.
5. Use low to high strokes.
6. The angle of the stroke is equal to the angle of the ball's descent.
7. Turn TM2 to the proper o'clock position on offensive lobs.
8. Use full strokes; follow-through completely on offensive lobs.
9. Hit your defensive lobs from a motionless, balanced position whenever possible.
10. Recover quickly back to the ready position after you hit a defensive lob.

SPECIAL EMPHASIS TECHNIQUES

1. Offensive lobs... 2,3,4,7,8

• 2. Watch the ball all the way to the strings
• 3. Hit the ball with an awareness of racket pitch at impact
• 4. Maintain a firm wrist at impact
• 7. Turn TM2 to the proper o'clock position
• 8. Use full strokes; follow-through completely

2. Defensive lobs... 2,3,4,9,10

• 2. Watch the ball all the way to the strings
• 3. Hit the ball with an awareness of racket pitch at impact
• 4. Maintain a firm wrist at impact
• 9. Lob from a motionless, balanced position whenever possible
• 10. Recover quickly back to the ready position

LOB DEVELOPMENT EXERCISES

1. Groundstroke to groundstroke lobs. With both players deep in their own back court territory, practice hitting groundstroke lobs (moon balls) back and forth with a special emphasis on obtaining a 45 degree angle as the ball leaves your strings. This exercise will help develop good offensive lob technique as well as help prepare you for the "lob-overhead" exercise below.
2. The "Lob-Overhead" exercise. As a non-competitive exercise, one player hits lobs exclusively while the other player hits overheads exclusively. For players new to this exercise, the player hitting overheads should aim for the middle back court target point. As both players gain experience with this exercise, overheads should be directed alternately to the right and left backcourt target points providing a challenge (and a work-out) for both players.

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