Stopping someone from lobbing?

[racquet_jedi]

What effective way is there to limit someone's ability to get a good lob?

I try to come in when I think it's a good shot, but somehow, I always get magically lobbed over my 5'1 self...

[Rickson]

What effective way is there to limit someone's ability to get a good lob?

I try to come in when I think it's a good shot, but somehow, I always get magically lobbed over my 5'1 self...

Don't come in too close to the net. I play against a good lobber and when I stop right at the service line, I can position myself to get an overhead, but if I come in too close to the net, I'm too committed to the net and get lobbed. You have to practice your half volleys as well because from the service line, you have to be good at low volleys.

[Steven87]

What effective way is there to limit someone's ability to get a good lob?

I try to come in when I think it's a good shot, but somehow, I always get magically lobbed over my 5'1 self...
Yes, there is. You're gonna have to hit a heavy flat shot. Or anything to make it hard for him to hit it up. Use your brain. If he's using a topspin lob, make it hard for him to brush up by hitting that shot really low and with alot of pace

[GeorgeLucas]

Lol @ 5'1" - The secret to the anti-lob is the slice (preferably a low, driving one). Topspin lobs require that you get way under the ball with an open face in order to lift the ball up and sink it down.

[drakulie]

Hittting low slices away from them. If they are a good lobber, and you hit it right at them, there chances of hitting an offensive lob increases.

[bad_call]

yeah - low slices and if that doesn't work then play indoors with a low ceiling.:mrgreen:

[Bagumbawalla]

Obviously, you cannot stop them from TRYING to lob. What you can do is make the lob a poor shot selection for them so that they will try something else instead.

In a way, that is one of the main strategies of the game, in general- creating shots that limit the opportunities of the opponent so that you can, to an extent, anticipate and prepare for their reply.

The bes of all possible ways to lessen the likelyhood of being lobbed is to become the best overhead smasher in the business. If they believe you can get to their lob and make them suffer-- the lobs wont come as often.

So, practice your overheads- really practice. Practice moving back, getting under he ball and smashing it back (while your partner practices lobbing).

The next thing is do not come in on a shot that has not put the opponent under some kind of pressure.

So, make sure the ball is low, possibly hard, moving wide to their weaker side, possibly a near winner- so that if they do try a lob it will be less effective.

If you would rather hit a volley than a lob, then consider making a passing shot look more inviting by leaving them a "hole" to hit through-- then quickly move and cut off their attempt with a volley into open court (not a first choice).

If you are especially bad with lobs, you can always just stay back until you get a short ball that you can put away.

Whatever the case, you will eventually need to practice and build up your skills because once an opponent knows you have a weakness they will continue to exploit it.

[racquet_jedi]

Obviously, you cannot stop them from TRYING to lob. What you can do is make the lob a poor shot selection for them so that they will try something else instead.

In a way, that is one of the main strategies of the game, in general- creating shots that limit the opportunities of the opponent so that you can, to an extent, anticipate and prepare for their reply.

The bes of all possible ways to lessen the likelyhood of being lobbed is to become the best overhead smasher in the business. If they believe you can get to their lob and make them suffer-- the lobs wont come as often.

So, practice your overheads- really practice. Practice moving back, getting under he ball and smashing it back (while your partner practices lobbing).

The next thing is do not come in on a shot that has not put the opponent under some kind of pressure.

So, make sure the ball is low, possibly hard, moving wide to their weaker side, possibly a near winner- so that if they do try a lob it will be less effective.

If you would rather hit a volley than a lob, then consider making a passing shot look more inviting by leaving them a "hole" to hit through-- then quickly move and cut off their attempt with a volley into open court (not a first choice).

If you are especially bad with lobs, you can always just stay back until you get a short ball that you can put away.

Whatever the case, you will eventually need to practice and build up your skills because once an opponent knows you have a weakness they will continue to exploit it.

To do the bolded part, I would have to jump higher than Pete Sampras...:wink:

Also, if I can hit overheads with better consistency and placement after letting it bounce, should I really try to take it in the air everytime?

[THSBOI]

Hitting low slices =P or hitting a fast one at a corner =P

[krprunitennis2]

I agree with everyone and hitting to your opponent low w/ a slice, but you should also work on your movement.

I haven't seen you play, so I don't know how you move, but maybe the movement would help you win the point (w/ an overhead) if your opponent is forced to lob/decides to lob.

x0 my bad. didn't see someone posted that up already.

[Bagumbawalla]

Jumping, is not the thing.

If you watch the ball and the opponent. With enough practice you will know when he is about to lob. You halt your advance to the net and move back. Often, you can catch the lob before it bounces. As often as not, you may have to keep going and take it on a bounce.

However, under the best-case scenario, you have put the opponent under enough pressure and/or did not come in behind a weak shot-- So, hopefully, the lob is not a perfectly executed killer topspin lob, but, rather a weaker "desparation lob" that you (with enough practice) can smash for a winner.

[Nellie]

Some thoughts for you:

1) if you are really struggling, don't come to the net unless you can put away the shot ,and if the point continues, work to get back to your comfort zone.

2) are you getting passed with offensive top spin lobs or defensive, slice lobs?

with Top spin lobs, that means your approach is no good

With slice, defensive lobs, it means you are now good at the net and need to work on your overheads and play further back.


And - I would not recommend taking most overheads on the bounce. That means you are retreating and restarting the point.

[Cindysphinx]

What effective way is there to limit someone's ability to get a good lob?

I try to come in when I think it's a good shot, but somehow, I always get magically lobbed over my 5'1 self...

Singles or doubles?

In doubles, I find hitting short can make it difficult to lob. Against a lobber, a deep and solid shot to the baseline will cause them to lob quite successfully. If they are taking the ball closer to the service line, they will often hit it long. I am less likely to try this in singles because they can do more things with that short ball than in doubles.

Anyway, I play 3.5 a lot, and those lobbers breed like rabbits. They are everywhere. And the thing that kills them and makes them miss is hitting really good quality shots, especially volleys. It doesn't have to be a slice (I don't know how to slice). Just anything that puts them in a tough spot: pace, angle, taking away their time.

One other thing. I try to come in when I sense the opponent is in trouble for whatever reason, not necessarily just because I hit a good shot. Sometimes I hit a good shot, but it happens to be right into their wheelhouse. Now I look for chaos on the other side of the net as the best clue that I should come in, and I seem to get lobbed a bit less.

Lastly, I try not to be discouraged by the lob. I try to mentally keep track of how many times they lob me and win the point and then compare this to the number of times they hit long, wide, or short enough for me to smash. (I give my self credit for any that are short enough for me to smash but that I botch.)

Usually, they only get off a few lob winners per match, but they knock a whole bunch of them long, wide or short.

[vndesu]

make them run
more

[Geezer Guy]

Don't come in too close to the net. I play against a good lobber and when I stop right at the service line, I can position myself to get an overhead, but if I come in too close to the net, I'm too committed to the net and get lobbed. You have to practice your half volleys as well because from the service line, you have to be good at low volleys.

Agree with Rickson. The best way to stop someone from lobbing is to punish him everytime he does it. By waiting at the service line, you can easily get to most lobs and put them away.

[fuzz nation]

There's also the occasional option of doing to them what they're doing to you. Give your opponents a short ball, draw them in to the net, and then put it over their backhand side. Most lobs they throw up when they're scrambling away from the net should be on the weaker side and you can really crunch those.

Otherwise, be careful not to overcommit to the net and leave too much space behind you - an avid lobber will usually accept that invitation to go over you.

[JavierLW]

Don't come in too close to the net. I play against a good lobber and when I stop right at the service line, I can position myself to get an overhead, but if I come in too close to the net, I'm too committed to the net and get lobbed. You have to practice your half volleys as well because from the service line, you have to be good at low volleys.

I like to come in to about 2 feet in front of the service line just to bait them to lob. (unless they are some sort of expert lobber, which most of the people I play are not)

There's something about standing right on the service line that is too obvious, but other than that it's hard to tell exactly where people are standing if you are running around hitting the ball. I like to give them the impression that Im closer then I am.

(because in general, I would rather have them try to lob when Im up there, then trying to drill shots around me or at me because those are a lot harder to deal with)

[mucat]

Stop coming to the net would help... :D

Be more selective on when you come to the net...

[Fedace]

What about in doubles ?/ How do you stop a very good lobber in doubles?

[North]

I'm 5'2" and like to come to the net, so people always try to lob me. I spent a LOT of time practising my timing on split-stepping and learning to pick up early when the opponent was going to lob. You also have to really get good at getting back for the lob and, then, you need to work on your overhead (a shot people probably don't practise that much).

The overhead does not have to necessarily be a hard smash but you have to be able to place it wherever you want and keep it deep (unless it is tactically advantageous to use a short angle placement).

It takes a while (longer than most people are willing to tolerate) to get good at all this, so be patient. I found that, at my height, I simply had no choice but to put in the time and effort to get to those lobs and put them away.

In a match, after the first few times you put away the lob, the opponents usually stop doing it altogether or, at least, lob a lot less frequently.

[Fedace]

^^Slice lob is easy to read, and i can pick it up real early but topspin lobbers are different problem. some guys telegraph it by putting their weight on the back foot but the good ones disguise it real well.

[m1stuhxsp4rk5]

do some mcenroe touch shots haha

[____]

Have a reliable overhead smash will directly solve all your problems.
How can one keep throwing you a lob if you could put away most of his lobs?

[racquet_jedi]

Have a reliable overhead smash will directly solve all your problems.
How can one keep throwing you a lob if you could put away most of his lobs?

I think my problem might have more to do with how close I get to the net...

On a side note, let's say that I have been given a lob, it seems too high to take in the air, but it's going to land short, should I really take it in the air, or wouldn't it be better to let it bounce and just put away with placement?

[tfm1973]

In a match, after the first few times you put away the lob, the opponents usually stop doing it altogether or, at least, lob a lot less frequently.

+1. Best defense against a lobber is to show them again and again that it's not a viable strategy. You smash a few overheads away for winners and they have a tendency to magically disappear.

On a related note -- in league matches during warm ups, I like to really concentrate on hitting my practice overheads and not missing a single one. So I don't crush em - just hit em solid enough. Same with volleys for that matter. Give them the ILLUSION at least that I'm competent up at net. During the match they will figure out I'm worthless at net but it's all about guile and deception. ;)

I tend to think most people don't practice overheads, serves and return of serves nearly as much as they hit groundies and to a lesser extent volleys. I'd practice overheads more but until they become lethal -- focus on not trying to do more on overheads than you're capable.

Rushing the net on weak approaches and rushing the net with weak overheads (or ability to cover them) is like going into a gunfight with a knife.

[1012007]

Slice like crazy and if they do get it up, put it away so they wont lob you again.

Or: Hit a winner when coming into the net so you wont have another shot coming your way

[saram]

Lol @ 5'1" - The secret to the anti-lob is the slice (preferably a low, driving one). Topspin lobs require that you get way under the ball with an open face in order to lift the ball up and sink it down.

Exactly. Mr. Star Wars nailed it.

[WSC]

I just played a doubles match where we lost 5-7,6-5 (90 min time limit)...one of the ladies would always lob over the server's partner's head. The thing is that her lobs were perfectly placed within an inch of the back line...very frustrating ! It took us almost the entire first set (we are on the 3.0 team after all) to see that they were "reeling us in, then lobbing over us". Luckily, most people who lob aren't so skilled with their placement .

[WSC]

I meant 5-7, 5-6 and I'm only 5' tall too although it's amazing how many balls you can reach if you try...people tell me that I "play TALL"

[Off The Wall]

I think my problem might have more to do with how close I get to the net...

On a side note, let's say that I have been given a lob, it seems too high to take in the air, but it's going to land short, should I really take it in the air, or wouldn't it be better to let it bounce and just put away with placement?

Yes, just let it bounce and then put it away.

[veryfatchocobo]

I believe hitting the ball short will stop those types of people, unless you face a lobber that can volley.

[Double Fault]

One other thing. I try to come in when I sense the opponent is in trouble for whatever reason, not necessarily just because I hit a good shot. Sometimes I hit a good shot, but it happens to be right into their wheelhouse. Now I look for chaos on the other side of the net as the best clue that I should come in, and I seem to get lobbed a bit less.




I do the exact same thing. I hate going to the net, but if I feel like I'm clearly controlling the point and the other guy is struggling, I go to the net to finish the job.

[Double Fault]

I meant 5-7, 5-6 and I'm only 5' tall too although it's amazing how many balls you can reach if you try...people tell me that I "play TALL"

I also find it amazing. I'm taller than you, but sometimes I amaze myself at the high lobs I can stop just by jumping, extending my arm to the fullest. Sometimes I'm so close to the net that just by touching the ball with any part of the racquet it will fall in the opponent's side and I'll win the point.

It is nice because your opponent then realizes that he'll have to hit the next one higher and most likely, when he does, he's overshoot the baseline or make the parabola so high that it will give me time to go back there and hit it.

[NLBwell]

Rosie Casals was about 5' or so and she had the best overhead in the women's game becuase she got lobbed all the time.
This is what I coached my students to do: as soon as the lob is hit, don't look to see where it is going before you decide what to do, turn sideways and take 3 steps back (back, cross, back). This should get you to to the service line or beyond. If the lob is short, you can always move up or take it on the bounce and smash it away. They have to hit it perfectly to get it over you. It made even the 3.5 women effective against lobs - and 3.5 women are the best lobbers.
You do need to be smart about what you come in on whether you are getting lobbed or passed. The opponent should be uncomfortable when you are coming to net, whether your shot is short, angled, hard hit in the corner, etc.

[pow]

Hit deep and low, if they want to lob from the baseline, it should be easy... just be ready to take a few overheads from in the baseline. You'll thwart your opponent's desire to lob if you can consistently smash his lobs(which is not hard with practice, funny if it's a shallow lob). His lobs should never be his shot of choice unless you're standing too close to the net.

[stormholloway]

I'll take a different approach.

If someone is lobbing it means they know you're coming to net or you're already there. When you hit the approachable shot, don't come to net right away. If it's a good shot, his reply will be a weak defensive shot so he can reset the point. As he's stretching to hit this shot, sneak in and volley it away. The key is sneaking so he doesn't have time to make the decision to lob.

[racquet_jedi]

I'll take a different approach.

If someone is lobbing it means they know you're coming to net or you're already there. When you hit the approachable shot, don't come to net right away. If it's a good shot, his reply will be a weak defensive shot so he can reset the point. As he's stretching to hit this shot, sneak in and volley it away. The key is sneaking so he doesn't have time to make the decision to lob.

Oh, that's a good point.

Usually, whenever I hit my approach shots, I rush straight up to the net...

[Rui]

It's tough to prevent a lob, because they're usually defensive. Good overheads are an excellent tonic. Also, Stormhollloway had a good idea.

Another way to think about it is...if you were to hit shots that would make it easy for your opponent to lob, what type of shot would you feed him? (Then don't feed him those shots.)

[Rickson]

It's tough to prevent a lob, because they're usually defensive. Good overheads are an excellent tonic. Also, Stormhollloway had a good idea.

Another way to think about it is...if you were to hit shots that would make it easy for your opponent to lob, what type of shot would you feed him? (Then don't feed him those shots.)

Exactly. It's tough to lob on a ball that has a lot of pace.

[Sliceboy2]

Usually, whenever I hit my approach shots, I rush straight up to the net...

First - That's one problem you have in there, make sure you have good approach shot, a nice slice that bounces low and deep and make your opponent move so he has to set up at least.

Second - Try to read his shot, practice reading lobs, normally his racquet face is open and will have a slow raquet head speed, unless he goes for a topspin lob. A good rule is back up right away before you raise your head realizing it is a lob, it is always easier to move forward than backwards.

Third - You can not stop your opponent to hit lobs at you but you have to let them know that you can smash.

[Seacoast Stringer]

Hittting low slices away from them. If they are a good lobber, and you hit it right at them, there chances of hitting an offensive lob increases.

That is my recommendation. Keep them low and force into a short or defensive lob if they are going to do it. Also, throw in a few drop shots and keep 'em running.