How to handle the "constant" lob

[Cindysphinx]

Originally Posted by Mosey

"1HBH slice volley"
What is a "1HBH" slice volley? I know how to hit a slice volley when I'm at the net (note I said I know how, that doesn't mean I always do it right!). I tried running up on these from behind the baseline and volleying them, but it's tough. The ball is dropping fast.

Yes, exactly.

The ball is dropping fast. An overhead is out of the question. It is too low, it is dropping fast, you are too deep.

There are two options. One is a drive volley, or swing volley. Basically you move up and crush the ball. This is fine if you can get into position. The reason it is not my favorite response is that it doesn't solve the problem if you can't hit winners. The next ball will be a lob if you hit your swing volley with topspin or flat.

The second option is a regular old volley, sliced, with one hand. You have time to move forward and slice to one of the corners. You can then move right in to net, or not, depending on whatever is happening. The great thing is that since you have moved forward off the baseline, you've taken away some time. And because you have hit slice, the pass or lob that is coming back will be a very hard shot.

If you can go out with a friend and practice hitting slice volleys from no-man's land, you will find them to be pretty easy. Even easier than having to do it while at the net. The reason is that you have all kinds of time to set up compared to when a ball is blasted at you while at net.

I hope that helps. I played a woman who hit all kinds of "low lobs" that I couldn't get under, and I had a lot of success hitting slices to the corners.

[ATP100]

Originally Posted by Mosey

Thanks for all the advice. I practiced overheads with a ball machine today and made some progress. The ball lands about halfway between the baseline and the service line (slightly closer to the service line). If I'm at the net it's out of my reach, but I can back up to about the service line and get them. But, he hits these lobs all the time, even when we're both back. So, if I'm behind the baseline then it's tough because I have to get up to it before it bounces. If I let it bounce, it forced me way back again. I thought about trying to hit it on the rise, but that's tough to do, but I'm going to work on that some more. Otherwise, I end up trying to hit it around chest high while I'm running forward, which is not working out at all.

Chances are, your ground strokes are better than your volley or overhead. So, practice those, but, on the rise is the best bet for now, keep practicing on the rise with the ball machine. This will make you better at all the lobs. (short, deep, topspin,)

[OrangePower]

Originally Posted by ATP100

Chances are, your ground strokes are better than your volley or overhead. So, practice those, but, on the rise is the best bet for now, keep practicing on the rise with the ball machine. This will make you better at all the lobs. (short, deep, topspin,)

I second the strategy of taking the ball on the rise.

True, if the 'lob' your opponent is hitting is only landing 3-4 feet beyond the service line, then moving forwards and hitting it as a volley is a good option.

But what if you come across someone who hits their groundstrokes as lobs, but they land a foot or less from the baseline? In this case a volley is a low-percentage shot. So for this you really need to learn to play the ball on the rise; otherwise you are going to be backed up and on the defensive, or else you'll get yourself into a lob war.

So you may as well start practicing taking the ball on the rise, in which case this is also very effective against shorter lobs as well.

[Cindysphinx]

^My pro did a drill with me recently that really helped my hitting on the rise (a work in progress). Basically, we rallied but I wasn't allowed to step any deeper than the baseline. Very helpful, that. I hadn't realized that I was backing up on balls I could hit very well on the rise.

[achokshi99]

Take the ball on the rise, if it's landing between the service and baseline, you need to attack that, even if you don't follow into the net. Also learn how to drop shot or give these guys a short ball if they are unwilling attackers what they will do is pooch it over and be in no man's land and you can lob them.

Also why do you need to hit your shots waist high? I take it you are not hitting open stance FH?

[LeeD]

Do you know WHY PeteSampras would take those NML overheads with a leaping tomahawk putaway? To demonstrate his FUN putting those shots away and to demoralize his opponent who uses this strategy. Both work to discourage NML lobs.
Work on your overheads, your game is not complete.

[lostinamerica]

While hitting overheads for winners is great, I suspect that person would not like you dragging them up to the net. Lobbers typically hate the forecourt.

[LeeD]

True that, and when they run in to retrieve your drop shot off their slow moving, high bouncing lob, you preplan a lob over their backhand side deep CC so they get to run back too.

[Caesar]

Go out on the court for an hour. Hit half an hour of overheads and half an hour of slice backhands.

When you're playing him, hit a slice backhand approach, then hang back a little when you come to the net. His lobs are nowhere near deep enough. One step backwards and it's in your perfect hitting zone. Simple. You'll eat him for breakfast.

People are far more afraid of overheads than they should be. If you have a smooth action and good footwork, it very quickly becomes the easiest shot in tennis.

Originally Posted by Limibeans

Secondly, if you want a more consistent lob, you can always try your second service motion, for more spin than pace.

Atrocious suggestion. Disregard.

[ttbrowne]

Usually against 3.0-3.5 guys who lob, If you put the first lob away with prejudice...you won't see a whole lot more. Go for the first one.

[cknobman]

Honestly I would work on my overhead and if needed I would even take some lessons and drills to get it down right.

I have been in your shoes before and it is very frustrating to deal with constant lobs but it highlights a very significant weakness in your game that you should address.

If you dont want to work on the overhead then you need to work on the swinging volley and taking that lob out of the air on the way down vs waiting until it bounces.

Letting the ball bounce is giving your opponent a lot of time which is exactly what they want/need. Taking the overhead or a swinging volley will rob them of the time they need and force errors or even get them to stop lobbing and alter their game plan.

Once you practice the overhead or swinging volley and make it a reliable tool in your game then these "lobbers" will be easy pickings and quick matches!!

[Orion3]

As suggested earlier - step in and try to take the ball earlier.

IMHO a constant lobber is the worst kind of pusher - lob, back in to position, lob..... monotonous to the extreme - you end up with a loss through bordom.

The lob gives them time to recover and by stepping in and taking the ball early (on the rise) you deny them that time. Ideally you will hit wide of their position so they have to move - sure they may make it and through up another lob, but is is unlikely to be as controlled as normal and so you may get an easy(ier) put away. Worse case, you just need to step in, hit it wide and make them run the other way.

[Mosey]

I finally beat this guy! I used a combination of the suggestion I got here. I worked a lot with the ball machine on overheads, volleys, and slice. I learned to hit slice from the baseline on high bouncing balls, both forehand and backhand. I got to where I can hit a hard deep slice with a lot of backspin from the forehand side and I have plenty of time to run around them. I also got to where I can hit deep slice with a lot of backspin off my backhands side, they're not as hard but the backspin is effective. I follow them in and then get a volley that I can handle. I made a lot of mistakes, since I just learned these shots, but stuck with it and won anyway.

[Orion3]

Nice one, keep it up!

[gunnd5000]

If you have the option, play him indoors?