SuperLotto
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Can someone tell me what the the best strategy is against lob queens (doubles)? I can lob back, but the points go on forever.
Can someone tell me what the the best strategy is against lob queens (doubles)? I can lob back, but the points go on forever.
unfortunately superlotto lobqueens are the dominators of 3.5 and below doubles leagues. the reason is because at this level, most players have never practiced hitting the overhead smash. lobs are a last resort defensive shot primarily for high levels of play because unless it is well placed, the lob is going to get returned with incredible pace down and into the court. at the lower levels of play though, the lob is used to mix things up or is very well used as a regular rally ball.Can someone tell me what the the best strategy is against lob queens (doubles)? I can lob back, but the points go on forever.
i would hit a hard top spin shot at them and try to come in.
When teaching 3.0 and 3.5 women, I emphasize moving for the overheads. Getting back to the proper place quickly is the key, so you have time to set up for the overhead. Start moving back FAST as soon as you see a lob coming - if you go too far, it is easy to move forward. Then, since you are set up well for the overhead, it is not a difficult shot and you should be able to put it away. Unless you make them pay for lobbing, there is no reason for them to quit doing it.
Practice, practice, practice.One problem some of my partners have (and I sometimes have!) is that it can be difficult to put away an overhead against two lobbers at the baseline. If you try to generate enough pace to blow it by them, you miss. And if you are steady and consistent with your overhead, that's not good enough. This is no surprise considering the slow serve speed at 3.0/3.5. If these ladies cannot hit their own serve hard, how are they going to hit an overhead hard when they don't control the toss and have to move to set up?
No one has mentioned hitting angled ground strokes short into the court. If they're camped on the baseline and do not come in, these shots will force them to come in to cut off the angles. If they don't come in, then these shots are winners. Then there's also drop shots and angled volleys as suggested by CindySphinx. IMO, it's a rite of passage. No one lobs if they can help it at 4.0+ because the ball is just put away.
Can someone tell me what the the best strategy is against lob queens (doubles)? I can lob back, but the points go on forever.
Can someone tell me what the the best strategy is against lob queens (doubles)? I can lob back, but the points go on forever.
You might need a much larger font for your reply so that the OP can read it in 2010 (or 2012, the last time he visited)The skill needed is overhead from 3 feets behind the service lane. Till you learn that stroke, with enough consistency, you won't have confidence to move forward and take time away from the lobber. When you stay beyond baseline, you are essentially playing to their preferred pattern.
Don't really need to camp out on the service line (6+ m or 20+ ft off the net).Resurrecting this thread from the dead. This was me last night. I agreed to play doubles with three guys I’d never met before at my club. It was a lob fest. Absolutely the most boring tennis I’ve played and I hadn’t seen that since JV tennis in early high school and even then it wasn’t very common.
Wish I had thought to camp out on the service line. I was being polite and letting me partner take the cross court lobs. I could have brought a book and lawn chair with me for when I was at the net.
Good advice, especially the part about needing to practice the overhead. Also, you want to hit it with pace, but don't go nuts. Be careful to hit it deep and off the sweetspot. This will usually make the ball hit the back fence on one bounce. Usually, that's enough to win the point for you. No one will hit you lobs to practice on? Then hit a high ball, let it bounce and practice your smash. Soon it will be your favorite shot, and lob queens your favorite opponent!unfortunately superlotto lobqueens are the dominators of 3.5 and below doubles leagues. the reason is because at this level, most players have never practiced hitting the overhead smash. lobs are a last resort defensive shot primarily for high levels of play because unless it is well placed, the lob is going to get returned with incredible pace down and into the court. at the lower levels of play though, the lob is used to mix things up or is very well used as a regular rally ball.
my suggestion is begin practicing overhead smashes until you become comfortable with the shot. after you do that, you will own lob queens. i am speaking from experience mind you as i also play 3.5 level. i practiced my overhead and now i am very comfortable with smashing and i typically make the lob kings pay when they try that soft mess on me.
oh and consider this. there are different variations of smashing. if you want to go for a safer smash, consider hitting it as you would a slice serve especially if you are not comfortable laying into the smash. also don't make the mistake of trying to kill it. trust me on this. if you master a very smooth smash with nice pronation into the ball, it will be a harder/faster shot than most forehands. even if they get it back, typically it sets you up for another smash but this time it is usually closer to the net, and thats when i CRUSH it, bouncing it over the fence LOL!
Don't really need to camp out on the service line (6+ m or 20+ ft off the net).
Perhaps you are playing the net too tight if you are constantly getting lobbed. Does it still happen when you 3 meters (10 ft) off the net? This should be a good offensive position at the net. If you are getting lobbed effectively at that position, then set up about 4 m (13 ft) off the net in situations where you are expecting to be lobbed.
This would require your opponents to hit a much better lob. Might have a better chance of hitting an effective & discouraging OH from that position.
Sounds like a plan. They don't have to be vicious overheads but solid & infective enough to get the point across.This was just me never having played with 3.0 doubles players and trying to be polite.
I’ve actually never really played the USTA stuff, so I didn’t know what I was getting myself in to.
I am a high school player getting back into playing after a 24 year break. Most of our high school team played D1, so this was a new experience to me.
I’ll probably hit overheads without mercy next time I play in that scenario and I’m kind of looking forward to it. But it’s awkward when you’re a few levels up and playing casually with people you’ve never met.
Resurrecting this thread from the dead. This was me last night. I agreed to play doubles with three guys I’d never met before at my club. It was a lob fest. Absolutely the most boring tennis I’ve played and I hadn’t seen that since JV tennis in early high school and even then it wasn’t very common.
Wish I had thought to camp out on the service line. I was being polite and letting me partner take the cross court lobs. I could have brought a book and lawn chair with me for when I was at the net.
Baseline smash usually does the trick, especially if you have a big flat serve. It's the exact same thing except you don't have to hit it into the service box so it'll pretty much land just short of the baseline once you get a feel for it.
If you aren't as confident about the flat overhead because of consistency or lack of physical height (I'm just over 6 ft tall so I'm just tall enough to hit them pretty reliably) then a nice slice overhead will do just fine, if not better because you provide less linear power for the opponent to work with on the defence. If you're worried about overslicing it and hitting wide, then aim slightly to your right (if you're a righty), and let the ball's sidespin take the ball from right to left.
A far less ethical option is to start mercilessly smashing your overheads directly at the netman on the other side. If you can convince the netman to start getting annoyed by his partner's failing lob strategy that can put a dent in their team chemistry.
Actually, I don't really mind receiving the baseline smash as I typically have time to successfully throw up another lob and often find my consistency in returning with a lob is better than my opponents ability to get that shot in. I find it much more difficulty to deal with the other tactics.
I can properly crush the overhead so usually when I hit one they don't come back so long as I don't hit it directly at someone camped 20 ft behind the baseline.Actually, I don't really mind receiving the baseline smash as I typically have time to successfully throw up another lob and often find my consistency in returning with a lob is better than my opponents ability to get that shot in. I find it much more difficulty to deal with the other tactics.
As far as drilling it at the net man I say go for it. That is part of dubs. If they are vulnerable in that particular situation they should not be up there anyway. If they sense you are scrambling to hit that smash then they should be in a good position for a put away.
You're in good company as Nadal employs slice baseline smashes to attain good consistency and he's considered one of the most consistent smashersThat's why i prefer the slice overhead from the baseline. Bit easier to control and keep low and skidding to the lobber. Add in the sidespin and you tend to get the slightly framed short lob or sitter that's more easy to attack. I'm not trying to win the point from back there. I'm just trying to make the next shot less comfortable.
You're in good company as Nadal employs slice baseline smashes to attain good consistency and he's considered one of the most consistent smashers
Overhead drop shotSlice is easier for me to get in at a consistent basis as I am under 6' tall.
However, I still find it more difficult to respond to the other options when me and my partner are pushed back behind the baseline and in lobbing mode. Especially given we have left the forecourt open to angles etc.
Overhead drop shot
Edit: I mean when you're the one with the opportunity to smash
Overhead drop shot
Edit: I mean when you're the one with the opportunity to smash