Defensive lob - underspin or no spin

[jkhtennis]

When get pulled really wide, defensive lob is usually a good option to give yourself a chance to stay in the point. It is usually hit with continental grip with open racquet face. The swing path is somewhat low to high motion to make the ball high and deep. Some players do chip the ball to generate underspin or sidespin, but I feel more natural to hit without spin (flat lob). Which approach is better? Please discuss.

 

[Topspin Shot]

A little underspin can help with control, but I wouldn't try to chop it or anything like that.

 

[mikeler]

The underspin may give you more control but if high enough, your opponent could let it bounce toward your side of the net making the opponents overhead easier if the bounce is high enough.

 

[movdqa]

If you're under maximum stress, then just try for a flat shot - you may get a little underspin on it anyway.

 

[mikeler]

If you're under maximum stress, then just try for a flat shot - you may get a little underspin on it anyway.

Good point. In that situation, just make your opponent hit one more ball.

 

[Lance L]

This is a great topic. I think at the rec level we can get a lot of use out of slice lobs or semi-lobs. By semi-lob I mean the just sort of high ball to a player at the net, especially to their backhand side.

I've found that most of us have a harder time with lobs or even just high balls when at net, especially if it has slice. I've seen lots of players hit the slice high ball and have it drop into the net, or mishit it.

A topspin lob can be deadly, but if I'm not able to hit topspin I'll actively slice a lot.

 

[Rui]

It sounded like OP was asking about a defensive lob with no net person. If so, any lob would do. If a net person, hit it flat over his overhead. I say flat because the spins are harder to control the depth. At least, the spiniest ones. IOW, use the one with the most control.

 

[LeeD]

Any high deep lob will do, but if your're running to the ball, need to stretch, a slice underspin gives you more control over height and depth, once you practice it a bit. A flat lob can be hit long easily, if the incoming ball comes faster than expected, if your footwork is wrong, and can also be short with a mishit, or the ball comes slower and lower than expected.
Most pros slice on their defensive lobs once stretched out wide.

 

[LeeD]

Also, given lots of underspin and good depth, the bounce becomes lower than an overhead bounce, so the player has to play a forehand or backhand instead of a true overhead.
Flat bounces the ball up into overhead range.