The drop and lob play - tips?

[eah123]

I see it is a popular MEP play but a lot of WTA pros use it. I want to work it into my game which is mostly baselining with approaches on short balls.

If you use this play, what advice can you give? Like best opportunities to do the drop shot, and what location to go for with the lob - cc or DTL, to backhand or forehand side?

Do you go for very high lobs, or just out of reach to give less time to run it down?

This is for singles.

 

[Steady Eddy]

Drop shots work best on shallow balls. You are closer to the net, so it's easier to hit, just like in basketball it is easier to make a lay-up than a 30 footer. Also, being so close gives your opponent less time to run it down.

As for lobbing, I think you want to lob just over their reach so they'll have trouble getting it back. If you're scrambling to get to the shot, then you might have to settle for a high defensive lob. It won't be a winner, but it can buy you some time.

 

[LOBALOT]

I had a guy that played on my USTA team a few years back that was crazy nuts at the drop shot-lob-drop shot-lob-drop shot-lob game. He could do it any point he wanted and do it over and over and over and over again during the point. He was a savant at it!

Our team made districts and I watched him play and he played the whole first set doing that over and over and over again. After he won the first set 6-0 his opponent walked to the bench and said "I am not doing this anymore" and he grabbed his stuff and walked to the parking lot and drove off.

He didn't even report his score or anything. He just left.

 

[ey039524]

For modern singles, this is very effective b/c most movement is side to side, not forward/back.

 

[FuzzyYellowBalls]

I'll do medium lobs, but to ask dtl, cross, forehand, backhand , you better get really good at it so it's just as natural as walking. I am like @LOBALOT s teammate , but never got anyone to quit on a match because of it lol, my record though is 12 lob dropshot in a row. I'll do the lob to the middle or a corner and the drop to a side, mostly based on what is most comfortable for me, once the drop shot side is established, the lob goes to the opposite corner.

To get good, I am no savant, but I spend an hour a week on the ball machine just doing this drill....1 hour of backhand lob, forehand drop, backhand lob lob, forehand drop...over and over and over. Like a golfer practicing chip shots.

I can hit a lob that will land inside the ball area of a Playmate ball machine at will. I can do a half volley lob like the videos with my eyes closed.

 

[Dragy]

To get good, I am no savant, but I spend an hour a week on the ball machine just doing this drill....1 hour of backhand lob, forehand drop, backhand lob lob, forehand drop...over and over and over. Like a golfer practicing chip shots.

I can hit a lob that will land inside the ball area of a Playmate ball machine at will. I can do a half volley lob like the videos with my eyes closed.

You are pure evil!

 

[Steady Eddy]

double post

 

[Steady Eddy]

I'll do medium lobs, but to ask dtl, cross, forehand, backhand , you better get really good at it so it's just as natural as walking. I am like @LOBALOT s teammate , but never got anyone to quit on a match because of it lol, my record though is 12 lob dropshot in a row. I'll do the lob to the middle or a corner and the drop to a side, mostly based on what is most comfortable for me, once the drop shot side is established, the lob goes to the opposite corner.

To get good, I am no savant, but I spend an hour a week on the ball machine just doing this drill....1 hour of backhand lob, forehand drop, backhand lob lob, forehand drop...over and over and over. Like a golfer practicing chip shots.

I can hit a lob that will land inside the ball area of a Playmate ball machine at will. I can do a half volley lob like the videos with my eyes closed.

Might it be better to always lob to his backhand?

That sounds like a great drill you do. I can have lots of success even with my BAD drop shots and BAD lobs! My weekend opponents are poor at getting to drop shots, and even worse at smashing lobs.

I'm going to start working on this with my ball machine.

 

[LuckyR]

I had a guy that played on my USTA team a few years back that was crazy nuts at the drop shot-lob-drop shot-lob-drop shot-lob game. He could do it any point he wanted and do it over and over and over and over again during the point. He was a savant at it!

Our team made districts and I watched him play and he played the whole first set doing that over and over and over again. After he won the first set 6-0 his opponent walked to the bench and said "I am not doing this anymore" and he grabbed his stuff and walked to the parking lot and drove off.

He didn't even report his score or anything. He just left.

Sounds like the guy was playing out of level.

Anyone who gets two dropshot lob combos and doesn't play a redrop isn't paying attention.

 

[FuzzyYellowBalls]

Might it be better to always lob to his backhand?

Yes, if I can I always lob to the backhands.

 

[nyta2]

If you use this play, what advice can you give?

other, not metnioned below...
* still want to keep your body going forward on the shot (sometimes temptation is to fall backwards while hitting it)
* need to practice grip shifts to still make it look like it's going to be a drive (ideally prep like a drive, then change grip,...)... 2hhb is easier to disguise since my right hand is already in conti
* alternatively, my buddy (5.0, ex div1, etc...) hits the fh dropper with an eastern/sw grip (feels very odd for me to do, but it's 100% disguised)
* make sure the peak of the arc is on my side of the net...
* aim for a high arc, that drops shallow in their court, vs a low arc that tends to bounce deeper into their court (ons jabeur does this the best imo)
* keep eyes on contact and commit to shot (too easy to be tempted to watch to see if they are going to get it)
* come to net after dropper (easiest counter is to redrop)... if you hit it well and they get it, they will still have to hit up to clear the net
* i typically only go for the dropper after establishing the deep ball, AND i'm up in score... whilie in practice i can exec drop/lobs "consistently", in the pressure of a match, too easy to get tight... and ends up being a 50/50 shot (either i miss, or i hit a sitter they get to)
* i don't usually practice this, but if i do, it's usually against someone i know i can beat easily, and will play the dink & lob pattern over and over (even if they expect it)... personally takes alot feel, which is harder to do against harder/heavier hitters.

Like best opportunities to do the drop shot,

general any shot you can comfortably attack (eg i'm in balance), usually 1 or both feet inside the baseline, is a situation i might drop shot, but presuming i've already established that i can hit an penetrating ball that typically will push them deep and/or wide... so instead of 2 options, adding a drop is the 3rd:
1. deep (dtl, cc)
2. short angle (sideT)
3. drop (dtl, cc)
ideally you need to see them take a hop back to defend the deep ball (because that's what you hit the last couple times)

can also go for the dropper more predictably (ie. even if opponent is trying to defend the volley) if your opponent is slow/doesn't move forward well/bad volleys/etc...

if you have bh slice that consistently goes deep, this is another great opp to push them back then drop (as the stroke & prep look the same)

and what location to go for with the lob - cc or DTL, to backhand or forehand side?

typically cc (more length to hit into) and over their bh wing (harder to hit a bh-overhead)

Do you go for very high lobs, or just out of reach to give less time to run it down?

technically if you're hitting a defensive lob (i'm off balance and/or out of position), you go very high, if you're hitting an offensive lob (eg. they can't stop their momentum going forward and/or they are too close to net), you can go lower

my .02

 

[LOBALOT]

Sounds like the guy was playing out of level.

Anyone who gets two dropshot lob combos and doesn't play a redrop isn't paying attention.

He did get bumped after the season (He was a c rated player). That is correct.

Like most that get bumped he played part of the year at the next level on my team and quit USTA never to play again.

Note: He played 2s for me so we had a decent team that year (1s was also c rated for me that year).

 

[travlerajm]

He did get bumped after the season (He was a c rated player). That is correct.

Like most that get bumped he played part of the year at the next level on my team and quit USTA never to play again.

Note: He played 2s for me so we had a decent team that year (1s was also c rated for me that year).

Time to appeal him back down and make another run.

 

[LOBALOT]

Time to appeal him back down and make another run.

I have a whole list of players that played for my teams and got bumped and either played for a bit at the next level and quit USTA or just quit right away.

I know what I am doing out there as far as tennis because I have been around the sport for so long and was a pretty good player when I was a kid.

Now that I am 61 as a 3.5 I can be hit right off the court with pace when I play up at 4.0 (The 4.0 team I captained until recently was 18+ and locally 40+ is even worse) .

Having played USTA for a long time there does seem to be a pretty big bap between 3.5 and 4.0 and so really only my best of the best players keep at it at the next level.

The others who are just over the edge quit and don't even hit socially they just kind of drift off........

 

[travlerajm]

I have a whole list of players that played for my teams and got bumped and either played for a bit at the next level and quit USTA or just quit right away.

I know what I am doing out there as far as tennis because I have been around the sport for so long and was a pretty good player when I was a kid.

Now that I am 61 as a 3.5 I can be hit right off the court with pace when I play up at 4.0 (The 4.0 team I captained until recently was 18+ and locally 40+ is even worse) .

Having played USTA for a long time there does seem to be a pretty big bap between 3.5 and 4.0 and so really only my best of the best players keep at it at the next level.

The others who are just over the edge quit and don't even hit socially they just kind of drift off........

Getting the call-up to next level is a double whammy de-motivator for league play.

1. You go from weekly adrenaline highs of winning and carrying your teammates to victory to being the loser anchor weight on game day.

2. It’s fun to be loved. You go from being a precious commodity as a ringer to Captains only want to play you in matches when there is nothing at stake of value.

 

[LOBALOT]

Getting the call-up to next level is a double whammy de-motivator for league play.

1. You go from weekly adrenaline highs of winning and carrying your teammates to victory to being the loser anchor weight on game day.

2. It’s fun to be loved. You go from being a precious commodity as a ringer to Captains only want to play you in matches when there is nothing at stake of value.

Yes, this is correct and also I think they get frustrated getting crushed. Note: I am used to getting crushed so no issues here

Most of the guys after all these years I wouldn't even know how to reach any more.

 

[Dragy]

Yes, this is correct and also I think they get frustrated getting crushed. Note: I am used to getting crushed so no issues here

Most of the guys after all these years I wouldn't even know how to reach any more.

That’s an interesting topic, actually. Getting used to winning a lot is important, it shows that you can actually play the game, it allows you to grow into next level rather than hope that “someday all the work and properly chosen fresh poly hybrid will pay off”.

Meanwhile, if you sit for too long in a weak league/club, and you win a lot because everyone else just sucks more — you then cannot handle reality and next level.

So it’s interesting to play variety of tournaments where you win like 40-70% of the time in good competition.

But to everyone their own. It just sounds sad: beat everyone in 3.5 league - get bumped - leave tennis because now you get destroyed.

 

[LOBALOT]

That’s an interesting topic, actually. Getting used to winning a lot is important, it shows that you can actually play the game, it allows you to grow into next level rather than hope that “someday all the work and properly chosen fresh poly hybrid will pay off”.

Meanwhile, if you sit for too long in a weak league/club, and you win a lot because everyone else just sucks more — you then cannot handle reality and next level.

So it’s interesting to play variety of tournaments where you win like 40-70% of the time in good competition.

But to everyone their own. It just sounds sad: beat everyone in 3.5 league - get bumped - leave tennis because now you get destroyed.

I agree with this. I play with a social group once a week and the level of play is toward the lower end of my skills. I do it because these are longtime pals we do things as couples, head out after for drinks, etc.

However, if I play that exclusively and don't play more challenging tennis my game goes stale. I also get lazy, don't move like I can, am not ready early, etc.

Moreover, I attempt shots I shouldn't as I could get away with it and recover on lower level courts but then when playing better players it bites me.

In addition, the opposite, shots that I can execute but haven't, all of a sudden I miss because I haven't used them.

 

[nyta2]

Getting the call-up to next level is a double whammy de-motivator for league play.

1. You go from weekly adrenaline highs of winning and carrying your teammates to victory to being the loser anchor weight on game day.

2. It’s fun to be loved. You go from being a precious commodity as a ringer to Captains only want to play you in matches when there is nothing at stake of value.

aint this the truth!
i went from playing 3-4 mathces a week (mens & mixed), to playing 2 matches for the season
that said, i still play/practice regularly, so proably saved some dough in usta match fees, that i can use for lessons

 

[Steady Eddy]

aint this the truth!
i went from playing 3-4 mathces a week (mens & mixed), to playing 2 matches for the season
that said, i still play/practice regularly, so proably saved some dough in usta match fees, that i can use for lessons

Sounds like you should have tanked a few.

 

[nyta2]

Sounds like you should have tanked a few.

no way! it's been a lifetime goal to be bumped
while it's "lonely" from a "no usta capt's call me anymore", it's had no impact on my ability to hit with folks my level.

 

[LOBALOT]

aint this the truth!
i went from playing 3-4 mathces a week (mens & mixed), to playing 2 matches for the season
that said, i still play/practice regularly, so proably saved some dough in usta match fees, that i can use for lessons

Maybe I am old but I will take a competitive social hit any day of the week to USTA anyway.

I still captain 3 USTA teams a summer (down from 4 as I gave up on 4.0) but I still captain for all my pals that still like USTA. I rarely put myself in the lineup and have actually had someone from the team organize the team for a match while I am hitting someplace else doing what I want to do.

 

[nyta2]

Maybe I am old but I will take a competitive social hit any day of the week to USTA anyway.

like you, i've been in usta long enough that it does get to be a grind..
all the teams by me are incestuous anyway... one day we're opponents, next we're teammates... and if you've been in the area long enough, you know *everyone* in the league and play with them regularly regardless of the team they are on (that's my case anyway). usta is great if you don't really know folks and to get a real sense of where you stand (eg. get an official ntrp and/or utr)...
but sucks because:
* sometimes opponents show up way late (it's always the new guys or just *ssholes nobody wants to play with anyway)
* it's often in an inconvenient location
* it's indoors in the summer (wtf!)
* it's $ when you could just play for free
* sometimes run in to *ssholes that are too competitive (ok i used to be that guy)

I still captain 3 USTA teams a summer (down from 4 as I gave up on 4.0) but I still captain for all my pals that still like USTA.

you are a saint... i capt'd 1x team for 2-3y... and while it was fun, it was ALOT of work (herding cats!)... i also used to do writeups, etc... no chance i would capt 3-4 teams!!

I rarely put myself in the lineup

the worst part of captaining... when you gotta get in everyone for their 2x matches.... end up having to sacrafice yourself.

and have actually had someone from the team organize the team for a match while I am hitting someplace else doing what I want to do.

smart!

 

[LuckyR]

If you're winning (or losing) 90% of your matches you're out of level. I understand the psychological attraction of winning all the time, but unless you have no self-awareness, it's gotta be a little embarrassing at some level.

 

[LOBALOT]

like you, i've been in usta long enough that it does get to be a grind..
all the teams by me are incestuous anyway... one day we're opponents, next we're teammates... and if you've been in the area long enough, you know *everyone* in the league and play with them regularly regardless of the team they are on (that's my case anyway). usta is great if you don't really know folks and to get a real sense of where you stand (eg. get an official ntrp and/or utr)...
but sucks because:
* sometimes opponents show up way late (it's always the new guys or just *ssholes nobody wants to play with anyway)
* it's often in an inconvenient location
* it's indoors in the summer (wtf!)
* it's $ when you could just play for free
* sometimes run in to *ssholes that are too competitive (ok i used to be that guy)

you are a saint... i capt'd 1x team for 2-3y... and while it was fun, it was ALOT of work (herding cats!)... i also used to do writeups, etc... no chance i would capt 3-4 teams!!

the worst part of captaining... when you gotta get in everyone for their 2x matches.... end up having to sacrafice yourself.

smart!

Thank you that is very nice to say.

 

[Roforot]

Getting the call-up to next level is a double whammy de-motivator for league play.

1. You go from weekly adrenaline highs of winning and carrying your teammates to victory to being the loser anchor weight on game day.

2. It’s fun to be loved. You go from being a precious commodity as a ringer to Captains only want to play you in matches when there is nothing at stake of value.

Yes. And unfortunately the only way to deal with it is to "Get good."
It's also hard b/c I know several guys (and girls) who are crazy and want to be bumped up to 4.0... These ppl play up in leagues and enter tournaments at 4.0 and they almost never win unless they get matched up against other 3.5s playing up.
I don't know many 4.0s but I'm not too crazy about playing next year w/ thirsty 3.5s... so I may have to focus on singles flex league and tournaments come January.

 

[travlerajm]

Yes. And unfortunately the only way to deal with it is to "Get good."
It's also hard b/c I know several guys (and girls) who are crazy and want to be bumped up to 4.0... These ppl play up in leagues and enter tournaments at 4.0 and they almost never win unless they get matched up against other 3.5s playing up.
I don't know many 4.0s but I'm not too crazy about playing next year w/ thirsty 3.5s... so I may have to focus on singles flex league and tournaments come January.

A strange phenomenon is that usta singles flex leagues get almost exclusively populated with players from the next level down. Once it reaches critical mass, there’s a ripple effect that forces everyone to sign up for the next higher level just to get competitive matches.

Usta inadvertently creates this problem by not counting flex league matches in the rating.

 

[Roforot]

In southern CA Flex singles count for ratings. They also said you have to play at your level unless you write and explain why you should be allowed in the 4.0 division. I have heard of ppl double faulting games away to lose ir preserve their rating but I think thats a northern CA thing (flex leaguez dont count up there).