The Topspin Lob

[Cindysphinx]

I'm trying to learn to hit topspin lobs. I actually do pretty well on my backhand side.

The trouble is the forehand side. First, I change my grip. I don't know the grip names well (Sorry!), but my normal forehand grip is Eastern FH, I think. So I go one bevel over in the direction opposite of Continental (what is that called?). Is the grip change a good idea?

From there, I am a mess. Usually, I get lots of topspin but the ball still goes long anyway. I don't know whether to take the ball high or let it drop. Should I think about brushing the ball, and if so, what part of the ball should I be hitting? Should I think about hitting it really high? Should I still have my usual shoulder turn or should I just arm it, like flicking it? Should I step into the shot?

Any other pointers? I seem to be playing lots of players who come to net on anything in doubles, so I have time to set up for a nice offensive lob. I'd like to make them pay.

 

[WhiskeyEE]

I usually take quite a bit off of the ball, and yes I do brush the ball (I use a western grip after all), and I take the ball as high as possible. I don't hit the ball as high as possible, though... I don't want to get them time to get to the ball. I aim for just out of reach for them to hit a volley/overhead.

I think that you're talking about the semiwestern grip.

 

[Supernatural_Serve]

Any other pointers?

Since you play indoors frequently, consider finding a point/region on the ceiling as your target. You need to make the ball peak sooner, so find that spot, that's your target, not your opponent's backcourt/baseline.

With some practice and drills you will get the touch, spin, and proper trajectory so that you don't hit them long.

 

[cujays]

make sure you are NOT hitting it off your back foot
dont lean back
if you do these to things the lob will fall short

 

[Rickson]

I'm trying to learn to hit topspin lobs. I actually do pretty well on my backhand side.

The trouble is the forehand side. First, I change my grip. I don't know the grip names well (Sorry!), but my normal forehand grip is Eastern FH, I think. So I go one bevel over in the direction opposite of Continental (what is that called?). Is the grip change a good idea?

Why change grips if you're already at efh? I can topspin lob with the continental, efh, of sw. I'd just keep the efh grip and lob if I were you.

 

[OrangeOne]

Yeah, i'll agree with Rickson, there's no need to reserve a specific grip for this shot.

If you can hit topspin forehands with your normal grip, then the lob should have more spin and less power - substitute the forward motion in the swing for some more racquet head speed brushing up the back of the ball.

 

[Bagumbawalla]

If your backhand topspin lob is working well, then you might use that as a reference to set up your forehand shot.

How high do you hit your backhand. Why should it be any higher or lower for the forehand. What kind if spin do you put on the backhand? What angle do you make contact with the racket? How do you follow through? Why would the physics of the shot be any different on the other side of your body.

Anyway, look at what you are doing off the backhand side and you will have answered most of your own questions.

Personally, I find the forehand topspin lob easier to generate than the backhand.

Hit the ball much like you would a "normal" lob (but not one of those stratosphere-touching despairation things, but high enough to clear the opponent's reach) just add some topspin to drive it back down sooner. Add topspin much like you would add topspin to a foreand drive (except you are hitting the ball upward).

Then practice until you remember the feel.

 

[FedererISBetter]

I usually hit it the same like my regular forehand topspin rallies. I tend to hit more up on it, leading me to a higher finish through at the end. It took me a while before I could hit those in the headspeed and pace I usually put on my regular groundies...but thats what you want and will take some time.

 

[Cindysphinx]

Where is the finish? I've heard over the shoulder, and I've heard behind the head.

 

[fuzz nation]

Behind the head is a good finish if you're disguising the topspin lob as a standard forehand stroke. If you need to energize the shot a little, make sure your legs are helping lift through the stroke - there's less rotation in your core, but you still need to deliver a deliberate low to high "whup" on the ball.

 

[Fedace]

To: Cindy
You are about USTA 3.5, right ? Not sure how much topspin you are able to impart on your backhand topspin lobs ? I have not seen any 3.5 women or men for that matter hit a effective topspin lobs from the backhand side. actually you don't really see this shot at all til you get to Women's 4.5 and higher division. this is not a insult, by the way. i am sure you do hit some sold of semi topspin that is effective from your backhand side. but as for the forehand side, if you have eastern grip, it will be more difficult to hit this shot than if you had a semi-western grip. though not impossible. Main point to remember is 1. Make sure you bend your knee and get below the ball, you must be able to brush up on the ball from low to high. 2. use your Left arm for balance-Watch Hewitt's topspin lobs, it is a beauty. 3. work on it during practice- the low to high swing-- in the beginning if your weight is on your backfoot, that is ok, yes the shot can fall short but as you get better at this low to high brush up, you will learn to balance your weight better.

 

[Loco4Tennis]

Since you play indoors frequently, consider finding a point/region on the ceiling as your target. You need to make the ball peak sooner, so find that spot, that's your target, not your opponent's backcourt/baseline.

With some practice and drills you will get the touch, spin, and proper trajectory so that you don't hit them long.

make sure you are NOT hitting it off your back foot
dont lean back
if you do these to things the lob will fall short

great tips guys, gonna try this next time

 

[Nellie]

I would not recommend a grip change. A forehand top spin lob should be also identical to your regular except that you finish groundstroke except that you finish up and over your right shoulder (if you are right handed) instead of near your left shoulder. I like to think of it as a varient shot - you can hit a flat forehand, a loopy forehand, and a topspin lob from identical form, except with differnt follow-throughs

 

[Cindysphinx]

To: Cindy
You are about USTA 3.5, right ? Not sure how much topspin you are able to impart on your backhand topspin lobs ? I have not seen any 3.5 women or men for that matter hit a effective topspin lobs from the backhand side. actually you don't really see this shot at all til you get to Women's 4.5 and higher division. this is not a insult, by the way. i am sure you do hit some sold of semi topspin that is effective from your backhand side. but as for the forehand side, if you have eastern grip, it will be more difficult to hit this shot than if you had a semi-western grip. though not impossible. Main point to remember is 1. Make sure you bend your knee and get below the ball, you must be able to brush up on the ball from low to high. 2. use your Left arm for balance-Watch Hewitt's topspin lobs, it is a beauty. 3. work on it during practice- the low to high swing-- in the beginning if your weight is on your backfoot, that is ok, yes the shot can fall short but as you get better at this low to high brush up, you will learn to balance your weight better.

Fedace,

The BH topspin lob I hit is probably a fluke. I try not to overthink it and just be happy that I can hit the thing at all. Maybe it works because the swing is more compact on my BH side?

I dunno. It really comes in handy, though . . .

 

[FedererISBetter]

Where is the finish? I've heard over the shoulder, and I've heard behind the head.

There isnt a specific finish location at the end because of where you want to hit the ball with change your finish, how much top to produce, the way to return the ball for that lob, etc etc.. However, there is a general area that is higher than your avg groundstroke finishes ( usually over shoulders ). Behind the head, not sure what that means lol,, but if its like one of those nadal forehands? If I am out of position and want to hit an agressive lob, I would do one of those "behind the head". But if I am in position, that general area would be ideal for me. There's so many ways to hit a topspin lob, and it's a hard technique to get down because it takes a lot of control, spin control, and hand eye coordination to get it down. So as you get better and better at tennis,youll find yourself gradually getting it down.
And I am speaking from experience, when I used to lean back and hit topspin lobs... but I had to change my technique because I would be a further out of position when hitting the lobs against more agressive people. And all this changing technique was done from watching pros, people around me, and pros : ) I can hit topspin moonballs now, not as strong as I like it since theres no need to hit those all the time lol... esp indoors