Topspin lob underrated?

[SageOfDeath]

I think people tend to underrate the effectiveness of a topspin lob. Really good ones can go just out of a net players reach and still on the rise and deep into the court.

Just curious how many of you have trouble with a topspin lob?

 

[kevhen]

Yeah, I usually hit a flat or backspin lob, and have a harder time controlling depth and height on topspin ones but they can be very effective at driving the net rusher back. It is something that is underpracticed and underutilized. I focus more on hitting low passing shots and mostly avoid lobs.

 

[Jonnyf]

i TS lob like 30% of the time the player is at the net

 

[Kana Himezaki]

I wouldn't say it's underrated. It IS a weapon, and is HIGHLY rated.

You can hit higher with safety, keep it deep, and have it jet off after the bounce which makes it even harder for people to run back and get it (provided they can even get to it then).

With some people that anticipate well, they can take it out of the air, but still will have to use a "hook" overhead. Even then, they have to be careful. If they hit hard and down, it's going into the net. They have to aim deep, and in the process give you a shot that can be hit back.

Even then, in most cases, it's an outright winner. Off the lob.

So I'm putting "had trouble receiving topspin lobs". Anyone that puts "dealt with topspin lobs with ease" has almost definitely played a poor lobber. They're never easy to deal with.

 

[kevhen]

I think women should use it even more than men after hitting a dropshot or low short ball to lure their opponent into net. Dropshot-Lob would be a deadly combo in women's tennis in my opinion since many aren't comfortable at net.

 

[alan-n]

Are you kidding me, I like using this shot against pushers. It backs them up and what you get in return is either short or overhead practice.

 

[SageOfDeath]

Really you think its highly rated? Most players I know think that lobs are just easy put aways so I was just curious because I thought slice lobs were actually easy to deal with and topspin lobs hard but some people found it the other way around and said its easy for them to take it on the rise while they are at net.

I can hit a topspin lob but not at the height i would like. Its probably just out of a net player's reach but not quite deep enough so I'm still working on it. Any tips on recieving a topspin lob?

 

[TwistServe]

I think women should use it even more than men after hitting a dropshot or low short ball to lure their opponent into net. Dropshot-Lob would be a deadly combo in women's tennis in my opinion since many aren't comfortable at net.

I agree. girls.. you know.. need to learn

 

[Kana Himezaki]

Thanks for yet another knowledgeable, intelligent post. Men, for that matter, also often don't come to the net. There's a reason S&Ving is extremely rare in both genders.

SoD, I think it's definitely highly rated. They're able to take it on the rise? That's HARD. They're good players then. Or it's too shallow. The topspin allows you to hit higher and with more safety, and should drop deep in the court. That's hard to even get to, let alone run around and take the topspin lob on the rise.

I'd just try to work on the depth. It helps to get the feel for it by just taking balls out of a hopper and brushing up as much as possible with a low to high motion. You'll get the hang of the topspin lob from there, and usually topspin in general.

 

[TwistServe]

I wouldn't say it's underrated. It IS a weapon, and is HIGHLY rated.

.

The topspin lob is not a highly rated tool. It's not even highly rated in club or pro tennis. Hewitt is one of the few that do it in the pro level. Bolliterri talks about how the lob is very underated in club tennis and that it should be used more often.

The difference is.. The lob is underated.. You should use it in the club level... It can be a weapon but probably not.. It is not highly rated.

If the topspin lob was highly rated everyone would be using it. Do you want to take a poll of how many people had to defend against a topspin lob, and how often in a match?

You really should only use it when the net man is very close to the net. If they are standing by the servie line chances are you'll get crushed if your lob is anything but great.

Edit: When I refer to lob I mean topspin lob.. Just writting this incase someone wants to twist words.

 

[Kana Himezaki]

Twist words? Don't flatter yourself.

It IS highly rated. It's one of the single most effective "weapons" in doubles. Even in singles, it's commonly used. You want to know why it's not used often at the pro level? Because they are not able to set up for it. When the ball is coming hard and low, it is actually easier to produce an angled or DTL passing shot. Adequate topspin lobs take some time to set up, as any weapon is. In a hard-pressed situation, attempting to try a topspin lob will often result in poor control and barely any topspin.

Club level? It can be used anywhere.

 

[TwistServe]

Twist words? Don't flatter yourself.

It IS highly rated. It's one of the single most effective "weapons" in doubles. Even in singles, it's commonly used. You want to know why it's not used often at the pro level? Because they are not able to set up for it. When the ball is coming hard and low, it is actually easier to produce an angled or DTL passing shot. Adequate topspin lobs take some time to set up, as any weapon is. In a hard-pressed situation, attempting to try a topspin lob will often result in poor control and barely any topspin.

Club level? It can be used anywhere.

HAHA You have no idea what you're talking about now.. Obviously the OP disagrees with you and so do the rest of the posters. This isn't even an argument anymore.

Club level? It can be used anywhere.

You don't even know what you're aruging.. No one's saying it shouldn't be used and can't be used in the club level. The thread is asking if this shot is UNDERATED (the definition means concensus doesnt think much of it)

just please stop aruging now before I have PROVE YOU WRONG yet again.. and this time i'll have to rub it in your face unlike the previous times

 

[Kana Himezaki]

Keep making yourself feel good.

"FYI", the other people in this thread have been supporting it's use. The OP wondered if it should be worth developing because his current attempts at using it have not worked due to depth issues.

 

[TwistServe]

Keep making yourself feel good.

"FYI", the other people in this thread have been supporting it's use. The OP wondered if it should be worth developing because his current attempts at using it have not worked due to depth issues.

Again, You're speaking out of your mouth without any your references..

The lob is underrated.. very underrated. it is not highly rated. you need to get a dictionary.

Here are my references:

http://www.expert-tennis-tips.com/the-lob.html
http://johnsonsports.com/category.asp?categoryID=37
http://www.championshipproductions.com/cgi-bin/champ/TNV-01121M.html?id=SUseYDvB

Watch the video Nick Bolliteirri's Deadly dropshots and Lobs...

 

[Grimjack]

I voted for the "with ease" option. But in fairness, that's because as a baseliner: (1) I've got to be pretty good at hitting that sort of shot, and (2) I virtually never have to face one, because I come to net about as often as Karlovic gets deep into a claycourt event.

As to whether it's "underrated" or not, I suppose the question is too subjective. It's certainly not underrated by savvy baselining club-level players. I use them a lot, and I see a lot of other players at 4.5-5.0 using them frequently against net rushers.

You don't see them so often in the pro's because: (A) it's tough to hit a decent topspin lob off a serve or a really good, deep, low approach (and those are the only times a pro is coming to net), (B) the lob has to be WAY better than merely decent against a net storming pro -- it has to be about perfect. Anything less than perfection, and a 7.0 overhead puts that lob away every time.

Which, BTW, is one of the big reasons it's a great club level shot. It doesn't have to be nearly so perfect, because "pretty good" is usually good enough to stymie even a 5.0 overhead, and at least draw a weak overhead reply, which then lets you tee off while the net guy who has just pushed back a half-assed overhead is now stranded in no man's land.

 

[Kana Himezaki]

Again, You're speaking out of your mouth without any your references..

The lob is underrated.. very underrated. it is not highly rated. you need to get a dictionary.

Here are my references:

http://www.expert-tennis-tips.com/the-lob.html
http://johnsonsports.com/category.asp?categoryID=37
http://www.championshipproductions.com/cgi-bin/champ/TNV-01121M.html?id=SUseYDvB

Watch the video Nick Bolliteirri's Deadly dropshots and Lobs...

The OP said it was underrated. I said it was highly rated, because it is commonly used and nobody has any problems with it.

Underrated, as you said later, means it is better than people believe it is. I say highly rated because it is commonly used, and worth using.

And on a quick note, didn't you say a while ago I was talking out of my rear for even mentioning Bollettieri had a similar opinion? Look at what's here.

Your newer posts are also COMPLETELY contrary to your older posts, in which you said the topspin lob was not a weapon. Do I have to quote it?

 

[TwistServe]

The OP said it was underrated. I said it was highly rated, because it is commonly used and nobody has any problems with it.

Underrated, as you said later, means it is better than people believe it is. I say highly rated because it is commonly used, and worth using.

And on a quick note, didn't you say a while ago I was talking out of my rear for even mentioning Bollettieri had a similar opinion? Look at what's here.

Your newer posts are also COMPLETELY contrary to your older posts, in which you said the topspin lob was not a weapon. Do I have to quote it?

No I said you were talking about bolliterri as if he was your teacher.. I used him as a reference and said it came from a video... There's a difference which child brain fails to understand. Time to go sorry cant play anymore.. I'm sure you can fill up these forums until I go back, and I'll have plenty to prove you WRONG yet again.

 

[Kana Himezaki]

As if he was my teacher? It was a reference for similar opinion.

Child brain? I wouldn't say that when you can't type and continually make people repeat themselves. Note how many people have called you a troll, and do so everywhere. Note you're the only one calling me one.

 

[TennsDog]

I think a better question: is the backspin lob under-rated? Everyone knows about the topspin lob, but the backspin lob is a good tool to confuse people -- it just dies.

 

[FREDDY]

if anything its underrated

 

[FREDDY]

haha. [=)]

 

[TwistServe]

As if he was my teacher? It was a reference for similar opinion.

Child brain? I wouldn't say that when you can't type and continually make people repeat themselves. Note how many people have called you a troll, and do so everywhere. Note you're the only one calling me one.

Yes kana you are a troll.. You enter into debates with me not because you know what you're talking about or trying to argue an intelligent discussion, but simply to twist words and to make 50 page threads and confuse the issue; pretty soon you lost sight of what you were actually arguing. For example, the other thread about the sidespin.. The thread ended with me and bb agreeing .. long before you started talking about whatever you were smoking. You admitted to it.. Yet you go on and on about how the poster is only talking about backhands and you can't refer to anything else in the thread because its high crime. You started a 50 page war on which other people even pointed out you were wrong. WRONG.. get that .. WRONG.

People call me troll from the other boards such as the pro discussion.. over there i post things about federer to give a little twist to all the federer kissups.. I'll conceed to that...

On this board, however, you are the troll.

Your child brain refuses to believe you're ever wrong. I've pointed out numerous times that you are wrong. It's sad though because you're so wrong that you think you're right. You're so wrong that you don't even know you're wrong... Does that make sense? Or do i have to revive every thread that you were PROVEN wrong by other posters and other coaches.

 

[Remy]

both Kana and twistserve this not a battle of how smart or good your points are they are both valuble points of view stop arguing and putting each other down, start compliementing each others points by adding valuble things that each other left out i think i speak for alotta ppl when i say that ur both smart ppl plz bloody stop

 

[TvistServe]

I'm sorry, Kana.

I agree. girls.. you know.. need to learn

In Post #8, I deliberately post this sexist comment after your post just to start an argument with you.

Hewitt is one of the few that do it in the pro level. Bolliterri talks about how the lob is very underrated in club tennis and that it should be used more often.

In Post #10, I quote 2 famous people to prove my point (just like what you did) but refuse to acknowledge that I did bash you sometime ago for doing so.

HAHA You have no idea what you're talking about now.. Obviously the OP disagrees with you and so do the rest of the posters. This isn't even an argument anymore.

In Post #12, I deliberately ignore at least 4 people (alan-n, Jonnf, Grimjack, TnnsDog) that does not regard topspin lob as an underrated shot to keep up the argument.

Kana, I now realize that has this bad habit of picking on girls.

I'm sorry.

 

[Exile]

ok whoever is trying to impersonate twist(poorly), stfu and stop being n00bish.

 

[TvistServe]

I'm no impersonator. I'm self 2 (or am I self 1 ??).

Twist has been trying very hard to hide me from myself.

Exile, if I offended you I'll apologize.

 

[TwistServe]

I'm no impersonator. I'm self 2 (or am I self 1 ??).

Twist has been trying very hard to hide me from myself.

Exile, if I offended you I'll apologize.

Whichever highschool you go to kid... keep practicing your tennis instead of practicing to be me.

 

[kevhen]

Do people practice their topspin lobs or how does everyone get good at them? You would need to practice them under pressure with a net rusher hitting a decent approach or serve, I would think. Just don't see people hitting that many good topspin lobs around here, although there are plenty of old guys who throw up well placed lobs but not usually with much topspin.

 

[SageOfDeath]

I'm sorry, Kana.


In Post #8, I deliberately post this sexist comment after your post just to start an argument with you.


In Post #10, I quote 2 famous people to prove my point (just like what you did) but refuse to acknowledge that I did bash you sometime ago for doing so.


In Post #12, I deliberately ignore at least 4 people (alan-n, Jonnf, Grimjack, TnnsDog) that does not regard topspin lob as an underrated shot to keep up the argument.

Kana, I now realize that has this bad habit of picking on girls.

I'm sorry.

I bet that's Kana.... if you want to Impersonate him at least do it with 2 v's like this. TvvistServe

 

[gscone]

this thread has gone to **** s ville...

GC

 

[TvistServe]

Who said I am trying to impersonate? I'm his other good half.
I'm here because Twist is starting argument all over the place lately.
I am trying to stop myself from turning constructive discussion into destructive argument every single time someone disagrees with me.

 

[donnyz89]

i think top spin shots are underrated because its sooo dificult to execute them. i mean, its a very dificult shot. when executed properly, it can not be returned. its both hard to return and hard to execute. its one of those shots that either works or dont, not many betweens.

unless its during a baseline rally, then i think its a very good shot. my coach can throw in a top spin lob during a baseline rally and it would jump 6 feet in the air, its redicules.

 

[kevhen]

ridiculous or ridicules? Is that a new spelling for ridiculous, I am not so hip on the latest trends...

 

[theace21]

I am almost afraid to join this discussion - but I will give my opinion.

The topspin lob is a very effective weapon, but is difficult for most club/recreational players to excute. A solid lob, is much easier to learn and become successful with. Younger players often try this shot and have very little success, and they would become more successful if they would spend their practice times on the basics - than these "gimmick" shots that are more often missed during matches.

 

[TwistServe]

I am almost afraid to join this discussion - but I will give my opinion.

The topspin lob is a very effective weapon, but is difficult for most club/recreational players to excute. A solid lob, is much easier to learn and become successful with. Younger players often try this shot and have very little success, and they would become more successful if they would spend their practice times on the basics - than these "gimmick" shots that are more often missed during matches.

I've rarely been successfully lobbed. I'm not 6'5 or anything.. Granted I don't come to the net often, but when I do come in it's because I'm about to end a point. So basically I'm not stupid enough to come in when a topspin lob is a viable option for a player.. unless they're very skilled and can pull topspin lobs out of nowhere...

 

[GuyClinch]

I've rarely been successfully lobbed. I'm not 6'5 or anything.. Granted I don't come to the net often, but when I do come in it's because I'm about to end a point. So basically I'm not stupid enough to come in when a topspin lob is a viable option for a player.. unless they're very skilled and can pull topspin lobs out of nowhere...

Heh. You know sometimes it seems like I have trouble hitting anything BUT topsin lobs. Yeah I know I suck but it doesn't seem like that tricky a shot. You just kinda hit up across the ball kinda like a reverse forehand but not to much through the ball, right?

Anyway if you know a way to avoid being lobbed at the net I would like to hear it. I just stand back by the service line nowadays when I come to net to defend against those pesky lobs. It was working great for me the other day.

Pete

 

[Bungalo Bill]

I think people tend to underrate the effectiveness of a topspin lob. Really good ones can go just out of a net players reach and still on the rise and deep into the court.

Just curious how many of you have trouble with a topspin lob?

I agree with you a topspin lob is a great shot to have even in doubles.

However, being able to use it often decreases as you meet better players. The topspin lob is used at higher more advanced levels to get a person off the net or to mix up an exchange sequence.

Just need to look at the pros when they throw up a good topspin lob many times the player being lobbed (at the net of course) knows they have been had and sometimes they don't even waste energy trying to get it.

 

[Polaris]

I get lobbed all the time. My friend knows that I come to the net (sometimes in Kamikaze mode) and uses a backhand lob quite often. Its not well disguised but deadly accurate, and always leaves me feeling like an idiot. .

My own backhand topsin lob really sucks, and I end up doing a weird slice-lob sometimes.

 

[SageOfDeath]

a slice lob is really common and can be effective. When pros run for a ball on their backhand side they hit a slice lob as a defensive shot to give them time to prepare. Usually the opponent just smashes down the ball but its better than losing by you missing the ball.

 

[FiveO]

IMO today, at most levels of play the shot is not called for as often due to the reduction of true all-court and s&v'ers and the proliferation of devout baseliners who rarely come in. Its a situational shot and if you rarely meet an all-courter or s&v'er or if you can't create draw a baseliner in, the shot won't be called for that often. Most mid and higher level players can produce "a topspin lob", meaning the can make the ball arc, with topspin to one corner or another. How and when one executes the shot becomes more important as you ascend the level ladder.

At higher levels of play the shot's viability is dependent on a player's ability to disguise the shot and make it look like a conventional pass until the last instant. IMO a topspin lob is a combo shot made much more effective when the net-rusher must respect the oponent's ability to pass. Volleys, overheads and court coverage are better at the upper levels and any "telegraphing" of a coming topspin lob will most likely result in an automatic put-away by the net rusher.

However, at mid-level play any lob can be a good shot choice due to the more likely, questionable reliability of the net-rusher's overhead. Disguise, while desired, is not at the same premium as in the higher levels. A topspin lob at this level also presents more timing problems than a sliced lob.

Again this is all predicated on the opponent coming to or being drawn into the net. Under-utilized or underrated? I don't think so, just not called for as often.

 

[kevhen]

Disguise (as well as power, placement, etc) on all shots is one of those things that does separate players as they go up in level. Federer disguises his shots extremely well. There are guys I play against who I cannot get a read on where they are going with the shot and then if I start moving one way can quickly change their shot and go the other way in a split second.

 

[Return_Ace]

FFS Kana and TwistServe, stop it with your petty bickering *sigh* i go onto the the tennis tips forum and theres always one post that i see with ur arguing, now you two kiss and make up k?

now the lob is underrated in terms of it isn't used enough in pro tennis mainly.....whenever i come to the net its always being topspin lobbed, all just good enough (thats why i said difficulty returning)....the lob is highly rated in terms of effectiveness when done properly.........there we go settled ur argument, now be friends....................................

EDIT: wtf??? there's a second page? oh well...............my comments stand.

 

[x Southpaw x]

No your comments don't stand because they stopped bickering a while ago... at least before I joined.

In My Humble Opinion:
Kana plays/watches more people in the 4.5 - 6.5 range.
Twistserve plays/watches moe people in the 3.0 - 4.5 range.
Both think they are right based on what they watch/experience.
Topspin lob is well-used in the higher ranges especially doubles which requires aggressive netplay from both sides.
Topspin lob however is severely underrated in lower ranges because of what the players are taught and because of their inexperience.

In any case, Twistserve should always be a gentleman... and not react in such a strong way. Meanwhile the Tvistserve faker thing was totally uncalled for.

 

[armand]

I play against this guy who does a topspin lob by deliberately framing so he can get good spin while digging for a low ball. But I don't talk to the guy so I'm not 100% he does this on purpose. Is it possible that a player is so good that he can hit like this?