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Lobbing off the back glass, which corner?
Lob deep cross-court to the backhand overhead. Longest ball, weakest shot for them.
You have the ball off your back glass with time. Both opponents are at the net in normal position. Where does the lob go?
Lob deep cross-court to the backhand overhead. Longest ball, weakest shot for them.
Why
A lob from the back glass with time is the moment to pick a target rather than just clearing the net players. The deep cross-court lob travels the longest path, giving you the most time to move forward, and lands on the diagonal opponent, usually the one whose backhand overhead is toward that corner if both are right-handed and standing in normal positions. That combination, depth plus the weaker overhead, is what turns a defensive lob into an offensive one. Against a left-hander or a pair that has swapped, the target corner changes; the principle does not.
What this means at your level
Beginner
Lob diagonally across the court, high and deep. It gives you the most time and them the hardest shot.
Intermediate
Look at which shoulder the lob will go over. Backhand shoulder of a right-hander is the target.
Advanced
Once the diagonal lob is reliable, the line lob to the other backhand is the change-up. Two backhand overheads to choose from is a good position to be in.
Common questions
You have the ball off your back glass with time. Both opponents are at the net in normal position. Where does the lob go?
Deep cross-court, at the backhand overhead. Lob deep cross-court to the backhand overhead. Longest ball, weakest shot for them. A lob from the back glass with time is the moment to pick a target rather than just clearing the net players. The deep cross-court lob travels the longest path, giving you the most time to move forward, and lands on the diagonal opponent, usually the one whose backhand overhead is toward that corner if both are right-handed and standing in normal positions. That combination, depth plus the weaker overhead, is what turns a defensive lob into an offensive one. Against a left-hander or a pair that has swapped, the target corner changes; the principle does not.
Why not down the line, over the nearer opponent?
Shorter distance, higher net, and the nearer opponent has less far to go. The diagonal is the better lob.
What should a beginner do here?
Lob diagonally across the court, high and deep. It gives you the most time and them the hardest shot.
How does this change for an advanced player?
Once the diagonal lob is reliable, the line lob to the other backhand is the change-up. Two backhand overheads to choose from is a good position to be in.
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Only the lob moves a net pair backwards. Everything else invites them forward.
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Move back with the ball, let it pass you, hit it in front of your body.