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Stretched and off balance at the back. What lob do you hit?
Off balance: the highest, deepest lob you can manage. It is a reset, and it buys the time to recover.
You have been dragged wide and are stretched, late, with no time to set up. What kind of lob is realistic?
Off balance: the highest, deepest lob you can manage. It is a reset, and it buys the time to recover.
Why
Not every lob is an attacking shot. When you are stretched, late and off balance, the lob's job changes: it becomes a reset that keeps you in the point and buys the seconds needed to get back into position. That lob is as high as you can hit it and as deep as you can manage: height gives you time to recover, depth keeps it out of the smash zone. It will not win the net; it will stop you losing the point immediately. The next ball, from a balanced position, is when you play the better lob.
What this means at your level
Beginner
When you are running and stretched, just get the ball high and deep. Then get back into position.
Intermediate
The high defensive lob buys you around three seconds. Use them to recover to the middle of your half, not to watch the ball.
Advanced
The very high lob is also hard to time for the smasher, especially outdoors. It is a legitimate shot against a pair that smashes well but reads height poorly.
Common questions
You have been dragged wide and are stretched, late, with no time to set up. What kind of lob is realistic?
As high and as deep as you can. Off balance: the highest, deepest lob you can manage. It is a reset, and it buys the time to recover. Not every lob is an attacking shot. When you are stretched, late and off balance, the lob's job changes: it becomes a reset that keeps you in the point and buys the seconds needed to get back into position. That lob is as high as you can hit it and as deep as you can manage: height gives you time to recover, depth keeps it out of the smash zone. It will not win the net; it will stop you losing the point immediately. The next ball, from a balanced position, is when you play the better lob.
Why not a flat lob to attack the shoulder?
A flat lob needs balance and a firm contact. Off balance, it lands short and gets smashed.
What should a beginner do here?
When you are running and stretched, just get the ball high and deep. Then get back into position.
How does this change for an advanced player?
The very high lob is also hard to time for the smasher, especially outdoors. It is a legitimate shot against a pair that smashes well but reads height poorly.
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