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The ball comes off your back glass at waist height. What is the default shot?
Off the glass, both opponents at the net: lob deep. The drive is the surprise; the lob is the plan.
You have let the ball hit the back glass and it is coming out to you at waist height. Both opponents are at the net. What do you hit?
Off the glass, both opponents at the net: lob deep. The drive is the surprise; the lob is the plan.
Why
From the back of the court against two net players, the lob is the shot that changes the point: it goes over them, forces them back, and lets you and your partner move forward. The ball coming off the back glass at waist height is the perfect ball to lob. You have time, you have height, and you are already facing the right way. The drive is a legitimate change of pace when the net players are too close or too tall, and the chiquita is the third option for advancing pairs, but the lob is what you hit unless you have a reason not to.
What this means at your level
Beginner
Off the back wall, lift the ball high and deep over the net players. Then walk forward with your partner.
Intermediate
Aim the lob at the backhand corner of the opponent on the diagonal. It has to be deep: the last two metres.
Advanced
Vary the lob's height. The flat, fast lob over the shoulder works when they are deep at the net; the high one when they crowd in.
Common questions
You have let the ball hit the back glass and it is coming out to you at waist height. Both opponents are at the net. What do you hit?
A deep cross-court lob. Off the glass, both opponents at the net: lob deep. The drive is the surprise; the lob is the plan. From the back of the court against two net players, the lob is the shot that changes the point: it goes over them, forces them back, and lets you and your partner move forward. The ball coming off the back glass at waist height is the perfect ball to lob. You have time, you have height, and you are already facing the right way. The drive is a legitimate change of pace when the net players are too close or too tall, and the chiquita is the third option for advancing pairs, but the lob is what you hit unless you have a reason not to.
Why not a hard drive at the nearer net player?
A drive from waist height off the glass at a ready net player is a volley for them. It works occasionally; the lob works every time.
What should a beginner do here?
Off the back wall, lift the ball high and deep over the net players. Then walk forward with your partner.
How does this change for an advanced player?
Vary the lob's height. The flat, fast lob over the shoulder works when they are deep at the net; the high one when they crowd in.
Puzzles like this one
The ball is at your feet at the net. What now?
A ball below the net cannot be attacked. Block it deep and wait for one above the tape.
beginnerBoth of them are at the net. What is the highest-percentage ball?
Only the lob moves a net pair backwards. Everything else invites them forward.
beginnerThe ball is coming off the back glass. When do you hit it?
Move back with the ball, let it pass you, hit it in front of your body.