How to Hit a Lob in Tennis

The lob is a high arcing shot that can neutralise an opponent at the net or create an opportunity to regain control of a point. While beginners often rely on random lobs, a strategic lob requires precision and spin. This guide explains how to execute both defensive and offensive lobs and when to use each effectively.

Understanding the Lob

Lobs fall into two categories: defensive lobs, used when you are under pressure to buy time, and offensive lobs, used intentionally to pass an opponent or force them out of position. A well-hit lob clears your opponent’s reach and lands deep in the court. A poor lob becomes an easy overhead, making technique and timing essential.

Defensive Lob Technique

Preparation

When an opponent approaches the net and you are stretched wide or pushed deep, the defensive lob can reset the rally. Move toward the ball, open the racquet face slightly, and contact the ball high above shoulder level. The swing path is more vertical than a standard groundstroke.

Swing and Follow-Through

Brush upward on the back of the ball to generate topspin and height. Finish with your racquet high above your opposite shoulder. Keep your wrist firm and extend your non-hitting arm to maintain balance, especially when hitting on the run.

Offensive Lob Technique

Preparing to Attack

Use the offensive lob when your opponent is at the net or positioned aggressively inside the baseline. Prepare with a continental or eastern grip and disguise the shot with a similar setup to a topspin drive.

Contact and Spin

Accelerate the racquet head steeply upward to create heavy topspin. The ball should clear your opponent comfortably and drop sharply inside the baseline. Aim deeper than the service line to prevent an easy recovery.

Follow-Through

Finish high with a full wraparound follow-through. If you are slightly off balance, continue moving backward after contact to recover your position.

Tactical Considerations

• When to lob: Use lobs when opponents crowd the net or overcommit forward.
• Where to aim: Target deep areas of the court, preferably over the opponent’s non-dominant shoulder.
• Surface factors: Clay courts enhance topspin lobs, hard courts require extra height, and grass courts reward higher, safer trajectories.

Drills to Practise the Lob

1. Shadow lob: Rehearse the upward swing motion without a ball.
2. Feed and lob: Practise defensive and offensive lobs from controlled feeds.
3. Approach and lob: Simulate transition play by recovering and lobbing after short balls.
4. Over-the-net drill: Practise controlling height and depth by lobbing from close range.

Conclusion

The lob is a valuable weapon when used with purpose. By mastering grip, swing path, contact point, and spin, you can turn defensive situations into neutral rallies and offensive opportunities. Regular practice and smart shot selection will help you use lobs to keep opponents guessing and regain control of points.