Lob depth: finding your range and consistency

What this lesson covers

Improving the lob requires a conscious shift in mindset regarding depth and error tolerance. Many club players leave lobs short because of a fear of hitting the back glass. Pros treat the lob like a target practice exercise, accepting early errors to calibrate their range. The goal is to consistently hit the ball deep, forcing opponents to play overheads from behind the service line rather than near the net.

Technically, the lob should be kept simple. Instead of using a wristy, topspin motion common in tennis, players should use a flat, shovel-like motion to push the ball high and deep. This technique avoids the spin that causes the ball to bounce off the back glass into an easy attacking position for the opponent.

Training the lob effectively requires dedicated time, ideally in a social match or a specific drill session where both partners agree to prioritize depth over immediate point winning. A missed lob that goes long is a good mistake because it indicates the correct intent to push the opponent back. Players who commit to finding their range in these sessions typically see a significant improvement in their ability to take the net within minutes.