Tactics against lobbers: positioning and aggression

What this lesson covers

Countering consistent lobbers requires adjusting court movement and shot selection. When opponents lob off the serve, avoid rushing to the net. Stop in no man's land to analyze the opponent's body language. If the opponent comes underneath the ball, prepare for an overhead. If they hit down, move forward to the net. Being aggressive with the bandeja or vibora off the return forces the opponent to change their strategy.

During rallies, frequent lobs often result from shots that are too easy for the opponent to handle. Increasing the difficulty of volleys and bandejas forces the opponent to defend, making it harder for them to execute deep, accurate lobs. In a lob-off, break the cycle by using an aggressive bajada off the back glass instead of returning with another lob. Anticipation relies on visual cues. Watching the opponent's contact point allows for early preparation for either a smash or a volley.