Lobbing Is A Great Strategy (Unless You're A Pro)
I have been asked many times whether or not the lob is a good shot to be hitting in pickleball. This is an interesting question because you will never see me hit a lob when I am playing - but this doesn’t mean it’s a bad shot.
For players 4.5 and below, the lob is hit very often and can be one of the most annoying shots in pickleball. If hit correctly, your opponents must decide who is running back to get it, and even if they get to the ball, they need to decide whether to hit a drop or a drive. All of these things can be confusing, so I am here to answer all of your questions.
When to Lob:
The best time to lob is when your opponents are tightly hugging the kitchen line. They should be leaning in, looking to take dinks out of the air. If you see your opponents with their shoulders leaning down, that is a perfect time to lob.
You should also lob if you know your opponents have limited movement. If you can make the ball bounce, you are in a great position to win the point.
When NOT to Lob:
You should not lob when your opponents are off the kitchen line. If they are standing in the transition zone, they can easily run back and hit an overhead on any lob. The margin of error is way too high to go for this shot. Also, be aware of who you are playing against when you decide to go for this shot.
If you are playing against someone really tall, or someone who can easily run back and hit an overhead, don’t hit a lob against them. One of the main reasons I don’t hit many lobs is because I feel like I am bailing them out, when I could have just sped the ball up. If I have an opportunity to speed the ball up or lob, I’m going to speed it up every time.
Where to Lob:
When we lob, be very conscious of your target. For one, think about the geometry of the court. If we lob cross court, there is simply more space for the ball to travel and still land in the court. You can hit the lob harder this way, and not worry about it going long.
If you are going to lob down the line, I would recommend lobbing over the backhand side. For example, if I am playing on the left and I have a righty in front of me, I can hit my backhand lob directly down the line. Even if my opponent hits this ball out of the air, it will be a high backhand, which is one of the hardest shots to hit consistently well.
Overall, the lob can definitely be a weapon that you use in rec play. The main thing to remember about the lob is to use it at the right time. We shouldn’t be throwing up lobs every other ball just because we feel like it. There should be intent on every ball we hit.
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