A lob is a powerful shot in pickleball that involves elevating the trajectory of the pickleball, sending it high into the air. Lobs have been a staple of the sport of pickleball for decades and are one of the most effective shots in your arsenal. When executed with precision, a well-timed lob can catch your opponents off guard, giving you a significant advantage on the court. Here are some essential tips to help you prepare for hitting the perfect lob:
1. Disguise Your Lob Like a Drop or Dink: The lob is most effective when it’s unexpected by your opponents. Pay attention to subtle cues; if you spot a pickleball player standing tall and leaning back—especially if they typically maintain a low, compressed stance—it’s a strong indication that a lob is coming. To counter this effectively, ready yourself as you would for a drop or a dink at the Kitchen line. This means that you will move your body behind the pickleball with your paddle out in front of your body and below the pickleball in a compressed stance, with your knees bent.
One good way to disguise a lob at the Kitchen line is to hit a volley lob—hitting the lob directly off a dink before it bounces. By hitting a volley lob (rather than off the bounce), you will likely have the same mechanics on your lob as if you were hitting a dink, which will help you disguise your shot. Plus, it will be a very unexpected shot, as most players will either dink the pickleball back or go for a speed up shot – and not a lob.
2. Adjust Your Feet: Forehand lobs will generally be easier and more consistent than backhand lobs. As a result, as you move behind the pickleball, prepare your feet so that the pickleball is off to your forehand side. Then, turn your shoulders and upper body slightly toward your paddle side, bend your knees, and compress your body into your paddle-side hip and knee. Again, this bending and compression motion should be similar to your drop or dink mechanics.
3. Court Positioning: When you’re at the Non-Volley Zone line, hitting a lob becomes a powerful option. The closer you are to the Non-Volley Zone line, the easier the lob will be to execute. While it’s possible to attempt lobs from the transition area or even near the baseline—like on a third shot lob—those shots come with added difficulty and a lower success rate. Being further back on the court gives your opponents more time to react, increasing the chances that your lob will fall short, allowing them to hit an easy overhead.
It’s also worth noting that when you’re at the Kitchen line during a dink rally, executing a lob can be particularly effective. In this scenario, your opponents are likely leaning in, fully focused on the dink, and trying to maintain the rally. This creates an opportunity for you to deliver a well-timed lob that can disrupt their balance and get them moving. Trust in your ability to recognize these moments and capitalize on them for a decisive advantage.
Pickleball is a blend of strategy, skill, and quick decision-making. By incorporating these tips into your game, you can capitalize on the pickleball court and leverage the lob effectively to your advantage.
