by Jenny Foster
Lobbing is one the shots used in pickleball. For beginners, aside from properly learning this shot, they should also be able to recognize when to use the lob. Obviously, lobbing will work to a player’s advantage in some cases, whereas other occasions will call for a different kind of shot.
Notably, a lob can make or break a pickleball player’s game. The player who is doing the lob may feel satisfied with themselves, but being lobbed by the opponent is entirely different scenario.
There is one very important thing that all pickleball players must remember when doing a lob: the ball should get inside the court. Otherwise, or when the ball lands outside the court, then they may lose a point. Thus, when it comes to a lob shot, a pickleball player should be confident that the ball will land on their target spot.
When positioned at the back of the court, pickleball players may do well with a drop under conducive conditions. Meanwhile, a low drive can be useful in forcing the opponent to hit the ball upward. As for the lob, pickleball players should only consider it during dire conditions, because lobbing the ball over an opponent’s head is not always possible given the size of the pickleball court (which is smaller than a tennis court). This especially becomes true for professional players who already have developed skills for making the ball go overhead their opponent.
When it comes to the lob, pickleball players should consider the varying skill levels of their opponent and assess if the shot will become advantageous for them. The lob may be more effective for players at the lower levels when aiming for the defensive, whereas pros should be more careful when executing such a shot, that is, they aim for a deep defensive lob when they’re trying to get more time to return to their desired position in the court.