How to Take Down Lobbers in Doubles

If you’ve ever played doubles against a team that lobs all day long, you know how quickly it can get under your skin. Suddenly, you find yourself second-guessing where to stand, what shot to hit, or even how to handle the lob itself. Lobs slow things down, throw you off, and make it tough to play the fast-paced game you like.  

We spoke with Ben Lott, a former Division I player from Drake University and the current Director of Racquets at The Club at Forest Ridge in Oklahoma, who shared a few tips on how to handle lobbers and regain control of the match. 

How to Reply to a Lob

Patience!

"The most common mistake players make is rush and make contact with the ball out of their optimal strike zone. A player's optimal strike zone is typically between hip - shoulder height. The most common error is not letting the ball come down to this zone, and often hitting at head height or above! Whenever possible, let the ball come back down to the optimal strike zone, and give yourself the best chance possible to hit a strong shot back."  

Ben Lott

Take the Ball on the Rise

"If your opponent hits a good deep lob and you don't have the space behind the baseline to let the ball come back down, your best option is to take the ball on the rise. In this occasion, do not worry about adding pace or spin to your shot, focus on placement and sending the ball back deep and away from any opponent at the net." 

Overhead Placement and Lob Defense

"If both you and your partner are located at the net, aim for the middle of the court with your overhead unless you are close to the net and have the opportunity to take a little more risk and "finish" the point. If the lob goes over your heads, your best plan is to lob the ball back high in the air, and give you and your partner as much time as possible to recover back to the baseline." 

Ways to Reduce the Effectiveness of Opponents' Lobs 

Positioning

"If both you and your partner are at the net, and you are playing a pair that are consistent lobbers, make sure you do not stand too close to the net. Just inside the service line should be sufficient to allow you to cover the short-mid depth lobs. If you are at the baseline, give yourself plenty of distance away from the baseline to help prevent you from having to move backwards as much as possible. If the lob lands shorter than anticipated, you can always move forward to reply." 

Communication

"Early communication is critical to handling lobs. Hesitation or changes in decision can lead to you not being able to execute an effective lob back. Whatever your decision is, make sure it is quick and you go with the first option you choose." 

Placement

"If at the baseline, aim for the cross-court option. This gives you the longest section of the court to hit into, so you have the greatest margin possible for your shot. If at the net, aim your overhead through the middle of the court, unless the lob is short and you can step forward and be more aggressive with your shot. Make sure not to go too close to the sidelines, as this will lower your margin for error." 

Lobs don’t have to throw you off your game. With a little patience, smart positioning, and clear communication, you can turn even tricky lobs into opportunities. Keep these tips in mind next time you step on court, and you’ll be ready to handle whatever your opponents send your way.