The Lob

The game is constantly evolving and players are improving at a fast rate! One of the quickest ways to develop your pickleball game is to take a “page out of someone else’s book”. I mean taking a shot or technique from another player and incorporating it into your arsenal, whether you're watching or playing against them. When I first got into pickleball, I would watch the pro players and emulate certain shots from them. An example is learning the "scorpion" move (which is a defensive shot from the forehand used to counter a speed up coming from down below the net), and I first saw this executed by Viviene David! Of course, I had to practice this and add it to my game (due to my height HAHA). It also doesn’t have to be a certain shot, it can also be a certain pattern or court positioning. 

Lately, I’ve been focusing on improving my lob. This shot often doesn’t get enough credit because, if poorly executed, can lead to an easy overhead for your opponents. However, if performed at the right time, it can push opponents off the kitchen line and put them in a defensive position on court. Therefore, it’s important to understand when and where to execute the shot. 

Here are a few key factors I consider when hitting a lob:

When to lob:

1. I make sure I am balanced, have my feet set, and am in control of the point, allowing me to get behind the ball and make contact in front of me rather than to the side.
2. I notice my opponents reaching in past the kitchen line and taking my dinks out of the air.
3. I am dictating the point with aggressive dinking, keeping my opponents on the move and out of position.  

Where to lob: 

1. Cross court: This provides the farthest distance for the ball to travel. This is especially effective from the right side because you are aiming over the player’s left shoulder (backhand) when executing a cross court lob.
2. Over the players’ backhand side: It is much harder to counter a lob with a backhand over your non - dominant side than it is an overhead over your dominant side.

Mastering the lob is all about discipline and practice! When done right, it can be a game-changer in keeping your opponents off balance and causing some chaos during the point! Be sure to read the room as well! If you are at open play and get a chance to play opponents who are unable to move well, now is not the time to be “that person” and lob every point just because you want to win! There will be a time and place to practice and execute a lob during the game. 

For more of my tips, visit the DUPR instagram or my personal pickleball instagram! 

Have fun!