The Lob: Padel's Most Underrated Weapon
The lob decides more club-level matches than the smash. Here is how to make yours reliable.
Ask a professional which shot wins the most points and they will say the lob. Ask a club player and they will say the smash. That gap explains a lot of results.
Why It Works
The lob pushes the net pair back, breaking their position and handing you the initiative. Even an average lob forces a defensive bandeja rather than an attack.
Height and Depth
Aim high enough that it cannot be intercepted, and deep enough that it lands within a metre or two of the back glass. Height buys you time to move forward.
Technique
- Open the racquet face and get under the ball. - Lift from the legs, not the wrist. - Follow through upwards and forwards, not across. - Move in as the ball travels.
Target the Backhand
Lob over the backhand shoulder wherever possible. Overheads from that side are far weaker for most players.
Do Not Overuse It
If every ball is a lob, good opponents will step back and punish you. Mix in drives and low returns to keep them guessing.
Practice
Set a cone two metres from the back glass and lob to it fifty times. Boring, and enormously effective.