Two Hacks You Didn’t Know That Would Completely Change Your Lob Game in Padel
Many people with a tennis background wrestle to adjust in padel. It’s just not easy to let go of things that you were used to. Long lobs either go out or they lob too fast, leaving you open to being hammered by your opponents.
There are 2 simple things you might be doing wrong during execution. Try these hacks, and you’ll change your padel game drastically!
- Aim for the straight balls. These are the perfect moments to deliver lobs.
- Make sure your shovel’s holes hit the bottom of the ball.
Now I know you’re excited to learn more about these tricks. But first, check out this short video so you’ll get an idea of what these movements look like.
Target the straightforward shots
Moving to padel from tennis may force you to make a mental leap about lobs if you’re still using your tennis instincts. Don’t worry, that’s what we’re here for!
What’s the difference between lobs in tennis in padel?
When playing tennis, if the opponent has completely backed you into a corner, that’s usually when you’d play a lob. To buy some more time, players tend to focus on playing the ball long. This tactic gives more time to advance to a better position.
However, in padel, most of these volleys aren’t effective. The difference in court size demands a more precise ball play. The simplest method to get accuracy while doing a lob is to do a simple hit.
You’ll lose both time and momentum if you play the lob on complicated plays
But what if you’re up against an enemy that doesn’t really follow this rule. Instead, they keep on sending you high lobs one after the other?
This will surely grind your gears, so check out this video so you’ll know what to do against these types of lobbers:
Make sure your racket hits the ball from down under
This lob variation, for example, is quite different from a tennis lob.
When you lob, you generate the peak by striking the ball through the air, beginning at the bottom of the ball. The topspin ensures the ball rolls down after the bounce and kicks away after landing.
This technique might buy you some points in tennis but in padel, this won’t work!
On a swing like that, it’s possible to throw the ball and make it go too far, or not enough, which will result in you being out or losing a point.
Another issue with topspin lobs is that they may ricochet quite far. The distance will make it easier for your opponents to return the ball with vigor.
So how do you overcome this challenge?
To be safe, make sure that the bottom of the ball hits the racket’s face. You will have more control over how excessively your ball deviates in terms of landing. The bounce off the back wall will be softer and reduced.
Remember, padel is a precision game. You have to maximize your shot and minimize rebounds that may give your enemies easy balls.
