CourtChalkWhiteboard

drill

Lob and chase

One lobs over the other at the kitchen line, who turns, runs it down and sends it back with an overhead or a lob.

Players
2
Time
10 min
Path
Advanced
Topics
Positioning, Physical

Most players lose a lob point in the first step: they backpedal. This drill makes the turn and the run a habit, so a lob over your head is a ball to chase rather than a point lost.

Setup

  • Both at the kitchen line, straight across.
  • Plenty of room behind you, and a quick look that nobody is on the next court.

How it works

  1. Dink until one player lobs over the other.
  2. The lobbed player turns (shoulder toward the ball, not backpedalling), runs back and plays it.
  3. Short enough: an overhead. Too deep: lob it back high, and walk back in.
  4. Swap who lobs every ten.
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The lob, and the chase
  1. Both at the kitchen line, straight across. They dink until P2 lobs.
  2. A dink to start.
  3. The lob, over P1's backhand side. P1 turns and runs: shoulder first, never backpedalling.
  4. Too deep for an overhead, so P1 lobs it back, high, and walks in. Now P2 has to turn.
  5. P2 gets there and resets with a drop. Swap who lobs every ten.

Turn the dial

Easier: the lob goes to the forehand side, and not too high.

Harder: the lobber disguises it: set up as if to dink, then lob.