INSTRUCTION
RUNNING DOWN LOBS
Running down lobs is a great source of confusion for opponents and even elicits debate from pros about who should hit the returns . Team confusion is a great reason why lobs work so well .
Let ’ s explain who runs down the overhead , what your partner should be doing , and what ’ s your best return shot .
WHOSE BALL IS IT ?
The most confusing retrieval is from the lob hit to the center of court near the baseline . So , who is responsible for this shot ? Assuming you and your partner have similar foot speed , the answer is determined by which side the lob is coming from and where you think it ’ s going to land .
If a lob is coming from the odd side opponent , the odd side player will retrieve most lobs — not just because it ’ s their forehand running down the shot , but also because they have more time to see the ball from a crosscourt position . In this scenario , the down-the-line even court partner is closer to the opponent and is primarily responsible for guarding the line .
Now for the tough question : If a lob is hit to the back middle of your court from the even side opponent , who should run down the ball ? Pros often disagree on this answer . Some say the crosscourt even side player should get it because that player has more time and more room . Other pros say the odd court player should run the middle ball down because it will be a forehand . Both are right and wrong at the same time .
Here ’ s why : The lob from the even side toward the middle of the baseline will be a difficult backhand for an even court partner to retrieve , but it will also be a difficult ball for the odd court player to run down because of guarding the line . The answer to who runs down the lob to the middle baseline coming from the even side depends on the even player ’ s ability to hit a backhand and also the odd court player ’ s ability to physically get to the ball . At the very least , both players should run back and have the discussion on who is more comfortable taking the shot .
LOBS OVER OUR HEADS
I will normally be the one to run down a lob hit directly over my head because it will be very difficult for my partner to cover for me . Likewise for my partner . When running down a lob over your head , run in a
C-shaped pattern . We do this for two reasons : to open up our forehands and to avoid having the lob bounce into our bodies .
WHERE DO YOU GO WHEN YOUR PARTNER RUNS DOWN THE LOB ?
When we run back for lobs , we are temporarily back on defense . That being the case , you and your partner should position yourselves accordingly . The moment you recognize your partner is running down a lob , immediately back up . Still facing the net , move back between 3 and 6 feet from the baseline . Turn your body 45 degrees between your partner and the net . If your partner hits a good drop shot , you will now be prepared to move back in . Likewise , if your partner hits a poor shot , you will be prepared for whatever comes next .
DRIVE , DROP or LOB ?
OK , we ran down the lob and our partner backed up . What next ? You have two clear choices .
If the lob is barely in your reach , throw up a high , deep lob and get back into a ready position a couple of feet behind the baseline .
The other option comes into play if you make it back with time to spare . In this case , hit a crosscourt drop shot to give yourself more time and more court to hit to . If your opponent runs down a deep lob from behind the baseline and makes the poor choice to drive a ball back at you , the best play is often going to be a block drop shot back into the non-volley zone .
IN SUMMARY
By Wayne Dollard
Before starting a tournament , have the lob retrieval discussion with your partner . All speeds being equal , balls hit to the odd court should be run down by the odd court player with a forehand . At the same time , you have a decision to make on lobs hit toward the backhand of the even court player . Remember , when your partner goes back , you should too . Finally , if you have time , hit a crosscourt drop shot — always making sure to clear the net . •
Wayne Dollard is a US Open 50 + and 5.0 US Open Champion , and 5x National and US Open gold medalist . He is also the founder of LevelUp Pickleball Camps and publisher of Pickleball Magazine .
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