Scenario A: What if you are returning a serve, your partner is at the service line, the ball you are returning is hit into the forehand or backhand corner, forcing you wide.
What to do: Throw up a high defensive lob down the middle of the court, allowing time for your partner to move back with you. Stay in a defensive (back court) position as a team until you are offered a short ball which you can both come in on from the baseline to control the offense (at the net).
Scenario B: What if your opponents are at the net - you throw up a lob which is so deep they are unable to hit an overhead in the air - one or both of your opponents are running backward to retrieve it (possibly trying to return it with a lob).
What to do: As soon as you see your opponents are not going to hit your lob in the air (as an overhead) and you see them scrambling backward - move up from the baseline to the service line as a team. From here you can command the offense. Now your team can hit an offensive overhead when your opponents return with a lob - instead of just getting into a "lobbing contest."
Scenario C: What if you are in a baseline rally - your opponent sends a very high and deep lob to the baseline. If you let it bounce it will force you toward the back fence and make your team very defensive.
What to do: Move inside the baseline (toward the net) a little. Intercept the high ball about eye-level as a volley. Do not allow it to bounce. Send it back cross court. If you are not comfortable with your shot, maintain your position. If you like your shot, you could move toward the net to volley again and control the offense.
