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October 1999 Article Wild Cards Archives:
Tennis Server
Top Pros (Women)
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by Tony Severino Certified Instructor 4A Professional Tennis Registry
Playing against "Lob Queens" (male or female) can be frustrating. What to do about it? It would it make sense to say the difference is "making them lob!" versus "letting them lob." When you make them lob, they have neither the time nor the space to hit the shot on their terms.
The first thing you need is Patience. You have to let them lob in the beginning until you can create an opportunity to make them play your game; make them lob! Watch the racquet swing path and the angle of the racquet face as they strike the ball. It tells you "Lob!" Now you're ready! Be calm.
The second thing you need is a fairly decent overhead. You don't have to smash it into the next county. Hit the overhead with a smooth leisurely overhead motion. Resolve to call "Mine!" early in order to commit yourself fully to making the shot. Try to volley every ball in the air. Play cool!
Third, hit to their backhands. That is usually their weaker shot.
Fourth, move them around! Use short balls and angles shots. Make them run to the ball. They don't like to run and they don't like to be up at the net. They like being at the baseline so use your drop shot often. Volley balls to hit the court, not an opponent's racquet.
Fifth, remember they lob because they are good at it. They have the trophies to prove it. Lobbers love a slow, waist-high ball relatively close to them. Don't give them any. Hit low and deep, wide and short. Don't "let them lob" -- make them play on your terms -- "Make them lob!"
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