A pair can seem to have the net covered perfectly—until the ball keeps sailing over the front player’s head. Against a team that lobs often, the answer is not simply to retreat and give up the net. It is to make the lob harder to choose, decide quickly who owns it, and turn a defensive reply into a chance to take control.
First, work out what kind of lob you are facing
Not all lobs call for the same response. A defensive lob is usually high and slow, giving your team time to get behind it. An attacking lob is flatter, quicker, and aimed into the space behind a player who has crept too close to the net. Some opponents also use a topspin lob that drops sharply, making it harder to judge than its height suggests.
Notice when the lobber chooses the shot. Are they lobbing your partner’s backhand side? Do they lift the ball when you poach, or whenever either player moves forward? That pattern is useful information. You can adjust your positioning before the next point instead of reacting late every time.
Make the lobber hit a tougher lob
Net position matters, but crowding the net can make the lob an easy option. The front player should be close enough to threaten a volley without standing so tight that a lob over their head is nearly automatic. A small step back can buy time to turn and chase while still keeping pressure on the opponents.
Use your movement to create uncertainty. If the net player always stands in the same spot, the lobber can pick a target. Vary the position slightly, show readiness to move across, and occasionally hold your ground rather than lunging at every ball. A premature poach can open a clear lane for a lob, so move decisively when you commit—not halfway and then back again.
The baseline player also affects the choice. Deep, well-placed shots make it harder for an opponent to set their feet and lift a controlled lob. Aim for depth and height with margin, especially when you are stretched. A rushed, short ball gives the lobber time to look up and choose their target.
Use clear responsibilities: “mine” and “yours”
Many lobs win points because both partners hesitate. Agree before the match who takes a ball down the middle and who calls a lob over the net player. A simple call—“mine,” “yours,” or “switch”—is better than a late explanation.
As a practical starting point, the player facing the ball often has the better view and should call it. But the partner should not stand and watch. If the net player’s partner calls the overhead, the net player should clear out of the hitting lane and prepare for the next shot. If the front player turns to chase the lob, the baseline partner should cover the open court and be ready for a short reply.
For a lob between partners, decide in advance whether the player with the forehand overhead takes priority. That convention can help, but it should not override a clear call from the player already moving into position. The aim is to avoid two players colliding—or both leaving the ball.
Turn your body early and get behind the ball
When the lob goes over you, do not backpedal while facing the net. Turn your shoulders, take a crossover step, and run toward the spot where the ball is likely to land. Turning early helps you move faster and keeps you balanced for the overhead or defensive shot.
If you have time, get behind the ball rather than reaching backward for it. A balanced overhead is far more reliable than a desperate swing while falling away. If the ball is too deep or too high to attack safely, let it bounce and play the next shot from a stable position. Trying to smash every lob is a common way to turn a recoverable point into an error.
On an overhead, aim for a large target: deep through the middle or toward the opponent who is less ready. A sharp angle may look tempting, but it can pull the ball wide or leave you badly positioned for the next reply. If you cannot finish the point, hit a controlled overhead and move back into a useful team shape.
Choose a formation that fits the lobber
You do not have to keep one player at the net if the opponents are repeatedly lifting the ball over them. A one-up, one-back formation can be a sensible adjustment: the baseline player covers deep lobs while the net player pressures shorter balls. The front player should still be ready to retreat, and the back player should expect to cover a lob that lands over their partner.
If both opponents are comfortable lobbing, try starting both players farther back on return games or after a pattern of successful lobs. This removes the easy target and invites the opponents to prove they can win with lower, more difficult shots. Move forward behind a strong, deep ball rather than charging in automatically.
On serve, the server can use placement to make the return harder to lift. A wide serve can pull the receiver off balance; a body serve can jam them. The server’s partner should avoid drifting so close to the net that the receiver has a simple lob target. Adjust the formation to the receiver’s habits, and communicate who covers a lob behind the net player.
What the rules allow
A lob is a legal shot in doubles, and there is no special rule that prevents an opponent from repeatedly using it. The doubles alleys are part of the court during the point, so a lob landing inside an alley is in. On a serve, however, the ball must land in the correct service box; a serve that lands outside that box is a fault, even if it is a lob.
Partners may choose their court positions, but the receiving team must have the designated receiver take the serve. The receiver’s partner can stand elsewhere on that team’s side. Whatever formation you use, avoid distracting an opponent deliberately; ordinary movement and positioning are part of play.
Practice the pattern, not just the smash
- Overhead-and-recover drill: One player feeds lobs over the net player. The net player turns, calls the ball, hits a controlled overhead, then recovers while the partner covers the open court.
- Two-up adjustment: Play points with both partners starting behind the service line. Move forward only after a deep or awkward reply, so the team learns to choose when to approach.
- Communication drill: Feed lobs down the middle and alternate who calls them. If both players call or neither calls, replay the feed and agree on the responsibility.
Keep score during practice. A team that can return the lob safely and stay organized often frustrates a lobber more than a team that hits one spectacular overhead and misses the next three.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should the net player always hit a lob with an overhead?
No. If you have time and balance, an overhead is a strong option. If the lob is deep, windy, or difficult to judge, let it bounce when possible and play a controlled shot. Staying in the point is better than forcing a low-percentage smash.
Who should take a lob that goes between partners?
Agree on a rule before play, such as giving priority to the player with the forehand overhead. Still, the player moving into the ball should call it clearly. The other partner should cover the court rather than reach across or wait silently.
Should we move both players back against a team that lobs?
Try it if the lob is repeatedly beating your front player. Starting both players deeper takes away the easy target, but it also gives opponents more room at the net. Use the formation as an adjustment, then move forward when your shots make the opponents hit under pressure.
Is a lob over the net player legal in doubles?
Yes. A lob is legal during a rally if it lands in the court. The doubles alleys count as part of the court during the point.
Final Thoughts
Against lobbers, good doubles is less about winning every overhead and more about removing easy targets. Keep your spacing sensible, turn early, call the ball, and let your partner cover the space you leave. When the lobber has to lift a difficult ball rather than simply toss it over a crowded net player, your team can take the initiative back.
