How to Hit a Perfect Padel Lob: Technique and Tactics

The lob is the single shot that separates reactive players from intelligent ones. Hit it correctly and you neutralise the most aggressive net attacks, buy yourself time to reset, and occasionally win the point outright. Hit it poorly and you hand opponents a free smash. This guide breaks down the mechanics, the timing, and the tactical thinking behind a truly effective padel lob.

Why the Lob Is More Than a Defensive Shot

Most beginners see the lob as a panic button — something you throw up when you are out of options. Intermediate and advanced players see it differently. The lob is a positional weapon. When your opponents are parked at the net, a well-placed lob over their heads forces them to retreat, breaks their rhythm, and immediately puts pressure on their smash. Do it consistently and they will start hanging back, which opens up the entire net for you.

Understanding this changes how you practise it. You are not just learning to survive rallies — you are learning to dictate them.

The Mechanics of a Good Padel Lob

Grip and Racket Preparation

Start with a continental grip (the same one used for the serve in tennis). This gives you the wrist flexibility to lift the ball without rotating your whole forearm. As the ball comes toward you, prepare the racket early with the face slightly open — pointing upward at roughly 45 degrees. Late preparation is the number-one reason lobs go into the net.

Contact Point and Body Position

The contact point should be in front of your lead hip, not beside it or behind it. If you are right-handed and hitting a forehand lob, you want to make contact when the ball is just past your left hip. Your knees should be bent and your weight transferring forward into the shot, even under pressure. Locking your legs and hitting flat-footed produces a weak, short ball that opponents smash with ease.

The Swing Path

Think of drawing a low-to-high arc with your racket. Start the swing below the ball and brush upward through contact. The racket face should be open enough to send the ball high, but not so open that it floats — you want trajectory, not a balloon. Follow through until your racket points toward the sky above your shoulder.

Wrist Control

Keep your wrist relaxed through the swing. A tight wrist kills the lift. A relaxed wrist lets you angle the racket face naturally and produce the elevation you need without muscling the ball.

Defensive Lob vs. Attacking Lob

The Defensive Lob

Use this when you are under real pressure — retrieved a ball from the corner, stretched wide, or caught off-balance. The goal is height and depth, not spin. Get the ball as high as possible, aiming to land it between the service line and the back wall. This gives you time to recover your position at the net alongside your partner.

Key cue: open racket face, swing low to high, prioritise getting the ball up over everything else.

The Attacking Lob

Use this when you have time and your opponents are crowding the net. Add a brushing motion to the ball to generate topspin — this makes the ball dip quickly after it peaks, making it harder to track and forcing opponents to hit a running smash under pressure. Aim for the opponent’s weaker side (usually the backhand) and target the diagonal corner.

Key cue: more wrist, faster brushing action, aim with intention rather than just getting it over.

Reading the Tactical Situation

Lob When Opponents Are Leaning Forward

If your opponents are pressing the net hard and their weight is forward, a lob wins the point or forces a retreat. Watch their feet — when they step toward the net anticipating a passing shot, that is your trigger.

Lob to Break a Smash Rhythm

Some players are lethal with their overhead. Rather than trying to pass them, lob repeatedly until they make an error or their smash loses pace. Even elite players miss smashes under mental fatigue.

Lob to Reset After a Difficult Exchange

If a rally has pulled you both wide or deep and you are disorganised as a pair, a high defensive lob is the best way to buy time to regroup. Resist the urge to go for a risky passing shot when you are off-balance — it rarely pays off.

Lob Into the Sun or the Light

Playing indoors or in direct sunlight? Aim your lob toward the light source when conditions allow. Even a fraction of hesitation from your opponent looking into the sun or a glare can make a good smash into a weak one.

Common Mistakes and How to Fix Them

Mistake	What Causes It	Fix
Lob goes into the net	Racket face too closed, late contact	Open face, hit earlier
Lob goes too short	Swing too slow, no follow-through	Drive upward aggressively
Lob goes out the back	Contact point too far forward	Move contact slightly later
No height or arc	Swinging flat instead of low-to-high	Emphasise the upward finish
Inconsistency under pressure	Tightening wrist when stressed	Practise lobs while moving backward

Drills to Build a Reliable Lob

Drill 1 — Wall Feed Lob: Stand three metres from the back wall, drop the ball and lob it over an imaginary opponent (use a cone at net height). Focus on trajectory and landing zone, not pace.

Drill 2 — Partner Feeds: Your partner feeds low balls into your backhand corner. Your only option is to lob. Practise 20 repetitions before switching sides.

Drill 3 — Live Situation: Play points where one pair always starts at the net and the other pair must lob at least twice per point before attempting a passing shot. This forces tactical use in a game context.

The Mental Side of the Lob

Intermediate players often feel that lobbing is somehow passive or defensive in a negative sense. Drop that mindset. The lob is calculated. It disrupts tempo, creates doubt in opponents, and opens up the court. The best pairs in padel use the lob not because they have to — but because it is the right move. Start seeing it that way and your whole game changes.

Related reading

• Master Your Padel Volley: A Comprehensive Guide to Technique Improvement
• Mastering the Padel Bandeja: Your Key to Controlling the Point
• Basic Padel Rules: Your Complete Guide to Mastering the Game