In short
The lob is padel's most important defensive shot: a high, deep ball over the net players that forces them back so your team can take the net. Aim deep, landing just past the service line before the back glass, and high enough to clear your opponents. A good lob turns defense into attack more often than a hard drive does.
Updated
Why is the lob so important in padel?
Because the net is the best place to be. LTA Padel's coaches note that a high percentage of points in padel are won at the net, and they call the lob the most important shot in the game, the main way to dislodge a pair that is volleying. A good lob sends the net team running back toward their glass, buys your team time, and lets you move forward into the attacking position they just left.
The walls make the lob safer than in tennis. A lob that lands deep may rebound off the back glass, but if it is high and deep enough, the opponents are forced to play it from an awkward, defensive position.
When should you lob in padel?
Lob when the opponents are at the net and you are at the back, especially when:
- you are under pressure, such as after a hard volley or a ball off the back glass, and need time;
- the opponents are crowding the net, which leaves space behind them;
- you want to move them off the net so your team can take it;
- an opponent has a weak overhead, which you can target.
Lobbing from the back of the court is often the right choice, even when it feels passive. A drive hit hard at two net players usually just gives them an easy volley.
How do you hit a good lob?
- Prepare early and side-on, with the racket back, as for a groundstroke.
- Open the racket face, pointing it more toward the sky. That is what gives the ball height.
- Swing low to high. Start with the racket low and finish above your head. Bend your knees and push up through the ball, so your legs help create the steep path.
- Keep the swing smooth. A lob is about control of height and depth, not power.
- Move forward after the shot if the lob is good, together with your partner.
LTA's progression for learning the low-to-high path: balance a ball on your racket and flick it into the air, then drop a ball onto the racket and lift it up, then tap rally balls up in practice before lobbing them.
Where should a lob land?
Depth is the key. Aim for the ball to bounce just beyond the service line but before the back glass. That forces the opponents out of position, makes an attacking overhead harder, and gives you time to set up your next shot. A short lob, landing inside the service box, is an invitation to smash.
Height matters too: the ball must clear your opponents' reach and come down steeply so it rebounds less off the back glass. And direction: LTA's coaches favor cross-court lobs because the diagonal is longer, which gives you more margin for error. A lob over the opponent with the weaker overhead, or down the middle to create doubt, are good variations.
Which lob should you play?
| Situation | Lob to play | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Under heavy pressure, ball off the back glass | High, deep defensive lob, cross-court | Maximum time and margin |
| Opponents crowding the net | Lower, faster lob over the backhand side | They cannot turn and recover in time |
| One opponent has a weak overhead | Lob over that player | Forces the weaker shot |
| Opponents at the net and well balanced | Deep lob down the middle | Creates doubt over who takes it |
| You have a short, easy ball | Usually not a lob: go low to their feet | Keep pressure without giving an overhead |
How do you deal with a lob against you?
When you are at the net and the opponents lob, move back quickly, get side-on, and decide early. LTA's guidance is to choose between a smash, a bandeja or a víbora depending on the lob's height and depth. If the lob is deep and high, let it bounce, play it off the back glass, and lob again to restart. Our guides to the bandeja, the víbora and playing off the glass cover each option.
What are the most common lob mistakes?
- Too short. The most costly error: a lob landing in the service box gets smashed.
- Too low. A flat lob within reach becomes an easy volley or overhead.
- Too much power. A lob hit hard flies off the back glass and comes back to the opponents.
- Lobbing and staying back. A good lob is your chance to take the net. Move up with your partner.
- Telegraphing it. If you open your racket face early every time, opponents start drifting back. Use the same preparation for lobs and low drives.
How can you practice lobs?
Two up, two back, from LTA Padel. Two players at the net, two at the back. The net pair feeds a ball, the back pair starts the rally with a lob, and the point is played out. Swap roles every two points; first team to 10 points wins.
Depth zone. Mark a zone between the service line and roughly a meter in front of the back glass. From the back of the court, hit twenty lobs off feeds and count how many land in the zone. Progress to feeds that come off your back glass first.
Lob and take the net. After every lob that lands in the zone, both partners must reach the net position before the opponents' next shot. This builds the habit of turning a lob into an attack.
Lobs depend on touch, so a round, low-balance racket helps; see the best padel rackets for intermediate players. Practise them in open play through the padel near me finder.
The padel lob: frequently asked questions
Is the lob defensive or offensive in padel?
Both. Defensively it buys time when you are under pressure; offensively it pushes the net team back so your team can take the net.
Should I lob on the forehand or backhand?
Either. The key is control of height and depth, so practice both sides with the same open racket face and low-to-high swing.
How high should a padel lob be?
High enough that the net players cannot reach it without moving back, and coming down steeply so it does not rebound far off the back glass. Check the club's ceiling height indoors.
Why do my lobs come back off the glass?
They are probably too hard and too flat. Slow the swing, open the racket face more, and aim to land just past the service line.
How often should I lob in a match?
Whenever you are at the back and the opponents hold the net, a lob is usually the best option unless you have an easy ball to play low at their feet. Many club players lob too rarely and drive too often.
What is a chiquita?
A chiquita is a soft, low ball played to the feet of the net players. It is the main alternative to the lob for taking the net, especially against opponents who stand close.
Sources
- LTA Padel, Master your lobs (technique, depth, cross-court tip, "two up, two back" drill), checked October 11, 2026.
- LTA Padel, Padel match tactics for beginners, checked October 11, 2026.
Get the next Valor guide.
Racket notes, city guides, and launch access when Valor gear drops.
Keep reading
Browse all padel skills guides.