Lob
Also known as: globo
A lob is a high, deep shot over the opponents at the net that pushes them back. It is padel's most important defensive weapon for winning back a losing rally.
In padel, the pair that controls the net wins the majority of points. The lob is the primary way to break that control. A ball hit high and deep over the front pair forces them to retreat and play an overhead from the back. If it clears their reach and lands deep, they end up playing a bandeja or a smash from behind the service line. Both are far weaker positions than the front court. If it lands perfectly in the back corners and dies against the glass, it may be unplayable entirely.
The mechanics here differ slightly from the tennis version. The padel lob is often hit out of a scramble, off a ball below the waist or near the ground. The racquet face tilts up, and a brushing motion creates the height and mild topspin that keep the ball in court. A flat lob that barely clears the opponents is easily smashed. One that peaks high and drops steeply into the back corners is much harder to attack. The ideal landing zone is within 1 to 2 meters of the back glass on either side. There, the rebound angle forces the overhead player to hit a defensive bandeja rather than an aggressive smash.
Tactically, the lob is not an admission of defeat. It is an active weapon that resets the rally to neutral. Experienced pairs use it deliberately to change the geometry of a point. Hit it well and follow it forward, and you can flip from defending to attacking in one shot. The pair that just lobbed moves forward, and the pair that retreated to play the overhead is now behind. Doing that reliably and precisely is what makes the lob one of the highest-value shots in the game. The aim is not merely to survive, but to turn the point over.
Tips by skill level
Aim for the opponent's baseline, not over their head. Lobbing over a person feels like the right target, but the actual target is the back two meters of the court. A ball aimed at the baseline will clear the opponents and land in the correct zone. One aimed just over their head will not go deep enough.
Add topspin to the lob by brushing slightly up and over the ball at contact. Topspin pulls the ball down into the court after it peaks. This makes it land earlier and kick away from the glass — harder to time on the overhead and more likely to force a defensive bandeja than a smash.
Example
Pinned at the back left corner, a defending player scrambles and lifts a high, topspin lob over the right-side net opponent that lands in the right back corner — the net pair retreats, the defenders advance, and the rally resets at net-neutral.
Why it matters
The lob is the escape hatch from any back-court situation and the main way to win back the front. A pair that cannot hit it reliably is stuck at the back indefinitely once the opponents take the front.
How it shows up on video
Watch the trajectory relative to the back glass. A lob that lands too short gives the net pair an easy smash; one that lands in the back two meters forces a bandeja. Also watch whether the defending pair starts moving forward immediately after the lob — following up with a net advance after a good lob is the tactical completion of the shot.
Common mistakes
- Lobbing too flat — a lob without height barely clears the opponents and becomes a simple overhead for them to smash aggressively.
- Landing the lob too short (inside the service line). This gives the net pair a mid-court smash opportunity rather than forcing them into the back corners.
- Lobbing into the middle of the court rather than into a back corner. A centered lob gives both opponents a chance to hit it. A corner lob forces the question of who takes it.
- Not advancing after a good lob — failing to move forward after a well-placed lob gives away the net advantage the lob just created.
In SwingVantage Motion Lab
Motion Lab estimates your swing path's upward angle on lobs, but not your contact height. It does not measure the racquet face or track the ball, so check lob height and depth on video. Check there too that your follow-up positioning completes the tactical intent of the shot.
Open Padel in Motion LabFrequently asked questions
When should I lob instead of playing a low ball to the net team's feet (chiquita)?
Lob when the ball is below your waist and you cannot generate a low, controlled chiquita without risk. Also lob when the net team is very close to the net — there is no space for a low ball to dip at their feet. Use a chiquita when you can control depth and the net team is slightly farther back.
Is it possible to lob too often?
Yes — a predictable lobbing pair gives the net team time to anticipate and practice their overheads. The lob is most effective when mixed with occasional low balls at the feet (chiquitas). Variation keeps the net team guessing whether to guard against a lob or close for the low ball.
Related terms
- BandejaA bandeja is a controlled sliced overhead — Spanish for "tray" — hit to maintain net position while placing the ball deep with backspin, prioritizing position preservation over outright winning the point.
- Wall PlayWall play means using the enclosure — letting a ball come off the back or side panel and playing it afterwards — which keeps rallies alive far longer than in tennis and makes positioning matter more than power.
- VíboraA víbora (Spanish for "viper") is a sliced overhead with wrist-snap sidespin that skids low off the side glass. It adds more pressure than a bandeja but keeps you at the net.
- ChiquitaA chiquita (Spanish for "little one") is a soft, dipping ball hit at the net players' feet. It forces them to volley up, neutralizing their net position without risking a lob.
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