How to Hit a Lob in Padel

SwingVantage Team— reviewed 2026-09-26

Quick answer

A good padel lob is a deep, high ball hit over the net-playing pair so they cannot smash it, pushing them back off the net and letting your team move forward. The keys are an early, low-to-high lift under the ball, a long follow-through up and out, and depth that lands the ball near the back glass. The lob is the main way to take the net away from opponents, and most weak lobs are too short or too low, which hand the other team an easy smash.

What is happening

In padel the team at the net controls the point, so the lob is how the defending team turns the tables. A deep lob forces opponents back, and while they retreat your team advances to the net. It is a controlled, tactical shot, not a desperate scoop.

The common faults are lobbing too short (the ball sits up for a smash) and too low (it gets cut off as a bandeja or smash). A long low-to-high lift with depth toward the back glass keeps the lob safe and offensive.

Diagnose it yourself

Watch your lob depth: does it land near the back glass, or short in mid-court for an easy smash?
Check the height: is it high enough to clear the net player’s reach?
Check the lift: a long low-to-high swing under the ball, or a short poke?
Film from behind so you can see lob depth and the opponents’ court position.

What SwingVantage looks for

A low-to-high lift and long follow-through (estimated from a single-camera read)
Contact under and slightly in front of the ball
Wrist control through the lift (estimated from a single-camera read)
Balance and recovery toward the net after the shot

Beginner-safe drills

how to hit a lob in padel

Practice it in 3 steps

Drill sequence

PadelVisual guide

Deep-lob target zone
Partner feeds at the net; lob into a target zone in the back meter of the court, over their reach. 3 sets of 12.
Lob-and-advance
Hit a deep lob, then move forward to the net as a pair while the feeder retreats. Only advance behind a deep lob. 3 sets of 8.
Low-to-high shadow lift
Slow shadow swings grooving a long upward lift and finish, without a ball. 3 sets of 12.

Takeaway

Work through these drills in order — each one builds on the last.

One fix, one plan, one retest

The one fix: Lob deep, not just high. A short lob is the one that hands over an easy smash. Depth into the back meter is the single quality that decides whether the shot takes the net away or gives up the point.
The plan: Three sets of twelve into a target zone in the back meter off a net feed, lifting low-to-high under the ball with a long follow-through up and out. Height without depth does not count as a make.
The retest: Same feed, same court, same racket. Twelve lobs: the fix is working when the net pair has to retreat rather than smash — measure how often they are pushed back, not how high the ball went.

Did the fix work? Retest it.

Film the same swing from the same angle, run a new analysis, and compare the results side-by-side. One fix. One plan. One retest.

Retest my swing

Common mistakes to avoid

Mistake 1
Lobbing too short, leaving an easy smash.
Mistake 2
Lobbing too low so it gets cut off as a bandeja.
Mistake 3
Poking at the ball instead of a long low-to-high lift.
Mistake 4
Standing still after the lob instead of advancing to the net.

What goes wrong

When to work with a coach

A coach can help with the timing and disguise of the lob, which are hard to self-diagnose, and with reading when to lob versus drive. SwingVantage helps you check your lob technique between sessions; judge the depth on court.

Your swing, decoded — coaching in your pocket. SwingVantage reads your swing and gives you the one fix that matters most, with data-backed guidance you can use today. Its findings are estimates that get sharper with every swing you add. For injury concerns or advanced technique, pair it with a coach — you'll show up to those sessions already ahead.

Beginner-safe drills. Warm up your shoulder and stop if anything hurts. Youth players should practice with adult supervision.

FAQ

When should I lob in padel?

Lob when opponents are tight at the net, when you are pushed deep or off balance, or to reset a fast point. A deep lob is the safest way to take the net back.

Topspin or flat lob?

A topspin lob is harder to attack and drops faster near the glass, but it is an advanced shot. Build a deep, consistent flat lob first, then add topspin.

Not sure what to fix first?