The Lob Lord Training Drills

Recommended drills

1. 1

   Groundstroke

   all20–30 min

   Groundstrokes — forehands and backhands played after one bounce — are the baseline of padel technique. Unlike tennis, most padel groundstrokes aim to set up net play rather than win points outright.

   Why this drill

   Addresses a key gap for The Lob Lord: struggles against aggressive net players.

   Key steps

   1. 1.Ready position: Between shots, stand in a split step — feet shoulder-width apart, weight forward on the balls of your feet, racket held centrally. The split step loads your muscles to move in any direction.
   2. 2.Early backswing: Start your backswing the moment you read the direction of the incoming ball — not when it's arriving. In padel, early preparation is more important than in tennis because courts are smaller and balls come faster off glass.
   3. +3 more steps on the drill page
   Tip: In padel, groundstrokes are a vehicle to get to the net — not a weapon to win points. Every groundstroke should be played with the net transition in mind.
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2. 2

   First Volley After Serve Execution

   beginner20–30 min

   Master the critical first volley after serving, setting the tone for the point with aggressive positioning. Strong first volleys finish points quickly and prevent opponents from recovering.

   Why this drill

   Addresses a key gap for The Lob Lord: vulnerable to serve-and-volley.

   Key steps

   1. 1.Serve Execution: Execute your serve and begin moving immediately toward net as the ball crosses the net.
   2. 2.Net Positioning: Advance to approximately 6-8 feet from the net, preparing for the opponent's return.
   3. +4 more steps on the drill page
   Tip: The first volley sets the point's tone; attack aggressively to finish before the opponent settles.
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3. 3

   Serve-Plus-One First Volley Aggression

   beginner20–30 min

   Master the serve-plus-one pattern, the fundamental serve-and-volley sequence where you serve, advance to net, and finish the first volley. Serve-plus-one dominance wins service games.

   Why this drill

   Addresses a key gap for The Lob Lord: vulnerable to serve-and-volley.

   Key steps

   1. 1.Effective Serve Placement: Execute a serve that sets up a favorable first-volley situation, typically T-line or wide serves.
   2. 2.Immediate Net Advance: Move aggressively toward net immediately after serving, positioning yourself at the service line.
   3. +4 more steps on the drill page
   Tip: Serve-plus-one is the foundational attacking pattern; master it to dominate service games.
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4. 4

   Chiquita

   intermediate20–30 min

   The chiquita is a low passing shot that passes below the net player's reach, usually cross-court. The primary weapon against a net-dominating pair.

   Why this drill

   Addresses a key gap for The Lob Lord: struggles against aggressive net players.

   Key steps

   1. 1.Identify the opportunity: The chiquita works when net players are too close to the net (reaching for volleys) or out of position. A pair settled at 1m from the net with good coverage is harder to chiquita.
   2. 2.Swing low-to-high, sharp angle: Generate topspin with a low-to-high swing. The ball must dip below the net player's racket (around 0.8m from the ground as it crosses the net). Sharp cross-court angle makes the target corridor wider.
   3. +3 more steps on the drill page
   Tip: The chiquita is harder than it looks — don't attempt it under pressure until you have 30+ clean practice repetitions at medium pace. A chiquita that pops up is an easy put-away for the net pair.
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5. 5

   Drop Shot

   intermediate20–30 min

   The padel drop shot: a softly struck ball that barely clears the net, landing near the service box. Effective against opponents anchored at the baseline.

   Why this drill

   Addresses a key gap for The Lob Lord: struggles against aggressive net players.

   Key steps

   1. 1.Choose the right moment: Drop shots work when opponents are caught behind the baseline (after an aggressive smash pushed them back) or mid-court. Never play a drop shot when opponents are near the net.
   2. 2.Disguise with a full preparation: Take a full groundstroke backswing. The deception of a drop shot comes from mimicking a hard shot — opponents don't read it until contact. An early 'dropper' motion is easy to read.
   3. +3 more steps on the drill page
   Tip: A drop shot that lands past the service box is just a short ball — it's attackable. Keep it within 0.5m of the net for it to be a real threat.
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6. 6

   Net Retreat Defensive Transition

   intermediate20–30 min

   Master coordinated retreats from the net when lobs force backward movement, transitioning back to baseline play. Net retreats prevent vulnerable positions at net and allow proper defensive setup.

   Why this drill

   Addresses a key gap for The Lob Lord: limited baseline weapons.

   Key steps

   1. 1.Lob Recognition: Identify when opponents are hitting lobs over your head, requiring immediate retreat movement.
   2. 2.Quick Backward Movement: Execute explosive backward movement from the net toward the baseline, tracking the lob's trajectory.
   3. +4 more steps on the drill page
   Tip: Don't fight forced retreats; manage them efficiently and work back to net when opportunities arise.
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FAQs

Other advanced archetypes

• → The Lob Artist training drills
• → The Smash Monster training drills
• → The Quick Hitter training drills