Lob
What is a Lob in padel?
A lob in padel is a high defensive shot played over the net players, designed to land deep near the back glass and force a positional reset. A well-executed lob travels above 3.5 metres at its peak, neutralises an attacking net position, and buys time for the lobbing pair to recover formation.
Definition
The lob is a high, arcing shot designed to clear the net players and send the ball deep into the backcourt toward the back glass. It is the primary defensive weapon in padel and arguably the most important single shot in the entire game — not because it scores points directly, but because it is the mechanism by which the defending team reclaims net position and resets a point that has gone against them. Unlike tennis, where lobbing is an occasional tactic, padel is built around the lob. Every time a team is pushed to the back of the court by an overhead, their primary response is a lob. A good lob is high, deep, and steep enough that the net players cannot intercept it. A great lob lands close to the back wall, forcing the opponents to play a difficult overhead from deep in their own court — and potentially surrendering the net to the lobbing team. The paradox of the lob is that it looks passive but is actually strategic. The team that lobs accurately and consistently forces the opponents to produce difficult overheads repeatedly, and statistically, the team that is most comfortable at the net will win most points. A reliable lob is what allows you to get to the net — even after being driven back — because if you lob well enough, your opponents will eventually make an error or hit a weaker bandeja that you can attack. There are several lob variants. The standard defensive lob is struck from the back of the court with an upward, brushing motion that generates modest topspin and maximum height. The offensive lob is struck flatter and more aggressively, aimed at surprising opponents who have moved too close to the net. The 'globo' is the ultra-high lob that bounces over the back glass and sometimes exits the court entirely — a specific manoeuvre used when opponents are smashing aggressively and the player needs maximum height clearance. Placement is the key variable in lobbing. A central lob is easier to smash; a lob aimed at the backhand corner forces a more technically demanding overhead. In padel doubles, targeting the lob to the opponent diagonal to your position (cross-court lob) is generally more effective because it gives the net opponent furthest from the ball less time to poach the overhead. At club level, the lob is the most under-practised fundamental shot. Players spend hours on overheads and volleys but neglect the lob, which is the shot that creates the opportunity for every overhead. Coaches at every level consistently report that improving a player's lob depth and accuracy produces more rapid competitive improvement than almost any other technical investment. The relationship between the lob and the 'globo' is worth clarifying. Strictly speaking, the globo refers to the ultra-high lob — struck with maximum height to clear even a very tall player's reach and aimed to land within 50 cm of the back wall. The standard defensive lob is somewhat lower and can be struck more quickly from a lower take-back. At club level the two terms are used interchangeably; in coaching contexts, the distinction matters because the globo requires a different technique (more upward swing path, looser wrist) and is riskier in wind. The lob is also a tactical weapon used offensively to test whether net opponents are willing to leave the net and retreat. A team that consistently drives back their opponents with accurate lobs creates extended baseline exchanges that favour the lobbing team — since the opponents must either execute good overheads under pressure or concede the net.
Origin: English: 'lob', from the motion of hitting the ball high and soft.
Etymology
The English word 'lob' dates to at least the 16th century, derived from a dialect word meaning a heavy, slow-moving object or a rounded mass. In sporting usage it appears in tennis from the 1870s, describing a ball struck in a high, arching trajectory. Padel adopted the term directly from tennis alongside a large portion of its early vocabulary. In Spanish padel communities, the standard term is 'globo' (literally 'balloon' or 'globe'), which describes the shot's high, rounded flight path. Both terms coexist — 'globo' in formal and Spanish-language contexts, 'lob' in English-speaking and international contexts.
History
Lobbing in padel is as old as the sport itself, appearing from the very first organised games in Marbella in the late 1960s and Buenos Aires in the 1970s. The enclosed court and glass walls made it immediately obvious that lofting the ball over net players was the logical counter to net aggression. What evolved over subsequent decades was the tactical sophistication of the lob: Argentine players in particular developed systematic lob-to-overhead sequences as the core tactical building block of modern padel doubles strategy. The 'lob and retake the net' pattern is now the fundamental defensive-to-offensive transition in all coaching systems worldwide. High-definition slow-motion analysis in the WPT era has enabled precise study of lob trajectories, leading to modern coaching guidance on optimal lob height (minimum 4 metres above court level) and depth (within 1 metre of the back wall).
Technique
For a standard defensive lob from the backcourt: turn sideways to the net, load a low take-back with the racket face open (angled upward). Strike the ball at roughly waist to thigh height with a low-to-high swing path, brushing across the back of the ball to generate topspin that adds depth and brings the ball down steeply. The follow-through should rise toward your non-dominant shoulder. Aim for a contact point slightly in front of your body. Target the ball to land within a metre of the back wall on the opponent's side, ideally into a corner. For an offensive lob, shorten the backswing and flatten the trajectory slightly to disguise the shot as a groundstroke until the last moment. For the defensive lob under extreme pressure (opponent at net, you scrambling from the corner): use a very open racket face and an almost completely upward swing with no backswing. This 'panic lob' sacrifices placement for safety — height is the priority. A very high, slightly short lob is far better than a flat attempted passing shot that gifts opponents an easy volley.
When to use it
Lob whenever you are pinned at the back of the court and opponents are at the net pressing you. The lob is your escape route. Use a high lob to create time to reposition; use a deeper, flatter lob (offensive lob) when opponents are overly aggressive at the net and not covering the space behind them. Target the backhand corner when possible since overheads from that position are more technically demanding. In wind, lob more conservatively — a lob in a strong headwind can fall short; tail wind can carry it over the fence.
Common errors
The most common lob error at club level is hitting it too short — the ball lands in the middle of the court rather than close to the back wall, giving opponents an easy overhead. Second is lobbing too flat, failing to clear the net players who can intercept it. Third is poor direction: central lobs allow opponents to choose which player takes the overhead, whereas a corner lob forces a specific player into a difficult position. Fourth, failing to start moving forward after the lob means you surrender the net even after a good defensive lob.
Pro examples
Sanyo Gutiérrez is celebrated by coaches for his lob accuracy — his ability to land lobs within centimetres of the back wall under pressure is considered a model for all levels. Marta Ortega on the women's WPT is similarly noted for her defensive lob quality, which has been highlighted in multiple coaching analysis pieces as exemplary.
Sources
Common questions
How high should a good lob be?
High enough that net players cannot attack it; ideally landing near the back glass or within a metre of it.
When do I lob vs. pass?
Lob when your opponents own the net and are in an attacking position. Pass when there's a gap or they're out of position.
Related terms
Practice drills