Tips for Smashing Against a Lobber Revisions

On the flipside, here's how to win a lobbing rally:

1. Lob to the Backhand Side. This isn't a hard-and-fast rule, but the majority of players cannot attack a long smash using their backhand, so they are forced to play defensively. If you smash to their forehand, they might loop it back.
2. Smash to the Extreme Sides. Instead of smashing right down the middle, aim for the far sides so the lobber is forced to get out of position. If they aren't able to get back into position you may be able to finish the point by smashing in the other direction. Again aim more for the backhand side to avoid getting re-looped.
3. Do Drop Shots Regularly. Lobbers hate having to run back and forth, far from the table, then close for a drop shot, so use this strategy regularly. Try to drop it as short as possible (a double-bounce on the table is optimal). It's easier to keep a drop shot short if the lob lands close to the net. A deep lob is hard to drop short.
4. Watch for a Trick after the Drop Shot. If the drop shot falls off the end of the table, the lobber may return the ball with sidespin, to make the ball shoot to one side after it bounces. Be aware of this, as they may do this under the table so you can't see exactly what they're doing and which direction the ball will go.
5. Be Patient. It is common for the smasher to get anxious when the lobber successfully returns a lot of smashes, causing you to try to smash harder each time. This causes unforced errors, so aim for consistency. If the lobber doesn't seem to be an expert at lobbing, just stick to the game plan and keep smashing with good location and keep mixing in drop shots. Don't get pressured into smashing harder and harder.

On the flipside, here's how to win a lobbing rally:

1. Lob to the Backhand Side. This isn't a hard-and-fast rule, but the majority of players cannot attack a long smash using their backhand, so they are forced to play defensively. If you smash to their forehand, they might loop it back.
2. Smash to the Extreme Sides. Instead of smashing right down the middle, aim for the far sides so the lobber is forced to get out of position. If they aren't able to get back into position you may be able to finish the point by smashing in the other direction. Again aim more for the backhand side to avoid getting re-looped.
3. Do Drop Shots Regularly. Lobbers hate having to run back and forth, far from the table, then close for a drop shot, so use this strategy regularly. Try to drop it as short as possible (a double-bounce on the table is optimal).
4. Watch for a Trick after the Drop Shot. If the drop shot falls off the end of the table, the lobber may return the ball with sidespin, to make the ball shoot to one side after it bounces. Be aware of this, as they may do this under the table so you can't see exactly what they're doing and which direction the ball will go.
5. Be Patient. It is common for the smasher to get anxious when the lobber successfully returns a lot of smashes, causing you to try to smash harder each time. This causes unforced errors, so aim for consistency. If the lobber doesn't seem to be an expert at lobbing, just stick to the game plan and keep smashing with good location and keep mixing in drop shots. Don't get pressured into smashing harder and harder.

On the flipside, here's how to win a lobbing rally:

1. Lob to the Backhand Side. This isn't a hard-and-fast rule, but the majority of players cannot attack a long smash using their backhand, so they are forced to play defensively. If you smash to their forehand, they might loop it back.
2. Smash to the Extreme Sides. Instead of smashing right down the middle, aim for the far sides so the lobber is forced to get out of position. If they aren't able to get back into position you may be able to finish the point by smashing in the other direction. Again aim more for the backhand side to avoid getting re-looped.
3. Do Drop Shots Regularly. Lobbers hate having to run back and forth, far from the table, then close for a drop shot, so use this strategy regularly. Try to drop it as short as possible (a double-bounce on the table is optimal).
4. Watch for a Trick after the Drop Shot. If the drop shot falls off the end of the table, the lobber may return the ball with sidespin, to make the ball shoot to one side after it bounces. Be aware of this, as they may do this under the table so you can't see exactly what they're doing and which direction the ball will go.