Tennis Passing Shot Strategy

Tennis Passing Shot Strategy – Short Lob Over the Backhand Side

This is one of my very favorite plays in singles when I’m stuck back on the baseline or playing a pusher.

From inside my baseline I’ll play a drop shot to my opponent’s backhand side (most players will then play their approach shot up the line) and then play a 3/4 lob over their backhand.

I’m not concerned about my lob going deep where they can’t get to it, and in fact, I want to play my lob short enough where they have to take it as a high backhand volley as they move backwards.

If you’ve got an opponent who plays that high backhand with a two-hander, you’re going to win this point almost every time because it’s incredibly awkward for that player to maintain any sort of balance and court position recovery as they struggle to handle that 3/4 high lob of yours.

How to Practice the Lob Passing Shot

You really need a practice partner for this practice session.  Just work a rally until you get a ball you can play from inside your baseline, play a drop shot to your partner’s backhand side, have them play their shot up the line, and then practice the specific height over the net that will equate to the depth you want.

Then evaluate what shot is most likely to come back from your opponent and see if you can move into the court enough to be able to cut off their shot with either a volley, 1/2 volley, or approach shot and play your 2nd shot to the open court.

Practice being calm and taking your time on both of these shots.  You’re in charge here…!

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Becoming a Better League & Tournament Player – Coaching

Hi and it’s good to be home.  Well, after 10 days in Hawaii, Mai and I reluctantly made the trek back home from our honeymoon, but in the end, it’s good to get back settled in after a couple of incredibly great weeks…


At the Hapuna Beach Hotel next to the Mauna Kea Hotel on the Big Island of Hawaii – 2008

But let’s get back on track with our tennis…

One of the things that I’ve always thought about in response to so many requests for personal coaching from a number of our WebTennis.net subscribers is how to make it happen in a meaningful way.

And the traditional method of on-court instruction is always there, but I wanted to do something different, especially with those of you who are really interested in improving as a competitive player.

It’s one thing to be able to feed you balls on the teaching court and work on your strokes, but it’s an entirely different thing to be able to see how you actually play in a league or tournament match.

So, here’s what I’m thinking, and if you’re interested in becoming a better league or tournament player, please give me some feedback on my idea.

I met with Craig Paulter, the Tennis Director at the Mauna Kea Hotel on the Big Island, and we discussed several ways to allow me to bring a few of my competitive players to their gorgeous tennis facility to work on their games privately and to coach them during the Mauna Kea’s senior tournament in May or their class level tournament in September.

Class level means the tournament organizes players by their skill level such as 3.0, 3.5, 4.0, etc., not age group.  Senior means that the tournament is organized by age group.

Anyway, here’s what I’m thinking…

The tournaments are 3 day Fri-Sun events. 

You travel on Tuesday to Mauna Kea, and then you and I do some private on-court one on one coaching on Wed and Thu mornings along with a scheduled practice match on those same afternoons with another player at your skill level where I’ll watch and evaluate your match play.

Then on Fri-Sun mornings, we’ll do a tournament match warm-up session and I’ll watch and evaluate your tournament matches.

I’ll also be available for to have breakfast with you Wed – Sun if you want to meet early to discuss that day’s itinerary, strategies, etc.

We’ll also meet at the end of the day Wed-Sun and discuss how you’re doing and any additional feedback I might have for you.

So, in effect, we’re talking one on one instructional time with me Wed & Thu, 5 days of match play evaluation Wed – Sun, match warm-ups for your Wed & Thu afternoon practice matches and your Fri-Sun tournament matches, and end of the day meetings Wed-Sun (how about some appetizers and an adult bev or two…!). 

In addition, I’ll also do some videotaping of your match play and on court instruction and produce a post event DVD for you with my evaluation and feedback.

I can realistically do this type of tournament coaching for only 4 players at a time. 

I’ll put together a package that will include your room for two arriving Tue and departing Mon, breakfasts Wed – Sun, all tennis court fees, your tournament entry fees, my instructional and coaching fees, plus the post event DVD I’ll mail to you.

Your package will not include:

  • Air transportation to and from the Kailua / Kona International airport on the Big Island of Hawaii (if you don’t want to rent a car, I’ll be happy to pick you up at the airport on that Tuesday),
  • lunch and dinner
  • other purchases you may make unrelated to the package I mentioned above.

So, it’s a start.  I need to get a feel for your interest.  Send me an email to brent@webtennis.net and let’s see if this is something you’re really interested in…

And by the way, the WebTennis.net official video tip ball feeder extraordinaire who just happens to be my beautiful wife Mai, a strong 5.0 player, will be in attendance throughout for additional on court help and boogie board instruction…(!)

Brent