There’s the well-timed surprise lob that catches everyone leaning toward the kitchen.
And then there’s the player who lobs for a living.
You know the one. Every ball goes up. You run backward. Your partner runs backward. Someone nearly gets a paddle to the forehead. And just when you manage to return the ball, the Lobster drives it directly at you.
Pickleball paradise.
In this week’s episode, pro player and coach Leia Miller returns to discuss when a lob is a smart strategic shot and when it turns an otherwise enjoyable game into fifteen minutes of recreational waterboarding.
Because nobody is arguing that lobs should be banned. A well-disguised offensive lob can be brilliant. A defensive lob may be the only shot available. But when lobbing becomes someone’s entire game plan, everyone else is suddenly playing a completely different sport.
In this episode, you’ll hear
The difference between an offensive lob and a desperate defensive lob
When a surprise lob is genuinely effective
Why your partner deserves a warning before you send everyone scrambling
How frequent lobbers put their own partners in jeopardy
Why higher-level players use lobs sparingly rather than building an entire identity around them
The big takeaway:
A lob is a tool, not a complete toolbox. Use it to surprise your opponents, escape trouble or disrupt their positioning. But when every shot goes skyward, you are no longer adding variety to the game. You are testing everyone’s patience and hamstrings.
Share this with a player who knows exactly who “the Lobster” is and tell them to SUBSCRIBE.
Short, practical insights for recreational players who want answers.
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