Recognise the Smash-Bait Lob: Let It Bounce
The Situation
Opponents feed you tempting deep lobs and you smash them, into the back glass and back to them, or into the net.
What To Do
Read the depth. A lob clearly travelling to the back glass is bait, let it bounce, take it off the wall, and reset or counter-lob. Only smash a lob you can comfortably reach in front of you with balance.
Why It Works
Experienced opponents lob deep on purpose to draw a low-percentage smash from an off-balance position; the smash either nets or rebounds off the back glass into an easy reply. Letting a deep lob bounce and playing it off the back wall is not passive, it is the higher-percentage choice that keeps you balanced and the point alive. Discipline here directly cuts unforced errors: the best players smash less and win more by knowing which ball not to hit.
Court Positioning
Deep lob heading to the back glass labelled 'bait'. Correct path: let it bounce, take it off the wall, reset. Incorrect path: an off-balance smash rebounding off the back glass straight back to opponents.
Court View
Bird's-eye view: attacking net position
Skill Level
Bandeja: Shuffle Back, Slice, Return Forward
You are lobbed while at the net. The lob is medium depth, not short enough to attack, not deep enough to let bounce.
Víbora Only on Short Lobs: Never Deep
The opponent lobs short, the ball is above shoulder height and well inside the service line.
Always Lob to the Backhand Overhead Side
You are choosing where to direct your lobs from the back of the court.