Padel · Advanced Plan · Week 3

Defend, lob, climb

Take the smash off the glass, escape with a deep lob, then move up together the moment you see it land behind them.

Video walkthrough

Coming soon

The on-court video for this drill is in production. The full step-by-step is below — and our in-depth guide goes deeper still.

The padel lob→

What it is

Defending off the back glass under a genuine smash — reading the kick, getting behind it, and turning survival into the counter-lob that takes the net back. The best pairs don’t defend to survive; they defend to arrive.

When to use it

Whenever the smash is coming and you can’t cut it off: move at the smash, not at the bounce, let the glass do the slowing, and lift the reply deep. If your lob lands in the last two metres, go — both of you.

When not to

Don’t wait for the glass on a ball you could take early, and don’t counter-attack from a stretched position — a flat drive out of deep defence is a gift. Stretched means lob, every time.

How to do it

1The net pair smashes at 80%; you play the rebound off the glass and lob deep. Ten rounds of three.
2On every lob that lands behind them, move up as a pair and take the net.
3Add the cambio: when a lob crosses over your partner, whoever can see the ball calls the switch — loudly.
4Finish with points that begin with a smash at your pair. Winning them scores double.

Coaching cues

Move at the smash, not at the bounce — get behind the kick and lift.
The defensive lob must land in the last two metres.
Same swing, different face. Height comes from the racket face, not extra effort.
If the lob is good, go. Waiting to see is how you stay at the back all match.

Common errors

Defending to survive. A lob that buys you nothing is just a slower way to lose the point.
Moving at the bounce instead of the smash — by then the kick has already beaten you.
Lobbing short under pressure. Nerves shorten the lob first, so practise deep lobs when you’re tired.
One of you climbs and one stays. Half a pair at the net is worse than none.

This is the Week 3 drill from the RacketRise Padel Advanced Plan. Go deeper with the padel lob, or see all drill guides.