Shakespearean Doubles - To Lob or Not To Lob?

To lob or not to lob? That is the question.

Many players, including myself, utilize the lob more frequently than other players do in their doubles matches.  Some frequent commentary regarding our kind are thoughts like "this isn't real tennis," or "this is too slow a pace of match."  Usually, comments like this are made when someone is losing to us.  To be sure, the lob is a very effective weapon in doubles for many reasons.

Gets you out of trouble

A great defensive lob, with generous height, allows both you and your partner to recover to good defensive positions to cover the court and perhaps play the next ball.  Any time you are out of position, strongly consider throwing up a lob so you can get into a more beneficial position. If nothing else you force the other team to have to play one more ball.  At the recreational level, that will result in an overhead error frequently.

Allows you to attack the net

A good lob on the return of serve over the server's partner, or a lob over either net player during the course of a point, allows the team that lobbed to attack the net and take away that prime court position from their opponents.  It forces your opponents to switch, perhaps positioning them on an uncomfortable side, and out of position.  Usually you will see a lob come back - however, if your opponents try to hit a groundstroke, they likely will make an error.  Most players switch improperly by simply shifting sides without getting in to a two back defensive position. So when the lob or groundstroke comes back, attack the player in the short court - they're out of position and have less time to react.

Most recreational players can't put an overhead away

People play shots in part because their opponents are not successful in countering those same shots. If your opponents cannot routinely put overheads away, or better yet, make a lot of errors, by all means please keep throwing up the lobs.  You have found a weakness in your opponents.  The second most important tactic in tennis after reducing your own errors is to make your opponent beat you with their weaknesses.  It isn't your fault that your opponents can't hit an overhead.  Make them beat you with it.  Likely, they cannot.

You cannot compete toe-to-toe with your opponent's groundstrokes

If you are like me, you can't overpower a blanket, much less an opponent with solid groundstrokes.  If you are a capable lobber, chuck up lobs rather than trying to compete with what is obviously your weakness.  This allows you to hide your weaknesses (your groundstrokes) and accentuates your strengths (lobs), both of which are essential to winning.  You will make fewer errors, and likely limit your opponent's ability to utilize their strength.

Your opponents can't run the lobs down due to poor mobility

Yes, mobility is either a strength or a weakness.  It is perfectly fine to force the two snails on the other side of the net to beat you with their inability to run fast.  Again, this forces your opponents to beat you with a weakness.   If only one of your opponents is immobile, be sure to lob their PARTNER, forcing the slow afoot player to run down the lobs. Remember playing matches is not a cooperative effort between you and your opponents, so don't feel bad you're making them play bad.

Keeps good net players honest

If your opponents are strong volleyers and effective at crossing and picking off balls, successful lobs on the return or during the point should help to limit their aggressiveness crossing to pick off your groundstrokes.  This will take pressure off your groundstrokes, as a less effective shot will not be picked off, because your opponent is worried about the possibility of a lob.  This may also force them to adjust their position a few steps back from the net, allowing you and your partner more space to get balls at their feet, which is a significantly more difficult volley

So throw up more lobs and see your overall game results improve.  And if someone complains about your effective style of "slow play" that isn't "real tennis?"  Simply reply, in honor of William Shakespeare - "Methinks the lady (gentleman) doth protest too much."