Coach Chad | How to Return Lobs 

This was one of the best videos I’ve seen on covering the lob. Talking while playing, even with the mic acting up, made for a great demonstration.

your channel is off to a tremendous start. Great videos! I love that you are covering so many different aspects of a single technique. talking about and showing footwork, paddle face placement, arm length, ball height, power...etc. is so great. Not many other channels are teaching with this kind of quality and depth. It really does feel like we are getting some 1on1 instruction. As a new and younger player these videos have been extremely helpful for me and in turn i try and pass the knowledge on to my fiance for when we play in our rec league. We are all about having fun but at the same time we are trying to get better and your videos are helping us get there.

Great video! I would add a point right at the beginning of the process to decide if you can attack it before it gets over/past you. If not, then continue on with the steps. Also, anticipating the lob can help you be ready to attack it or chase it down; see if your opponent shows signs that they are about to lob.

“Shape of a question mark”! Perfect visual advice. Learned a lot from this help video. Was doing it wrong all the time by bad advice. No wonder lobs have always been trouble haha. Thank you!

Great video! Best way to learn how to get a lob. Thank you so much!

Been playing for about 70 days in the last 90 days now. I found your channel and given my experience level, your teaching meathod is PERFECT for my. I understand everything your saying and am able to apply what your saying! Thank you for these vids! #bingewatch

As a stroke survivor, this footwork drill will keep me from further scarring my arm going after lobs. In past I have not taken that 1st step properly. In the past I would I would spin and start running and after 2 steps and down I would go. It became so bad that I quit going after lobs. So thank you for drill and I will try it tomorrow.

Great video! A bit surprising for me. I can get to the lobs easily, so I was more concerned about what shot to hit back. I would have thought 1) drop 2) drive and 3 lob. I kind of see the logic of preferring a lob to a drive, but I'm not so good at lobs, so I have preferred to drive, but maybe I'll try it now.. The drop is definitely best, though. Thanks!

I'll be trying to set up my PB Tutor to shoot lobs next for sure.

I prefer to lob back-if do a drop, they can just dink it and keep me running back to the net. Rinse. Repeat.

Great video. Would be nice to see your recommendation for the partner’s movement. Are there situations where the partner should take the lob while the other partner shifts sides?

Good video - Would have liked to see more time on what to do with the ball. Third shot? To whom? Return a lob with a lob? Opposite side with a longer shot? Same side with a short lob? Return a lob as if I was serving? What's one to do? Thanks for your good work.

Thank you for the great advice ❤️ this video was so helpful. Cheers

Excellent... A lot depends where your partner is standing. Communicate early on this at start of game. If partner is at the rear, then it's his ball and you cover he's vacated position and he moves to your previous position.?

It’s basically using proper technique w/safety and economics in mind. Efficient steps (none wasted) turning like a swing gate. Running back in a forward motion (avoid backing up) around the ball and executing the shot.

Nice demo

Thank you for the strategic detail. Excellent instruction articulation!!

Great infomation

Really nice instruction. Nice dinks and lobs but not really good lob return demo. Maybe that is another video for you? Honestly, I think a drop return is a low probability option for someone just learning how to get to a lob. Even lob returning is somewhat difficult, having to get to and pop the ball from the baseline and over outreached paddles. I do like the lob return but at least with a drive you can aim for the center or down the line. But then that's just my thinking.

Some lobs are deeper and higher, so adjust your balance and approach....

Need better sound

How about...turn, run get the ball...and you save 16:22 of your life.

Only a sport played predominantly by old people would need a tutorial on how to turn around and run

First… I love the fact that you acknowledge that so many Pickleball players are age 60 and older and frequently have mobility issues. With that in mind, I slightly disagree on the preferred order of returns to counter your opponent’s initial lob … particularly for novice level 1-2.5. Here’s why. Following chasing down a lob, you have likely run yourself at least back to the baseline if not beyond the baseline. Therefore, a drop shot is not your best choice because that ball will be getting to either of your two opponents much more quickly because they are are theoretically already standing at the kitchen line … giving you the LEAST AMOUNT OF TIME to recover defensively and get back up to the mid-court or kitchen. Instead, I believe the drop shot is the second best choice with a defensive lob return often being a slightly better option … Preferably cross court to give you the widest possible safe landing space while simultaneously keeping the ball in the air longer to allow you to get back closer to the No Volley Zone . The defensive lob should give you time to get all the way back at least to mid court if not all the way to the kitchen. Player levels 2.5 and higher probably could follow your recommendation of drop shot , but since you’re opponents are most likely already at the kitchen, they will still be in “attack mode” and it would be nice to put them on the defensive by considering the lob.

The most helpful and educational video on how to return lobs I have ever seen. Thank you Simone.

Great video! I’ll definitely try this tips. Keep them coming! And thank you for sharing.

Are you allowed to step on the kitchen line? How far in do you have to be to have a kitchen "fault" ?

Great video, covering footwork seems to be the key to getting to the ball , keep these coming Simone, you guys make a great pair teaching !

This is so good. Thank you for tackling one technique at a time rather than 8-10 that end up running together, especially if you are a beginner. Rules are easier to remember, techniques, not so much..

This demonstration was so helpful. I can't wait to practice my lob returns!! Thank you!

Efficiency in movement! What a concept!.... Thank you for this content.... it came just in time as i was floundering around with this shot...I'm only low 3's and learning... i will practice this move,,, Thanks again... Vince

Thank you !!! This is a weakness for me & this completely makes sense…. Opening the hip to prepare my body to track the ball 👍👍😃😃

If you watch carefully, Simone actually pivots her foot BEFORE turning her hips, which allows even greater hip turning angle when she turns.

Simones has a husband??? NOOOOOOO!!!!!!! There goes my chance!! ha. love you simone. thanks

so much talking…. actions speak louder and more clearly than the multitude of words…

Best Pickleball video lesson ever! Thanks Simone!

Pickleball is America's fastest-growing sport and we like it #Pickleball

Allan, I found it! I'm forwarding it to you again. Let me know that you get it. Karina

Great video. Thanks. Would sure like to see Simone execute a variety of lob returns including drives and smashes instead of watching a student execute lesser returns.

These videos are so great at breaking down the elements . . . perfect visual demonstrations and I love Chad's accent! Love this teaching team!

So incredibly helpful. Love the "step" cues, nothing more frustrating than watching lobs go over you head rooted to the ground

Great video and I am leader of a practice group for Pickleball and I would agree this skill is quite dangerous. I like the visual aids or the "snappeys" and I am curious where I can purchase those items please? Thanks.

so helpful thank keep the tips coming

I’m so happy to see this because most of the time I will try to jump up . Thank you.

This was very helpful. Thank you.

Thank you so much for this video I lose a lot of points to lobs because I didn’t know how to return them thank a lot I will try this next time

The sound is cutting out and not hearing all words

What a great lesson on foot work . Will try.

Simone is beautiful and great instructor!! Clearly presented!! and WHY we do the things we do.

Create chaos. That's my motto! Lol

Just what I was looking for to help me on lob returns - Merci Beaucoup Simone et Chad!!

I do exactly as you say with one exception. Lefty here, I estimate if the ball is going over my left or right shoulder and turn to the opposite side so when I beat the ball to the spot I am in position to hit forehand

He said what at 5:16????

Very useful tips, thank you. Would be nice if the critical video areas were in slower motion. Also, some camera switches were at those critical times, which made watching a challenge. Overall, very good.

Simone, what Pickleball shoes are your favorite?

Omg...thank you. I get so frustrated repeatedly doing the same errors. You are unsticking me with these great videos. Cues are incredible!

So well explained!! As a beginner and short woman I thought it would be about impossible for me to return a lob over my head but this shows me exactly how to do it. Now, out to court to practice!

Unfortunately I have two bad hips so I can’t perform that first step of opening up the hip. I’m thinking I need to raise my heel on my stationary foot (get on the ball of that foot), so that I can pivot safely when swinging the gate open, without injuring my hip.

The most important for me is to pickup the ball early off the opponents paddle. This allows me to move to where the ball is going to be, so I can hit the overhead. I have found if I watch the ball go over my head its too late, gonna be a weak reply, so why waste the energy, good shot.

Love this video. I've been trying to find a good video on court positioning and movement for doubles players but am coming up short. Can you think about doing a video to break it all down for us on that subject? Would like to share something on that topic to the player group I'm in. Thanks for considering.

Perfect! I won’t drive lobs anymore... Muito obrigada pelo vídeo!! ❤️

Simone is a great instructor. Suggestion: drop the music since it is distracting and annoying

Just like playing the outfield in baseball. Got it!

I appreciate the clear instruction. Thank you, Simone and team!

Fantastic as always!

Great video, love the way you broke down all the different aspects and showed both the right and wrong ways to retrieve.

I love the use of your colored disks. It really helps me visualize the strategy.

Simone & Chad, I'm 67 tore and had meniscus surgery on rt knee now looking at left knee surgery. How to turn without twisting the knee joint?

That was an excellent explanation. Thank you

Lots of good info with a careful & progressive breakdown of the fundamentals. I'm suggesting you also consider these ideas gleaned from a 1970's coaching clinic applying pro track skills to efficient movements in tennis. 1. You first transfer weight to the left foot as you rotate it so you can pick up the right foot. 2. The right foot executes a drop step. This should be a short step because you need to drive hard off this step to start your run. 3. Your head & chest should be inclined down & forward over the right knee as you push off. 4. At the same time, your right arm & paddle should be driving back hard on this first step to help add power to your run's initial acceleration step. (Attempting to simulate the natural arm pumping motion of coming out of the running blocks) 5. Your next steps will begin to elongate and as you find your stride 6. You strive to arrive back behind where the ball will bounce, stop, and then rotate & transfer your weight forward into the stroke. The paddle should already be back and ready to hit.

You are a GREAT instructor ❤️

Did I miss why she does not like the switch?

Sooooo helpful! Can't wait to put it to practice!

Great advice for lobs

So good!!

Thanks you

Is Chad an Aussie?

16:25 for a 5 minute video. Ugh.

How long does the explanation repeat itself before an example. This is why we don't subscribe and turn your video off.