Moving to the net after a lob

I would look at how deep the lob is. When the opponent cannot put pressure on you, take the net. You dont have to wait on their response, if its a good lob they cannot put real pressure on you. If you wait on their response you have less time to take the net. Which can cause you to be caught in the transition zone (middle of the court) wich makes you very vulnerable.

At beginner level, it’s probably better to wait and see if the lob is good before going to the net, it’s the best way not to get into trouble at the net and to coordinate with your partner. At advanced levels, there really is no golden rule to decide when to go or when to stay back, it heavily depends on the situation, your opponents and specific tactics you discussed with your partner, for example: - Sometimes you want to go forwards even when the lob doesn’t pass the opponent to block their bandeja/vibora, maybe because their overheads are a bit floaty and easy to counter or maybe because the opponent has such a spicy vibora that it’s easier to block than to try and defend it in the corner - Sometimes you want to stay back if the lob passes the opponent, for example when the lob is “too good” and it gives a lot of rebound off the back glass for a bajada. If the opponent has a really good bajada you can be screwed at the net and sometimes you want to stay back for example to confuse the opponent - If you pass the opponent with a lob but they are the type of players who never play a hard and low bajada and always play the lob back, there’s no use in going forward, better stay back or halfway so you are already in the right position to attack the lob with an overhead - Bit of a more advanced tactic but when you or your partner is getting all the balls and they are putting the other player in the “fridge”, a really nice way to get out of it is that the player who gets all the balls plays a parallel lob and goes forward, while the other player stays back. This way you are kind of forcing the opponent to play to the other player who is at the back and allowing them to get involved in the play. In any case you need to be in sync with your partner when you are going, when not and what the goal is. It’s hard to tell from your situation whether you were losing points because your partner was caught out of position or because you were not moving with them.

Why would you play a lob if you don't want to take the net? Is the lob good? Take net. If not keep defending

Depends the lob . If is a good lob I don't see the problem. The issue here if the lobs are shite then you need to stay and calculate if needs to go

If you do it all the time it is a stupid tactic, this probably only works on really low leve. Usually I check how the opponent plays his bandejas. If there slow, you can rush and block, but if you keep doing that, a good opponent would switch it up and hit it fast.

"rush" sounds not so good to me because it implies an easy to read move that also makes it a struggle to go backwards if loved back. However I would much rather play with someone who did this too much than someone who never did it.

If they return a lob with a lob, it doesnt make sense to rush the net.

The higher the level of play, the more you have to start "fighting of the net". This can be done by going forward to block their overheads or following up on chiquitas. Generally you wan't to move together but again the higher the level gets, the more these general rules can be broken with good results. You can get to pretty good level by not doing that and just taking the net with good lobs and counterattacks though. You will notice when you have to learn this side of the game when your opponents somehow end up at the net almost every point.

Even if he has good bandeja or any fast ball like that, if you have great reflexes and technique at the net you still gain a lot. So, just go to the net after great lob is still best choice.

There's a good rule of thumb when it comes to a question of "what do I do after I lob". But before, there is no question "should I take the net", you always have to take the net \_if\_ you have opportunity. It's padel essentials and 101 -- create opportunity, take the net, win the point, rinse-repeat, win the match. So, the thing. After lob, your signal to take the net is when you see their backs. Only after you rush and take the net. If you don't see their backs, they still maintain the attack and you should move to "active" defence. (Active defense - a waiting position for you and your partner to either a) rush and take the net b) return shot and take the net c) go back to normal defence, i.e. move back. Defending player, i.e. the one that has biggest angle opened on him moves closer to fence, his partner covering center) So yeah. Hit the lob, move a bit up to service line, then either rush to net if you had seen their backs or starting jump and react on them maintaining their attack.

With me and my partner I play the most with, We just follow the partners lead. Usually the one who hits the ball feels if the lob is deep/good enough or not.

Is your aim to win the match you are in at the time, or is your aim to get better at padel? I think my advice would be different in each case.