This is not only one of the toughest shots in tennis, it’s also one of the riskiest. If you hit it well, you’ll end up with an impressive winner. If you don’t, you could end up eating what the late, great instructor Vic Braden called a “fuzz sandwich.”
The ideal time to try a lob volley is when you’re in a close-up volley exchange with your opponents. If you sense that the other team is closing in a little too quickly, the lob volley can be a dagger.
To hit it, simply open your racquet face as you make contact with your volley. Your goal is to place the ball just high enough so that it goes over your opponent’s outstretched racquet. It will take some trial and error to develop the touch necessary to use this shot effectively, but the rewards are great.