Match Rules

[costiiforzaa]

I have question about playing lobs. Is defencive lob, when both players stays on the baseline, allowed? Of course I'm not talking about "lob + net" tactic, but only about playing lob in the middle of the rally, when for example one player runs from right to the left and tries to defend and hit a ball let's say in the easiest way for the opponent?

I don't think so!

[p.napalm]

I don't think so!

Thanks, but in spite of all I would like to hear opinion from someone who has arguments, not from four-words quasi-sentence maker.

[costiiforzaa]

I don't think so!

Thanks, but in spite of all I would like to hear opinion from someone who has arguments, not from four-words quasi-sentence maker.

You need and arguments? Doing a lob in a baseline rally is very normal shot that is always used in a ATP match. If you show me a match without it, I will be very suprised!
Now without joking: you can destroy the left-right movement of your opponents with top spin shots and short accelaration shots(which you are using pretty well )

[djarvik]

There is a specific shot for these "baseline lobs" and it is not a regular lob.

I believe it is B2 then B2+down then B2. This will execute a "stub" reach shot similar to lob. Will give you enough time to recover but will also be very attackable, unlike the regular lob. A proper lob requires time to do and is a full blown stoke.

When we see pros do this lob in a baseline to baseline rally, we see that "stub" shot.

[spencercarlos]

There is a specific shot for these "baseline lobs" and it is not a regular lob.

I believe it is B2 then B2+down then B2. This will execute a "stub" reach shot similar to lob. Will give you enough time to recover but will also be very attackable, unlike the regular lob. A proper lob requires time to do and is a full blown stoke.

When we see pros do this lob in a baseline to baseline rally, we see that "stub" shot.

Djarvik that is not a lob, that is a defensive Slice, that has no topspin at all.

What Pnapalm was doing vs me were Topspin lobs, and those are very easy to do, and they completly disrupt the game, and he made those while he was on the defensive against me, you have to go back and the point starts over, since i know those shots are not allowed (I have done 0 of those when both players are in the baseline), maybe you can accept one at some point (on a key stroke combination mistake?? ) but not two of those shots in the same game when are up 7-6 6-5*, he had made another one at 7-6 5-4* as well so i told him to stop those otherwise i was to report.

Anyway those shots were completly irrelevant to how difficult the match was, he played great and was as much as deserving for winning as me.. IMO probably more.. had to save 7 match points in the process.

[C4iLL]

Looks like Napalm finally exploits his potential, 3 tie-breaks vs Carlos, that's a performance !

[L Sanchez MD]

There is a specific shot for these "baseline lobs" and it is not a regular lob.

I believe it is B2 then B2+down then B2. This will execute a "stub" reach shot similar to lob. Will give you enough time to recover but will also be very attackable, unlike the regular lob. A proper lob requires time to do and is a full blown stoke.

When we see pros do this lob in a baseline to baseline rally, we see that "stub" shot.

We need a way to execute this shot and the banana shot without typing in a ridiculous combo. It's impossible to hit either of these shots on the run when that's when they're supposed to be used.

If we could map to a button on the keyboard it would be awesome.

[VMoe86]

There is a specific shot for these "baseline lobs" and it is not a regular lob.

I believe it is B2 then B2+down then B2. This will execute a "stub" reach shot similar to lob. Will give you enough time to recover but will also be very attackable, unlike the regular lob. A proper lob requires time to do and is a full blown stoke.

When we see pros do this lob in a baseline to baseline rally, we see that "stub" shot.

This, (almost) nothing to add. Those regular lobs from the baseline are noticeably more effective than their difficulty to execute.

[Algo4]

If it was (and it should be) one criterion, short slices and lobbing in rally should be forbidden, they're as "cheesy" as drop spamming or drop + net rushing (never understood how on earth this would be cheesy).

[p.napalm]

All right, so I would like to hear an clear, official Host statement. Is lob from baseline, played in the critical situations, to "receive" more time to return on the middle of the court, permissible, or not (lol)?

[djarvik]

On the last few subjects/points raised:

Not allowed:
- Lobbing when both players are at the baseline
- Fake slice then Shot

Lobbing while both players on the baseline is both - too easy to execute and too effective. A proper lob takes time to execute and is quite a hard skill to master, I suggest finding other options when stretched, including a Combo shot that emulates "slice stub" or any other shot available. Fake slice then Shot is simply a Bug within a game and ITST will always never condone using in game bugs to gain advantage.

Allowed:
- Short Slices

Short slices affect mainly people who camp far behind the baseline, or return from very far. I do understand that at another tour this shot may have been too powerful, but with ITSTs roster and weaker strokes, this shot is less effective and a lot of times is rather attackable, as opposed to being neutral or offensive. I think the balance is there for players that stay relatively close to the baseline in an effort to emulate the real life tennis game play

[Otlichno]

So when both players are at the baseline and you're being pushed side to side and are on the defensive. You're not allowed to hit a defensive lob? That's a bit ridiculous.

[Indiantonike]

So when both players are at the baseline and you're being pushed side to side and are on the defensive. You're not allowed to hit a defensive lob? That's a bit ridiculous.

Why is it ridiculous ? They are so easy to do and so effective, THAT is ridiculous, not the fact you can't do it anymore.

[Otlichno]

Constant hitting accelerations are easy to do and effective against some players. Are we going to have a ban on them?

At the end of the day, when someone hits a defensive lob when they've been pushed out wide, it's still an attackable shot, if you get your footwork right. Blaming an unforced error, which is due solely to your own lack of footwork on opponents using "cheesy" tactics is not the way to go. Much like the ban on dropshots "spamming" when in reality, a poorly placed dropshot is one of the easiest shot to attack in the game.

The truth is, defensive lobs are not meant only for when the other player is at the net. I for one rarely use the defensive lob, unless my opponent is at the net, not because I consider it cheesy, but because it forces me on the defensive straight away.

[SlicerITST]

First time i heard about combo shots really. But if it was properly explained to me i think there is a combo shot available that is far more realistic as a defensive lob. Al, is that shot acceptable to play when pushed out wide?