Between the legs shot

This is the ultimate show-time shot. I don’t generally advocate it because you seldom win the point with it, but returning a lob from between your legs will please any crowd.

To familiarize yourself with the technique, practice it while standing still. Hold your racquet with a Continental or Eastern backhand grip to give your wrist ample snapping flexibility and to get more of the strings on the ball. Turn away from the net and bend your legs to get a wide base. Now drop a ball right between your legs. This will allow you to swing through contact without banging the racquet on the court or against your body.

When the ball is at shin level, snap the racquet down, squaring the face at impact. Depending on your objective, you can either bring the racquet through the hitting zone with a slight low-tohigh motion, which will be more of a drive shot, or you can snap up severely, which will produce a defensive lob.

After you get comfortable hitting from a stationary position, incorporate some movement by tossing the ball up and toward the baseline. Instead of running to the side of the ball, go straight at it. As you approach, make sure to overrun it a bit so you can take a full and, more important, safe swing.