Racquetball - Regular Half Lob

The regular half lob in racquetball.

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• how to play racquetball
• racquetball
• racketball
• half lob
• lob serves
• racquetball serves

[racquetballfreak18]

I find this serve works great when beginning a match and as a change up but the opponent will eventually pick up the rhythm of the ball. Your vids are very helpful.

[racquetballtim]

@racquetballfreak18 I completely agree. I rarely hit this serve twice in a row, unless I'm playing a very stationary returner who stays in the back court and doesn't attack lob seres. I'll mix up the speed, height and angle nearly every time.

It really works best when you think of yourself as a baseball pitcher when you're in the service box. Keep them guessing, and keep them off-balance.

Take care.

[Mario1057]

I hope you don't think I'm trying to put you down or teach you anything. I've watched many of your videos and they have helped my game tremendously. I just stumbled upon this video and it reminded me of when I play with friends and family who have absolutely no skill. The serve works for Mannino cause the guy gets to every ball. Again, I have much respect for you and Mannino, I just disagree that this is an effective serve for EVERY player. Sorry so late, Im out of town and in diff time zone.

[racquetballtim]

@Mario1057 No of course not.  You're entitled to your opinion my friend. You have to understand that this serve is used in conjuction with about a million other serves that make up the half-lob service strategy. It compliments them, and I would never use it exclusively.

Imagine a baseball pitching instructor posting a video of a 90 mph fastball on the inside part of the plate. People would say "I would crush that pitch!" But when you set it up with 2 sliders away it works perfectly.

[racquetballtim]

@Mario1057 Oh, and I'm glad my videos have helped out. It would be naive of me to believe that every video I post pertains to every single person's game style. I took no offense to your comments. Keep rippin' it.

[Mario1057]

@racquetballtim LOL very true. Thanks for your input!

[racquetballtim]

@Mario1057 Kane is better than anyone on the planet, there's no question about it. If you can emulate his entire game, go for it. I wouldn't teach his game style to anyone, because he's a freak of nature. Nobody on the planet can do what he does on the court, so how could I possibly teach that to the average player?

"Okay student, now hit a rollout from 39 feet, from your backhand, the ball will be above your eyes". lol This really isn't about that at all. It's what works for you.

[Mario1057]

@racquetballtim Copied from wikipedia - "Mannino's game style is unique, as he rarely drive serves, relying instead on a variety of half lob serves. Then during rallies he frequently dives to keep a rally going, hitting the ball to the ceiling while waiting for an opportunity to kill the ball." If I could have put the word "unique" in bold, I would have. Yes, I am green when it comes to terminology, but I feel I have a good understanding of basic strategy. Mannino is AWESOME, but Kane is better.

[racquetballtim]

@Mario1057 And Kane has hit plenty of half lobs in his career, as have all of the top pros. I'm sorry, but you're just wrong, and maybe a little green when it comes to racquetball knowledge. We all have to start somewhere right?

Understand that the basic half lob serve is just 1 serve in the lob serve arsenal. Combined with other serves, they force your oppoenent to hit off balance returns and force weak returns.

Jason Mannino finish #1 in 2003 hitting only lob serves. End of story.

[racquetballtim]

@Mario1057 Um, yah, I was sleeping. LOL. Kane is an excellent player who has an amazing drive serve, and drive z serve game. That's what he does. It's just a different, and effective, service style.

No serve is perfect, but a combination of effective serves will get you weak returns. Lobs and drives are 2 different approaches. If you can hit 185 mile per hour drive serves like Kane does, consistently, with the 1 serve rule, keep on drive serving my friend.