Experts knock you out with one pull—because you didn’t read this article!

Today, I played a match against a (expert), and there were a few rallies that were absolutely frustrating: I hit a high, long serve, and the expert responded with a lightning-fast drop shot—so quick it felt like a thief striking before you could even hear the "ding"—landing perfectly behind me, ending the rally. I really wanted to turn around and counterattack, but...

Having discussed the tragedy, let’s now analyze the causes:Among amateur players, many are capable of hitting high, long shots—some even with extra power—often sending the ball all the way to the baseline.

Playing long rallies with my tennis buddies always results in crisp, loud "pong" sounds—each shot perfectly executed, with fluid, textbook-like form and an impressive, confident presence. Honestly, being able to pull this off is already pretty impressive; it’s the perfect chance to strut your stuff in front of the girls and show off that "I’m a total badass" vibe!

But once you come up against a true master—let alone a professional athlete—it only takes one well-placed, high-clear shot for you to feel like you’re facing an overwhelming challenge. If you can even manage to withstand a few consecutive high-clears, moving smoothly from side to side, that already shows you’re highly trained. Yet in the end, most players are simply worn down, forced into submission, and have no choice but to surrender. Why does this happen?

Clearly, your lob shot, compared to that of a true expert, lacks both form and substance—it’s all about appearance but misses the essence; the quality isn’t up to par, and your technique hasn’t quite reached mastery.

Although our high clears and the experts' shots both land near the baseline, in reality, ours are generally...They're all that kind of high-flying, parabolic trajectory., meaning the highest point is roughly around the centerline, after which it begins to descend gently.

Although the landing point can still reach near the baseline, do you think that would pose a threat? Would a skilled player find this type of shot difficult to handle?

This high serve—or what’s known as a "flat high"—basically allows you to reach the ball even from the doubles service line, or slightly ahead of it. As long as you’re not too short, you can typically jump back one step from the center line and still manage to hit it cleanly.

A high lob shot travels at a blistering pace—remember, *blistering*. It’s much faster than you’d typically expect.

The highest point is typically just beyond the doubles service line, after which the shuttlecock descends almost vertically, landing close to the baseline. This forces you to retreat all the way back to the baseline—or even step over it—to take an active swing at the incoming shot. Just give it a try and see for yourself—chances are, many players, like Yuqiu Jun, have already experienced this firsthand...

We’ve already developed a solid baseline stance, so we rarely drop back to the very end of the court—after all, most shots during regular play can be comfortably returned from just behind the doubles service line. But when we do retreat too far and fail to reach the baseline, we’re left with no choice but to hit passively, often sending the ball only as far as the middle of the court. And that’s usually just a step—or two—away from giving up the point altogether.

Top players like Lin Dan and Lee Chong Wei often find themselves under intense pressure when high balls are hit near the doubles service line—especially slightly ahead of it—typically resulting in aggressive attacks. For those who retreat four steps toward the net (taking the first three steps into position and finishing with a small jump or quick shuffle to adjust their stance), the area around the doubles service line almost always leads to an attacking play. On the other hand, players who step back six steps usually opt for a more controlled transition or choose to lob the shuttle instead.

In summary:

The quality of a high ball isn’t determined solely by whether it lands near the baseline. Landing near the baseline is easy enough, but *how* it’s executed makes all the difference. The real test lies in whether it can actually pose a threat to your opponent.It also depends on the ball speed and flight trajectory.

A high, long shot following the trajectory shown in the diagram typically travels at a faster pace, reaching its highest point well behind the player. This makes it nearly impossible for the opponent to attack aggressively, and even executing a perfect return becomes extremely challenging. That’s why mastering this type of shot is essential if you want to stand a chance against top-level players.

Against some amateur players, just one well-placed shot is enough to force an inaccurate return—and that creates the perfect opportunity to score on the next shot! So hurry up and master this technique along with your other fundamental skills; only then will you have a real chance of winning!