The lob is an undervalued and effective shot, particularly in doubles. With your opponents having most of the court covered, the biggest opening to get the ball by them when they’re at net is usually over their heads. But, there’s a real danger in becoming too dependent on the lob, especially when you play at higher levels.
Here’s why:
The risks will outweigh the rewards: Opponents will become wise to the tactic and start to anticipate that any time they’re at net, you’re going to be sending a shot skyward. Unless the lobs are perfect, your opponents will have plenty of time to move back and get into position. The overhead can be tricky for some players, but I’d much rather see my opponents try to beat my team with volleys instead of smashes. Mixing in the occasional lob to keep your opponents honest is a more effective strategy.
Makes your team overly passive: Although you can hit a winner with a lob, it’s primarily a defensive shot. If that’s what you hit a majority of the time from the baseline, you’re going to put yourself, and your team, in a reactive mindset. You’re basically hoping that your opponents will hand you the match by committing errors, which can be seductive. You can probably experience some success with this style against weak opponents, but the best doubles teams are the ones that are aggressive, move forward, and finish points at the net.