Lobbing style of play strategy

I've played against a lobber before, and you're right I think in the sense that the amount of spin and height is what would matter the most. Michael Maze is definitely someone you could look into. I find Mizutani and Gao Ning (he has a different type of "lob"), as well as early Xu Xin and Ma Lin people to consider as well. And with the style of play I reckon it's kinda like a chopper, but with topspin; you hope the other misses/ gets tired through variation in your own game in spin, although like you said there's height to consider as well. 

Just putting it out there, but I suggest that in modern table tennis it's probably not a good idea to use lobbing as a main style. I still managed to beat the lobber I played just because that eventually, there won't be as much variation as there will be if you play an offensive game, or even a chopper, as there are a lot more counter-attacking options in those type of play compared to the number of options when you're more than 4 or 5 metres away from the table. Even good lobbers like Michael Maze don't lob unless they have to, or it clearly works (i.e. Michael Maze against Hao Shuai). But imo if you integrate good lobbing into an offensive game, it would be great against people lower in level, as even when you are in the defensive you might still have an advantage. 

Off to a tangent there, but I hope whatever I said helped 

You've forgotten a far more important bit - how to develop a point into a lobbing/fishing rally and whether to do so at all -  because most game points in  your typical game will not be like the ones between Maze and Hao Shuai ...

Not a whole lot else to say. I'd only have this skill in my bag if I'm forced off the table and in trouble. Try to keep a few lobs in and hope they miss one. Steal a cheap point.

Otherwise, I don't think this is where you want to go.

however, players like james (who won 2200 @ nationals last year), regularly employ this strategy, and he is very, very good at it

successful lobbing requires a very high shot (higher the better), and deep on the table.  if the lob is close to the net, it is easy to cream.  if high and deep, it is actually not that easy of a ball to return, much less trying to smash it.  some subtle sidespin variations add unpredictability to the lobbing game.  if you look at the debraj video vs james, you can see how james consistently basically never gives you the same look twice, and notice the subtle changes in sidespin he utilizes in order to really make you concentrate on where the ball is (or will be)

:)

A high and deep lob will most likely result in a high smash that will be coming down at you when you hit your next shot

A fishing type lob will probably result in lower power loop coming straight at you which personally i find a little bit easier to counter attack if i can get in position

Often I see a player get out of position (but not too deep off the table) and choose to start a fishing rally.  They stay more at mid-depth while fishing waiting for a chance to counter-attack.  If while fishing they are driven wider and farther back they then resort to more of a lobbing game.  I do not remember seeing too many rallies where a player switched from lobbing back to fishing although there can be quite a bit of height variation within what I would consider a fishing rally.

I love playing lobbers.  I hate playing fishers, especially ones who use a lot of side-spin.  

Good luck and please write back about how it goes and what you learn.

Mark

Left handers hooked sidespin lobs to the b/hand corner of a r/hander are the clearest example of how efficient dominating the angle of play can be.

It depends, you can dictate his options within reason, if you lob deep to the b/hand he cannot angle you wide to your f/hand, but can angle you wide of your b/hand, so you can move into a biased court position in anticipation of this, if he complies and hits cross court to your b/hand and you lob down the line, he can't hit the next ball wide of your b/hand, but can hit wide of your f/hand, so you move into a biased court position to cover the possible wide angle. Once you understand the possible angle of play for every incoming stroke based on what you have just delivered, things become so much easier when playing off the table.

Very true, I am finding it very similar - just need to practice more. I find when I plan to chop, I give deep serves people can attack - same thing here. But got beat badly by a player - who dropped the ball short. So I have to put enough spin/power on the ball to make sure drops are not easy!