Lob
A shot hit high over an opponent, sending the ball or shuttlecock deep toward the back of the court.
Definition
A lob is a shot played with a high, arcing trajectory in racquet sports such as tennis, badminton, padel and pickleball. It is often used to send the ball over an opponent who is positioned close to the net, pushing them back and resetting the point.
A well-judged lob can be both defensive, buying time to recover position, and attacking, forcing the opponent to scramble backwards. If a lob is too short or lands too high, however, it can invite a smash in return.
Where you’ll hear “lob”
Sports that use this term:
Tennis
A singles or doubles racquet sport that blends agility, strategy and stamina on court.
Badminton
A fast indoor racquet sport played with a shuttlecock that rewards agility and touch.
Padel
A sociable, doubles-first racquet sport played in an enclosed court where the walls stay in play.
Pickleball
A friendly, easy-to-learn paddle sport played on a small court with a solid paddle and a light, perforated ball.
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Techniques
- Padel BandejaA controlled overhead shot in padel, hit with slice and moderate pace to keep the player at the net without over-committing.
- Badminton ClearAn overhead stroke that sends the shuttlecock high and deep to the opponent's back court, resetting the rally or buying time.
- Volleyball SpikeA powerful attacking hit that drives the ball sharply downward over the net into the opponent's court, usually after an approach and jump.
- The slice in tennisThe underspin stroke that changes a rally's height and pace — how slice keeps the ball low, when it is defensive and when it is an attack, and what it does on different surfaces.
- Badminton SmashA powerful, steeply downward overhead stroke that drives the shuttlecock sharply into the opponent's court to win the rally.
Tactics
- Doubles formationHow a pair positions itself on court — one up, one back, or both at the net — to control space in doubles.
- High pressA football tactic where a team hunts the ball high up the pitch to win it back close to the opponent’s goal.
- Crosscourt and down the lineThe geometry that makes crosscourt the default tennis shot — the net is lower in the middle and the court is longer on the diagonal — and when down the line is worth its extra risk.
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- Content type
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- Provenance
- Tier A — evergreen educational
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- Content updated
- 2026-09-01
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