The lob
The lob sends the ball high over net players to land near the baseline. Learn when the lob is smart, when it is a gift, how to hit offensive and defensive lobs, and how to defend against them.
What a lob is
A lob is a high, arcing shot that sails over your opponents' heads and lands deep, near the baseline. It forces net players to retreat, breaks up dink rallies and can win points outright.
In pickleball, the lob is a high-risk shot. The court is small and the ball is slow, so a lob that is too short becomes an easy overhead for your opponent. Used sparingly and at the right moment, though, it is very effective.
Offensive vs defensive lobs
| Type | Height | Goal | When |
|---|---|---|---|
| Offensive lob | Just above opponent's reach | Win the point or force a weak reply | During a dink rally, when opponents lean in |
| Defensive lob | Very high | Buy time to recover | When you are pulled far out of position |
The offensive lob is usually hit from the kitchen line, disguised as a dink. The defensive lob is hit from deep in the court when you need time.
When to lob
- Opponents are leaning forward or crowding the kitchen line.
- The sun or wind is in your opponent's face, or the ceiling is high indoors.
- The opponent you are lobbing over is slow to move backward, or plays with their backhand on that side.
- You are lobbing over the backhand side, since a backhand overhead is harder.
When not to lob
- Against tall, mobile players who smash well.
- Into the wind, which can hold the ball short.
- When you are off balance, because a short lob is a gift.
How to hit it
- Disguise it: set up as if you were going to dink.
- Open the paddle face and lift with a smooth, controlled swing from low to high.
- Aim deep, about 2 to 4 feet inside the baseline. Short is worse than long.
- Topspin lobs dip faster and are harder to chase, but they take practice. A flat or slice lob is fine to start.
Defending a lob
- Turn sideways and move back with crossover or shuffle steps, never backpedaling straight back, which is a common cause of falls.
- If you get under the ball, hit an overhead.
- If you cannot get under it, let it bounce and hit a controlled drop or lob back.
- In doubles, your partner can switch to cover a lob over your head while you take their side. Call "switch" or "mine" early. See communication.
Backpedaling is a leading cause of falls in pickleball. Turn and run, or let the ball bounce. More in common injuries.
Drills
- Lob and recover. Dink cross-court; on a signal, hit a lob over your partner's backhand. They turn and chase it.
- Depth targets. Place a towel 3 feet inside the baseline and try to land 10 lobs beyond it.
Common mistakes
- Lobbing too often, which teaches opponents to stand back.
- Lobbing from off balance and leaving the ball short.
- Not following up: after a good lob, move forward to the kitchen line.