{"Status":true,"Message":"","Response":{"post":{"postuid":"47315e4c-c15a-40de-a5ce-f18d05094d5b","tenantuid":"45a0010e-ec76-43e9-9914-4376bfa80903","projectuid":"4025e8c9-71ea-4557-850d-662c78598919","title":"How to Hit a Pickleball Lob","slug":"article/how-to-hit-a-pickleball-lob","html":"\u003Cp\u003EA lob is a high, arcing shot hit over your opponents\u0027 heads, designed to travel deep and land near their baseline. When timed well and properly disguised, the lob is one of pickleball\u0027s most effective pattern-breakers \u2014 it forces opponents off the kitchen line and resets the entire dynamics of the rally. Used poorly, it\u0027s one of the easiest balls to put away with an overhead smash.\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ch2 id=\u0022when_to_use_the_lob\u0022\u003EWhen to Use the Lob\u003C/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe lob works best as a surprise shot used sparingly. The ideal moment is when your opponents are crowding the kitchen line, leaning forward, and not anticipating an overhead ball. If they\u0027re watching for the lob, they\u0027ll simply step back and smash it.\u003C/p\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003EUse the lob when:\u003C/b\u003E Opponents are tight to the kitchen line and not watching overhead; you want to change pace and disrupt their rhythm; you\u0027re playing outdoors with wind at your back.\u003C/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003EAvoid the lob when:\u003C/b\u003E Opponents are skilled overhead players; it\u0027s windy and you\u0027re lobbing into the wind; you\u0027ve already lobbed twice in the game and they\u0027re anticipating it; you\u0027re in a high-pressure point where consistency matters more.\u003C/li\u003E\u003C/ul\u003E\u003Ch2 id=\u0022how_to_hit_a_pickleball_lob\u0022\u003EHow to Hit a Pickleball Lob\u003C/h2\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003EDisguise:\u003C/b\u003E The most important element of a good lob is making it look like a dink until the last possible moment. Set up identically to a dink \u2014 same stance, same backswing.\u003C/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003EContact point:\u003C/b\u003E Get underneath the ball slightly and brush upward through contact. The upward brushing motion creates the high arc.\u003C/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003EFollow through:\u003C/b\u003E Finish high, with your paddle moving upward. A low follow-through produces a flat ball that\u0027s easy to smash.\u003C/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003EDepth:\u003C/b\u003E Aim for the back third of the court, ideally landing near the baseline. A shallow lob that lands in the middle of the court is easy to put away. A deep lob that lands near the baseline is extremely difficult to attack.\u003C/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003EDirection:\u003C/b\u003E Lobs aimed down the middle of the court are lower risk in doubles (no sideline to miss). Lobs aimed to the corners require more precision but are harder to run down.\u003C/li\u003E\u003C/ul\u003E\u003Ch2 id=\u0022offensive_vs_defensive_lob\u0022\u003EOffensive vs. Defensive Lob\u003C/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cb\u003EOffensive lob:\u003C/b\u003E Hit from the kitchen line when opponents are close to the net. This is the primary lob \u2014 a deliberate tactic to force opponents back. Well-disguised offensive lobs are extremely difficult to defend.\u003C/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cb\u003EDefensive lob:\u003C/b\u003E Hit when you\u0027re in trouble \u2014 pulled wide, off balance, or unable to make a clean reset. The defensive lob buys time to recover your position. Aim deep and high; don\u0027t worry about placement, just get the ball over their heads and use the time to reset to the kitchen line.\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ch2 id=\u0022how_to_defend_against_a_lob\u0022\u003EHow to Defend Against a Lob\u003C/h2\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003ERecognize it early:\u003C/b\u003E Watch your opponent\u0027s paddle face and wrist. An upward brush at contact signals a lob.\u003C/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003ETurn and run:\u003C/b\u003E As soon as you see the lob, turn sideways and run back \u2014 don\u0027t backpedal. Backpedaling is slow and makes it harder to hit overhead.\u003C/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003ELet it bounce if necessary:\u003C/b\u003E If you can\u0027t get into position for an overhead, let the ball bounce and reset from the baseline.\u003C/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003EIn doubles:\u003C/b\u003E Call it early \u2014 say \u201Cmine\u201D or \u201Cyours\u201D immediately to avoid collision. The player positioned to take it should call for it.Note\u003C/li\u003E\u003C/ul\u003E\u003Ccite class=\u0022recommended\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022title\u0022\u003ENote\u003C/span\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe lob is most dangerous when used once or twice per game as a genuine surprise. The more you lob, the more your opponents anticipate it \u2014 and a well-prepared opponent at the kitchen line will punish a predictable lob every time.\u003C/p\u003E\u003C/cite\u003E\u003Chr\u003E\u003Ch2 id=\u0022frequently_asked_questions\u0022\u003EFrequently Asked Questions\u003C/h2\u003E\u003Ch3 id=\u0022is_a_lob_legal_in_pickleball\u0022\u003EIs a lob legal in pickleball?\u003C/h3\u003E\u003Cp\u003EYes \u2014 the lob is completely legal. There are no restrictions on how high or deep a ball can be hit as long as it lands in the opponent\u0027s court. Both offensive and defensive lobs are standard, legal shots in pickleball.\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ch3 id=\u0022why_does_my_lob_keep_going_out\u0022\u003EWhy does my lob keep going out?\u003C/h3\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe most common cause is too much pace at contact. The lob should be a controlled, upward brush \u2014 not a hard swing. Focus on the upward follow-through and reduce overall swing pace. Wind is also a major factor outdoors \u2014 adjust your depth based on wind direction.\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ch3 id=\u0022how_high_should_a_pickleball_lob_be\u0022\u003EHow high should a pickleball lob be?\u003C/h3\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHigh enough to clear your opponents\u0027 reach (typically 10\u201315 feet above the net) while still landing inbounds near the baseline. A lob that\u0027s too low can be cut off before it reaches the baseline; a lob that\u0027s too high drifts out or hangs in the air long enough for your opponent to get back and smash it.\u003C/p\u003E\u003Chr\u003E\u003Ch2 id=\u0022related_articles\u0022\u003ERelated Articles\u003C/h2\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https://pickleball.com/docs/en/article/pickleball-shots-and-techniques-library-every-shot-you-need-to-know\u0022\u003EPickleball Shots \u0026amp; Techniques Library: Every Shot You Need to Know\u003C/a\u003E\u003C/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https://pickleball.com/docs/en/article/pickleball-strategy-guide-how-to-win-more-points-games-and-matches\u0022\u003EPickleball Strategy Guide: How to Win More Points, Games, and Matches\u003C/a\u003E\u003C/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https://pickleball.com/docs/en/article/complete-pickleball-rules-guide\u0022\u003EComplete Pickleball Rules Guide\u003C/a\u003E\u003C/li\u003E\u003C/ul\u003E\u003Chr\u003E\u003Cp\u003EQuestions about pickleball shots and techniques? Email \u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:support@pickleball.com\u0022\u003Esupport@pickleball.com\u003C/a\u003E.\u003C/p\u003E","publish_status":0,"post_type":"Article","authoruid":"42b786ed-5ff2-467c-9593-d828908ee6d2","author":{"authoruid":"42b786ed-5ff2-467c-9593-d828908ee6d2","name":"Christy Cook","url":"https://www.linkedin.com/in/christy-cook-texas/","photo_url":"https://graffiti-auf7e6dwhxhcbwek.z03.azurefd.net/45a0010e-ec76-43e9-9914-4376bfa80903/4025e8c9-71ea-4557-850d-662c78598919/4fd2cf59-047a-4a00-8a6d-2d9c6c9f91fe.jpg?v=1114665229","linkedin_url":"https://www.linkedin.com/in/christy-cook-texas/"},"featured_image_updating":false,"meta_description":"Master the pickleball lob: when to use it, how to hit it effectively, offensive vs defensive lobs, and tips to defend against this strategic shot.","keywords":"lob shot; kitchen line; overhead smash; shot disguise; shot depth; offensive lob; defensive lob; defending lob; shot timing; shot placement","display_toc":true,"has_workingcopy":false,"allow_indexing":true,"total_views":17,"date_stale":"2027-07-01T00:00:00","date_published":"2026-06-29T21:08:39.737","date_updated":"2026-06-29T21:09:13.217","date_created":"2026-06-29T21:02:00.65"}}}