What is the term for a shot hit high over the opponent's head, often used defensively? The answer is a lob.
A lob sends the ball high and deep over an opponent, usually when that player is positioned near the net. A defensive lob gives the hitter time to recover court position, while forcing the opponent to retreat toward the baseline. It can turn a desperate defensive moment into a neutral rally.
Lobs can also be offensive. A well-placed topspin lob clears the opponent and then drops sharply inside the baseline, making it difficult to chase. If a lob is too short or lacks height, the net player may attack it with an overhead smash—the main tactical risk of choosing this shot.
The lob is associated with Frank Hadow, who used it effectively against Spencer Gore during the 1878 Wimbledon final. In modern tennis, players use flat, sliced, or topspin lobs in both singles and doubles. A lob is different from a volley, which is struck before the ball bounces, and from a drop shot, which is intentionally hit short.