As pickleball surges in popularity, the offensive lob has emerged as a potent weapon in both amateur and professional play. Once considered a defensive bailout, this high-arcing shot is now a strategic tool that disrupts opponents, shifts momentum, and opens up the court. In 2025, players like Anna Bright and Tyson McGuffin are redefining the lob’s role, using topspin and precise placement to turn it into an attacking play. This article explores the growing trend of offensive lobs, offers tips on when to use them, provides strategies to defend against them, and shares drills to help you master this underutilized shot.
The Rise of the Offensive Lob in 2025
The lob has evolved from a desperate escape to a calculated strike. In professional tournaments like the PPA Tour, players are deploying offensive lobs to counter aggressive net play, exploit positioning errors, and create opportunities for follow-up shots. Amateurs, too, are catching on, using lobs to unsettle opponents in recreational and club matches. The shot’s resurgence is tied to pickleball’s increasing athleticism and tactical depth, where disrupting rhythm and forcing movement are key to gaining an edge.
Why is the offensive lob trending? It’s versatile, deceptive, and effective against players who crowd the non-volley zone (NVZ, or “kitchen”). A well-executed lob—especially with topspin—can push opponents back, expose weak overheads, and create space for aggressive plays. As paddle technology advances with spin-enhancing surfaces and foam cores, players can execute lobs with greater precision, making them a staple in 2025’s competitive playbook.
When to Use the Offensive Lob
Timing is critical for an offensive lob. Unlike a defensive lob, which buys time under pressure, the offensive lob is an attacking shot meant to seize control. Here’s when to pull it off:
- Opponents Are Leaning Forward: If your opponents are creeping into the NVZ or reaching aggressively for dinks, their forward momentum makes retreating difficult. A lob over their heads exploits this imbalance.
- During Dinking Rallies: In a prolonged dink battle, a sudden lob can disrupt the tempo, forcing opponents to switch from soft play to defensive scrambling.
- Targeting Weak Backhands: Most players struggle with backhand overheads. Lobbing to their backhand side increases the chance of a weak return or error.
- Against Net-Dominant Players: If opponents are glued to the NVZ, a lob pushes them back, opening the court for your next shot.
- In Favorable Conditions: Outdoors, lobbing into the wind helps keep the ball in play, while sunny conditions can obscure the ball’s trajectory, as pro Leigh Waters often leverages.
When to Avoid It
The offensive lob isn’t a cure-all. Steer clear in these scenarios:
- When Off-Balance: Lobbing while scrambling or reaching often results in a short, attackable shot.
- Against Strong Overhead Players: Opponents with powerful smashes, like Ben Johns, can punish poorly placed lobs.
- With Predictable Patterns: Overusing the lob makes it easy for opponents to anticipate and counter.
- With Tailwinds: Lobbing with the wind at your back risks sending the ball out of bounds.
Pro Tip: Disguise the lob as a dink to catch opponents off-guard. The element of surprise is your greatest asset.
How to Execute the Offensive Lob
Mastering the offensive lob requires technique, finesse, and practice. Here’s a step-by-step guide, with an emphasis on the topspin lob, a favorite of pros like Anna Bright:
- Positioning: Start with a balanced stance, knees bent, and weight centered. Ideally, you’re at the NVZ or mid-court, as lobbing from the baseline requires more power and height.
- Paddle Setup: Open the paddle face slightly, similar to a neutral dink. For topspin, angle the paddle to brush up on the ball.
- Footwork: Step into the shot with your front foot, ensuring you’re behind the ball. Avoid leaning back, which reduces control.
- Swing Mechanics: Use a smooth, shoulder-driven swing with a high follow-through. For topspin, brush upward on the ball’s underside, mimicking a mini forehand drive. Avoid wrist flicks, which lead to inconsistency.
- Power and Placement: Apply controlled force to clear your opponent by 2–3 feet, aiming for the back third of the court near the baseline. Topspin helps the ball dip quickly, reducing the time opponents have to react.
- Spin Variation: Add topspin for an aggressive, dipping lob or backspin for a floating, unpredictable shot. Backspin lobs are ideal against power hitters or in windy conditions.
Common Mistakes:
- Hitting too low, making the lob an easy smash target.
- Telegraphing the shot by leaning back or winding up.
- Overhitting, sending the ball out of bounds.
- Failing to follow up—be ready to move forward or defend after the lob.
Pro Tip: Practice lobbing just 2 feet above an opponent’s extended paddle to develop precision. A sky-high lob isn’t necessary; a lower, faster arc is harder to counter.
Defending Against the Offensive Lob
As offensive lobs become more common, defending them is a critical skill. Here’s how to neutralize an opponent’s lob:
- Read the Shot Early: Watch for cues like an open paddle face or a subtle shift in body position. If your opponent’s dink motion looks exaggerated, prepare for a lob.
- Position Smartly: Avoid crowding the NVZ line too closely, as it limits your ability to retreat. Stay a step back to give yourself room to react.
- Move Quickly: As soon as you spot the lob, turn sideways and backpedal with small, controlled steps. Keep your eyes on the ball to track its arc.
- Choose Your Response:
- Overhead Smash: If the lob is short or low, attack with a controlled overhead, aiming for an angle or gap.
- Reset Shot: For a deep, well-placed lob, hit a soft drop shot into the NVZ to neutralize the point and regain position.
- Chase and Lob Back: If you’re pushed to the baseline, return a defensive lob to buy time and reset the rally.
- Communicate in Doubles: Call “lob” to alert your partner, ensuring one of you covers the overhead while the other prepares for a follow-up.
Defensive Drills:
- Lob Retrieval: Have a partner lob from the NVZ while you practice backpedaling from mid-court and returning a drop shot. Aim for 10 reps per session.
- Overhead Precision: Stand at mid-court and have a partner lob short balls for you to smash. Focus on placement over power for 15 reps.
Pro Tip: If your opponent lobs repeatedly, move slightly farther back from the NVZ to cut off their window. This forces them to hit riskier, deeper lobs.
Drills to Perfect the Offensive Lob
Mastering the offensive lob takes dedicated practice. These drills will help you build consistency, precision, and confidence:
- Height Control Drill:
- Setup: Stand at the NVZ line with a partner at mid-court holding their paddle extended upward.
- Goal: Lob the ball to clear their paddle by 2–3 feet, landing in the back third of the court.
- Reps: Hit 20 lobs, alternating between topspin and backspin. Adjust power to avoid overshooting.
- Benefit: Develops power regulation and placement.
- Dink-to-Lob Transition Drill:
- Setup: Engage in a dinking rally with a partner at the NVZ.
- Goal: After 5–10 dinks, surprise your partner with a topspin lob aimed at their backhand side.
- Reps: Complete 15 lobs, focusing on disguising the shot.
- Benefit: Builds deception and timing for game situations.
- Pressure Lob Drill:
- Setup: Have a partner hit aggressive volleys from the NVZ while you lob from mid-court.
- Goal: Execute defensive and offensive lobs under pressure, aiming for deep placement.
- Reps: Perform 10 lobs per set, switching roles after each set.
- Benefit: Simulates match scenarios where you’re forced to lob on the move.
- Target Zone Drill:
- Setup: Place cones or markers in the back third of the court, near the baseline.
- Goal: Lob from the NVZ or mid-court, aiming to land within a foot of the cones.
- Reps: Hit 25 lobs, alternating sides and spin types.
- Benefit: Enhances precision and court awareness.
Practice Tip: Spend 15–20 minutes per session on these drills, ideally twice a week. Record your sessions to analyze paddle angle and follow-through.
The Offensive Lob in 2025’s Competitive Landscape
In professional pickleball, the offensive lob is a tactical wildcard. Players like Anna Bright use topspin lobs to disrupt aggressive opponents, while others, like Tyson McGuffin, deploy them sparingly as a surprise. The shot’s effectiveness lies in its ability to exploit positioning errors, especially against teams that overcommit to the NVZ. However, with players becoming faster and more adept at overheads, lobs must be precise and unpredictable to succeed at the highest levels.
For amateurs, the offensive lob is a great equalizer. It counters net-rushers and adds variety to recreational games. As paddle technologies—like carbon fiber faces and foam cores—enhance spin and control, amateurs can execute lobs with pro-like precision, making the shot more accessible than ever.
Strategic Considerations for Different Skill Levels
- Beginners:
- Focus on basic lob technique, prioritizing height and depth over spin.
- Use lobs in casual games to build confidence, avoiding high-pressure situations.
- Practice defensive lobs to escape net pressure before attempting offensive ones.
- Intermediate Players:
- Incorporate lobs strategically during dinking rallies, targeting backhand sides.
- Work on disguising the shot to avoid predictable patterns.
- Combine lobs with drop shots to keep opponents guessing.
- Advanced Players:
- Use offensive lobs as a primary weapon to disrupt aggressive net play.
- Experiment with topspin and backspin to vary trajectory and bounce.
- Pair lobs with quick NVZ advances to capitalize on weak returns.
Why the Offensive Lob Matters
The offensive lob’s rise in 2025 reflects pickleball’s evolution into a game of strategy and adaptability. It’s not just about hitting the ball hard; it’s about outsmarting opponents with clever placement and timing. The lob forces opponents to move vertically, disrupts their rhythm, and creates openings for aggressive follow-ups. With USA Pickleball’s 2025 rules emphasizing fair play through Paddle/Ball Coefficient of Restitution (PBCoR) testing, players can trust their paddles to deliver the spin and control needed for precise lobs.
For recreational players, the lob adds excitement and variety, leveling the playing field against dominant net players. For pros, it’s a tactical edge in a sport where split-second decisions win points. Mastering the offensive lob equips you to handle diverse opponents and elevate your game.
Final Thoughts
The offensive lob is a game-changer in 2025, blending strategy, deception, and precision to transform rallies. By choosing the right moments, refining your technique, and practicing diligently, you can make this shot a cornerstone of your pickleball arsenal. Whether you’re lobbing to disrupt a dinking rally, push back net-huggers, or set up a winning drive, the offensive lob rewards players who think one step ahead.
Hit the court, try these drills, and start lobbing with confidence. As pickleball continues to evolve, the offensive lob will keep you ahead of the curve, turning close matches into decisive victories. Grab your paddle, embrace the challenge, and make the lob your secret weapon in 2025.
