Third Shot Lob
Also known as: lob third shot
A third shot lob is a high, arcing shot used as the serving team's third shot instead of the more common drop or drive, aimed over the returning team while they are still at or near the baseline.
The third shot lob is a lower-percentage alternative to the third shot drop or drive, played only when the return sets up a genuine opportunity — typically a shallow, high, or slow return that gives the serving team time to load the shot. Because both returners are often still relatively close to the baseline immediately after the return, a well-placed lob can sail over them and land before they can retreat and set up an overhead.
The risk profile is real: a lob hit short or too flat gives the returning team an easy overhead put-away with the serving team still out of position at the baseline. This is why the third shot lob is used selectively, usually against opponents who are anticipating a drop or drive and have started to creep forward, or against a team with a demonstrably weak overhead. Disguise from the same contact prep as a drop is what makes the shot effective when the opportunity is genuinely there.
Because the payoff of an unreturned lob is large — it can win the point outright or force a defensive lob back — but the cost of a poorly executed one is also large, most coaches treat the third shot lob as a situational weapon for advanced players with a specific read, rather than part of a base game plan.
Example
After a weak, shallow return, the serving team disguises their preparation as a drop but instead lifts the ball in a high arc over the retreating opponents.
Why it matters
Mixing in an occasional third shot lob against an opponent who has started anticipating a drop or drive keeps the serving team's shot selection unpredictable and can win points outright.
How it shows up on video
SwingVantage can compare the pre-shot preparation of a lob attempt against the player's typical drop preparation, assessing how well the disguise held up before contact.
Common mistakes
- Using the third shot lob as a routine option rather than reserving it for genuine opportunities off a weak return
- Hitting the lob too flat or short, which invites an easy overhead
- Failing to disguise the setup, allowing the returning team to read the lob early and retreat in time
Frequently asked questions
When is a third shot lob a good choice?
When the return is shallow, high, or slow, giving time to set up the shot, and ideally against opponents who have started anticipating a drop or drive rather than a lob.
What is the biggest risk of a third shot lob?
If it is hit short or too flat, the returning team gets an easy overhead put-away with the serving team still out of position near the baseline.
Related terms
- Erne SetupThe erne setup is the positioning and read a player makes before jumping around or through the kitchen to volley a ball outside the sideline, without stepping through the kitchen itself.
- Third-Shot DropThe third-shot drop is a soft, arcing shot hit from the baseline that lands in the opponent's kitchen — forcing them to hit upward and giving the serving team time to advance safely to the kitchen line.
- Third Shot DriveA third shot drive is a hard, low-trajectory shot hit from the baseline on the third shot, used instead of a drop to put pressure on the returning team and force a defensive pop-up.
- Transition Zone FootworkTransition zone footwork is the controlled, low-to-the-ground movement used to advance from the baseline to the kitchen line without stopping in the vulnerable mid-court area while a ball is live.
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