Third Shot Lob
Also known as: lob third shot
A third shot lob is a high, arcing third shot by the serving team, instead of the more common drop or drive. It is aimed over returners still at or near the baseline.
The third shot lob is a lower-percentage alternative to the third shot drop or drive. It is played only when the return sets up a genuine opportunity. That is usually a shallow, high, or slow return that gives the serving team time to load the shot. Both returners are often still relatively close to the baseline immediately after the return. So 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. Meanwhile, the serving team is still out of position at the baseline. This is why the third shot lob is used selectively. The usual targets are opponents who anticipate a drop or drive and have started to creep forward, or 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.
The payoff of an unreturned lob is large, since it can win the point outright or force a defensive lob back. But the cost of a poorly executed one is also large. So 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
An occasional third shot lob against an opponent who has started anticipating a drop or drive keeps the serving team's shot selection hard to predict. It can also win points outright.
How it shows up on video
On video, compare the preparation of your lob attempts with your usual drop preparation to see 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?
Use it when the return is shallow, high, or slow, which gives time to set up the shot. Ideally, use it 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. The aim is 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 third shot hit from the baseline instead of a drop. It aims to pressure the returning team into a defensive pop-up.
- Transition Zone FootworkTransition zone footwork is the controlled, low movement from the baseline to the kitchen line. It avoids stopping in the vulnerable mid-court while a ball is live.
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