Pickleball Tutorial Program · Advanced
Lobs & Overheads
The lob is pickleball's most disrespected weapon. An offensive lob from the kitchen line — flat enough to clear paddles, deep enough to land inside the baseline — instantly reverses who owns the net. And on the other side, nothing exposes a team like not knowing who covers it.
One thing to master: NEVER backpedal under a lob. Turn, run back facing sideways, and let the bounce reset the point when in doubt.
What you'll learn
- The offensive lob from the kitchen line
- Overhead technique when the lob is short
- Covering lobs as a team — safely
The technique
The offensive lob
Disguise it as a dink: same setup, then at the last moment lift steeply over the paddle-side shoulder of the closest opponent. Target depth is the back third. Use it sparingly — twice a game keeps them honest; every third ball makes it a gift.
The overhead
Short lob? Turn sideways immediately, point your off hand at the ball, take small adjusting steps back (never a straight backpedal), and swing like a serve in the air — aim at the deepest player's feet or the open middle.
Team lob coverage
When a lob clears your partner: the OTHER player crosses back to take it while the lobbed player switches sides. Call it — 'switch!' — every time. Practised pairs handle lobs; unpractised pairs collide.
When in doubt, let it bounce
A deep lob you chase down off the bounce with a defensive lob or reset keeps you in the point. An off-balance overhead attempt usually doesn't.
Drills to practice
- Lob targets: from the kitchen line, land 10 lobs into the back third against a passive opponent
- Turn-and-run: partner lobs over you; turn sideways, run back, play a controlled reset — no backpedaling allowed
- Switch drill: partner lobs over one of a pair; practice the cross-and-switch with the verbal call
Common mistakes
- Backpedaling — the #1 cause of serious rec-pickleball falls
- Lobbing from below net height at the baseline (that's a defensive prayer, not a weapon)
- Both partners watching the lob with nobody calling 'switch'
References
- USA Pickleball — Official Rules hub (updated annually) — usapickleball.org/rules/
Rule statements in this lesson were validated against the 2026 USA Pickleball Official Rulebook (effective January 1, 2026). Technique and drill guidance reflects widely taught coaching practice for recreational play.