What does lobing mean?
Lobing is the present participle of the verb lob and means sending a ball in a high, usually controlled arc. Rather than driving the ball quickly toward a target, the player or teammate lifts it over an opponent or into an open area. The word is especially common in racket sports and football, where a lob can be used defensively to maintain an exchange, offensively to create a scoring opportunity, or tactically to return the ball from a difficult position. A lob generally has more height and less speed than a direct shot. In American English, lob can also mean to throw something casually or loosely, while in British English the sporting sense is particularly familiar. As a gerund, lobbing may either describe the action itself, as in “lobbing the ball,” or form the subject of a sentence, as in “Lobbing requires good touch.”
verbTo lob, especially a ball, in a high arc toward a teammate or into a particular area of the court or field.
- To throw or kick a ball gently or in a high arc toward a particular place or player.
"She lobbed the ball over her opponent and into the corner."
"The defender lobbed the ball toward midfield."
"He kept lobbing the ball high over her opponent's reach."
A lob makes height do the work: the ball sails over an opponent instead of racing past them.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does lobing come from?
Lobing is formed from the verb lob by adding the present-participle ending -ing. The deeper origin of the verb is uncertain, although it became established in English for both casual tossing and the high-arced delivery of a ball.
How lobing is actually used
Lobbing is common in tennis, badminton, squash, football, and other ball games. It describes a deliberate trajectory rather than a specific type of shot used in every sport.