A lob in pickleball is a high, arcing shot that is hit over your opponents’ heads and towards the back of the court. It’s often used as a defensive shot to buy time to get back into position or to create space between you and your opponents.

You should hit a lob when your opponents are positioned close to the net and when you are under pressure and need to buy time to get back into position. A well-executed lob can force your opponents to back up and create more space for you to work with.

However, it’s important to be careful when hitting a lob as it can be easily attacked by your opponents, especially if they have a strong overhead smash. Therefore, you should use a lob sparingly and only when it’s necessary to get out of a difficult situation.