How to Do a Lob Pass in Netball

The lob pass is netball's highest-risk, highest-reward pass — it beats a defender by going over them entirely, but it's slow enough that a good defender can often read and attack it.

Technique

Release the ball from above head height with one or both hands, arcing it high enough to clear the defender between you and your target before dropping down to a catchable height. The exact release depends on the defender's height and position — a taller defender needs a higher, later arc.

When to use it

A lob is most common feeding a shooter — usually Goal Shooter — who has created space at the back of the circle, out of reach of the marking defender. See feeding the shooting circle for how this fits into broader circle tactics. Because it's slow through the air, it's best used when the receiver already has clear separation, not as a way to create separation.

The risk

A lob pass spends longer in the air than any other pass type, giving defenders time to read it, turn, and attack the catch. Used against a good defensive team, a poorly timed lob is one of the easier passes to intercept — so timing and disguise matter even more here than with faster passes.

Common technique errors

Under-hitting the height is the most common fault — a lob that doesn't clear the defender's reach is simply a slow, easy interception. Judge the arc based on the specific defender's height and jump, not a fixed technique.

Practising it

Practise lobbing over a raised obstacle or a passive defender first to dial in height and distance, then add a live defender who can jump and turn to contest it. See passing drills for structured sessions.