Definition: A lob is a stroke where the ball is hit high into the air before landing on the opponent's side of the table. Heavy topspin is usually put on the ball, to improve control and make the ball harder for the opponent to put away.
Good defensive lobs are hit high into the air with heavy topspin, before dropping near vertically deep on the opponent's side of the table. A defensive lob is used in order to give the player time to regain balance and get back into a better court position, while still being difficult to put away.
Good aggressive lobs are hit a little lower and with more forward speed than defensive lobs, but still fairly high with heavy topspin. An aggressive lob is used by a player who is balanced and in position but is being attacked aggressively by an opponent. The aggressive lobber is hoping to force a weak attack from his opponent that can be counter attacked. The aggressive lob is sometimes called a fish.
