moonballn.
/ˈmuːnbɔːl/, U.S. /ˈmunˌbɔl/, /ˈmunˌbɑl/ Tennis colloquial.
A high lob.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > racket games > lawn tennis > [noun] > types of stroke
service1611
serving1688
screw1865
cut1874
cutting service1874
boast1878
first serve1878
smash1882
twister1884
cross-shot1889
lob1890
ground stroke1895
lob ball1900
twist service1901
boasting1902
cross-volley1905
get1911
chop1913
forehander1922
kick serve1925
forehand1934
touch shot1936
dink1939
net shot1961
overhead1964
groundie1967
slice1969
moonball1975
moonballing1977
1975 World of Tennis '75 100 Solomon began throwing up the moon-balls, bubble-balls, balloon-balls, whatever you call them—they all drive his opponents nuts.
1989 Buffalo (N.Y.) News 11 June c1/5 She hit a forehand moonball deep.
1995 Independent 27 June 26 Inside, on the first Monday of Wimbledon, hopes were as high as a moonball, as green as the immaculate grass.
Derivatives
ˈmoonballer n. a player who frequently hits moonballs.
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1976 Twin Falls (Idaho) Times News 2 Sept. 14/3 Solomon, the moonballer veteran pros hate to play.
2004 C. Matsuzaki Tennis Fundamentals 108 The moonballer has incredible patience and excellent lobs.
This is a new entry (OED Third Edition, December 2002; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
moonballv.
/ˈmuːnbɔːl/, U.S. /ˈmunˌbɔl/, /ˈmunˌbɑl/ Tennis colloquial.
intransitive. To hit a high lob; to engage in play predominantly characterized by such shots. Also transitive: to subject (an opponent) to high lobs.
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society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > racket games > lawn tennis > play tennis [verb (intransitive)] > types of stroke
volley1819
cut1875
to kill a ball1883
press1897
undercut1926
dink1939
moonball1982
softball1982
society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > racket games > lawn tennis > play tennis [verb (transitive)] > play against in specific way
lob1921
ace1923
moonball1982
softball1982
1982 Washington Post 11 Apr. e10/1 ‘I guess I just wasn't willing to stay out there all day and moonball back,’ she said. ‘It's frustrating.’
1986 Tennis July 30/1 Younger players now are prepared to test Chrissie's patience by moonballing endlessly, since they keep reading things about her being on the edge of retirement.
2002 M. Chang & M. Yorkey Holding Serve i. 21 I began moonballing him—hitting slow-moving, rainbowlike balls deep into Ivan's court. I hadn't moonballed an opponent since the Boys 12s, but that was all I could do.
This is a new entry (OED Third Edition, December 2002; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1975v.1982