drop shot

American  

noun

1. (in tennis, badminton, etc.) a ball or shuttlecock so softly hit that it falls to the playing surface just after clearing the net.

2. (in squash, handball, etc.) a ball so softly hit that it falls suddenly to the ground just after striking the front wall.

3. shot made in a shot tower.

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drop shot British  

noun

1. 1. tennis a softly-played return that drops abruptly after clearing the net, intended to give an opponent no chance of reaching the ball and usually achieved by imparting backspin

   2. squash a similar shot that stops abruptly after hitting the front wall of the court

2. a type of shot made by permitting molten metal to percolate through a sieve and then dropping it into a tank of water

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Etymology

Origin of drop shot

First recorded in 1630–40

Example Sentences

There is a carefree joy in his shot-making; the huge forehand that goes blasting through every surface, the drop shots and volleys that few would dare try.

From BBC

The combination of his relentless service game and feathery drop shots made Djokovic feel every day of their 16-year age gap.

From The Wall Street Journal

He is a ruthless, complete player, lethal from both sides of the baseline, able to scramble, extend points and hit drop shots when he needs to.

From The Wall Street Journal

Zverev did say however that he was trying to mix his game up more, including some drop shots.

From Barron's

"He's brought in the drop shot a little bit, which is good to get the opponents moving forward to backwards, not just side to side."

From BBC