The defining aspect of a lob pass is the height of the ball while traveling through the air. An elevated ball is extremely difficult for defenders to steal or poke away. One of the caveats to throwing the ball high in the air is that it doesn't tend to travel as far. Therefore, if the lob pass is being used to connect with a teammate that is running down the opposite side of the court, it is important to exert extra strength/force when throwing the pass to ensure that it travels the desired distance.
Lob passes are more commonly known to complete a basketball sequence known as an 'alley-oop.' The process involved in successfully performing an alley-oop is outlined below:
Lob passes can energize and excite the entire crowd, specifically when they are used to complete an alley-oop. Players that are especially comfortable with catching and dunking the ball often incorporate fancy moves into their routine, such as slamming the ball through the hoop with one hand or completing a spin in mid-air before scoring.