A "lofted ball" refers to a type of pass or shot in sports like soccer or basketball. It means lifting the ball high into the air, usually with a curved trajectory, to pass it over defenders or to shoot it from a distance. Full definition
Get lots of lofted balls into the box as Arsenal are a muddle when defending set pieces. (justarsenal.com)
He showed great movement to get onto the pass from Oxlade - Chamberlain, he eased John Stones out of the way before calmly lofting the ball over Ederson. (footballwhispers.com)
As much as this offensive strategy of lofting the ball from deep areas directing at the big striker seems effective, it is also equally ineffective in terms of accuracy. (thehardtackle.com)