Floating balls from long pips

Hello, just played an epic best of five match( losing 3-2) with a skilled long pips chopper, who can also loop. What may have made the difference( apart from a few misplayed serve returns) are several hits off the chopper's long pips block, which seemed to have created a floating ball. It was just too tempting to blast that ball , because it was hanging in the air. 4 separate times, the ball flew off the table, and had me puzzled.  What kind of ball is that. If it's a no-spin ball, should that just be hit down as opposed to forward? 

"If it was a no spin ball, could you loop drive it?  When I get a ball like that I loop drive it with a lot more speed than spin (just enough spin to bring it down to the table)..."