When people are just beginning to play pickleball, they often don’t realize the difference between offense and defense.
Typically, players feel like they are on offense when they’re serving, as you can only score a point when serving. However, the opposite is true.
Teams or players that are serving are actually on the defensive because they must wait for the ball to bounce before advancing to the net.
The pickleball two-bounce rule states that the ball must bounce on each side of the net before players can volley. After letting the serve bounce, the receiving team can advance to the net.
However, the serving team must let the receiving team’s return bounce, thus giving the receiving team control of the net at the start of the point.
What is a third shot drop?
One of the most important tools to regain control of the point as a server is the third shot drop. As the name suggests, the third shot drop is a shot used in the third shot scenario.
A third shot drop is a soft, low shot that lands just over the net in the non-volley zone, or kitchen. Because the shot is low and shallow to the net, it is difficult for the opponent to volley, allowing the serving team more time to move to an offensive court position closer to the net.
How to execute the pickleball third shot drop
If you want to be competitive with your pickleball game, you must be able to consistently perform a third shot drop to move from a defensive court position to an offensive court position.
Here are three keys to mastering the third shot drop, which will help you successfully move from defense to offense.
1. Move from your shoulder (not your wrists) when executing a third shot drop
A successful dink in pickleball uses the shoulder as the guiding point when striking the ball, not the wrists. Dinking errors are commonly made when players attempt to finesse a shot with their wrist instead of their shoulder. The same holds for drop shots.
If you do not keep your wrist locked, you will be striking the ball with two hinge points — your wrist and shoulder — which can lead to an error. If you find your drops land short or in the net, you may be using too much wrist.
2. Using follow-through extension in your third shot drop execution
The biggest difference between a dink and a drop is found in the follow-through extension. When executing a third shot drop, you’ll need the ball to travel a further distance. So, you’ll need to hit the ball harder than you would a dink.
However, you still need to hit it with enough finesse that it doesn’t sail past the non-volley zone. The bigger the follow-through, the further the distance the ball will travel.
Rather than stopping your follow-through at waist height as you would a dink, your follow-through should extend to about shoulder height.
Be careful not to swing faster than you do a dink, as this will cause your third shot drop to have too much power. Maintain a slower swing but add a longer follow-through to get the desired distance.
To truly hit the perfect third shot every time, it will take muscle memory. You should practice this shot from varying distances and court positions, similar to how a basketball player practices a three-pointer from different spots on the basketball court.
3. Footwork matters when hitting a third shot drop
The type of shot you hit is largely dependent on the type of shot you’re receiving. You must be in a proper position to hit each type of shot in your arsenal, which means moving your feet.
When it comes to the third shot drop, you should be positioned near the baseline so you have the best chance of striking your third shot in front of your body. If the return is short or off to the side, you must move your feet to be in the best position to execute the shot.
Lunging, falling, flailing, and rushing to get underneath the ball are all indications that you were out of position. Make sure to use proper pickleball footwork to get yourself in the best position to hit the ball.
How do I stop popping up my third shot drop?
There’s nothing more frustrating than popping the ball up on your third shot, leaving the door open for your opponents to smash the ball back at you.
Do not get discouraged if you lose some points with less-than-ideal third shot drop attempts. It is a necessary tool in advance to a higher level in pickleball.
Aim to hit your ball as it’s falling back down after the first bounce. If you hit the ball while it’s moving upward after the first bounce, it is more likely to cause a pop-up.
The slinky drill for pickleball
To practice the correct motion for third shot drops, try the slinky drill. Start at the kitchen line on the opposite side of the court from your partner.
Begin dinking back and forth. Once you are warmed up, hit two dinks inside the kitchen line and then take two steps back. Now, hit two drops into the kitchen.
As you work your way backward, add a little more follow-through to your swing. If you have difficulty hitting a drop from any point, stay there until you hit two in a row successfully.
Continue this pattern until you have reached the baseline. Once you reach the baseline, hit 5-10 drops. Then, work your way back to the kitchen line, hitting two drops successfully before advancing two steps.
Once you make your way back to the kitchen, stay at the kitchen line and allow your partner to slinky back to the baseline.
