Third Shot Tuesday: How to Master the Pickleball Third Shot Drop
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Welcome to the very first edition of Third Shot Tuesday! Every week, we are stepping away from gear reviews to dive deep into the strategies that will actually elevate your game. And where else could we possibly start but with the most famous, most frustrating, and most essential shot in the entire sport: the pickleball third shot drop.
If you are stuck at a 3.0 or 3.5 rating, it is almost certainly because you are driving your third shot into the net or popping it up for an easy smash. Today, we are fixing your drop shot so you can finally get to the kitchen line. The Deal Dinker here. Let’s get to work.
Why the Third Shot Drop Matters
When you are the serving team, you are at a massive disadvantage. The returning team hits their return and instantly runs up to the kitchen line (the Non-Volley Zone). You have to let the ball bounce before you can hit it, meaning you are stuck back at the baseline while they are hovering over the net.
If you try to smash a fast drive at them, they will just block it back down at your feet. The only reliable way to neutralize their positional advantage is to hit a soft, looping shot that lands gently in their kitchen. This forces them to let the ball bounce and hit up on it. While the ball is in the air, you and your partner sprint to the kitchen line. The playing field is now level.
The 3 Golden Rules of a Perfect Drop
1. Push, Don’t Swing
The biggest mistake beginners make is taking a massive backswing like a tennis player. A third shot drop is not a groundstroke; it is a long dink. Keep your paddle out in front of your body, bend your knees, and gently “push” or “lift” the ball over the net. Your motion should feel like you are tossing a water balloon underhand.
2. Aim for the Apex
Stop looking at the opponent’s feet. If you aim low, you will hit the net. Instead, picture an imaginary hoop floating about three feet above the pickleball net. Your goal is to hit the ball through that hoop. If you hit the apex of your arc perfectly over the net, gravity will pull the ball safely down into the kitchen.
3. Wait on the Sprint
A lot of players hit their drop and immediately go into a dead sprint toward the net before they even see where the ball is going. If your drop is too high, you are sprinting directly into a 60mph smash. Hit your drop, take one step forward, and watch the opponent’s paddle. If they are reaching down, run! If their paddle is up high, stop and prepare to defend.
The Deal Dinker’s Drill of the Week
The only way to master the third shot drop is through muscle memory. Next time you warm up, grab a bucket of Franklin X-40s and have your partner stand at the kitchen line while you stand at the baseline. Have them feed you deep balls, and try to drop 10 in a row into the kitchen. Do not play a game until you hit 10!
Need a paddle with a softer touch for better drops? Check out our Vatic Pro PRISM vs. Six Zero Showdown to find the perfect control paddle.
