Mastering the Pickleball Third Shot: A Key to Winning Points
Ultimately, it’s one of the most important shots to get better at if you want to be competitive. There are two main ways pickleball players can approach this moment: with a drive or with a drop.
Third Shot Drive
The third shot drive, particularly in doubles, aims to achieve two things: reach the kitchen line and elicit a better fourth ball.
Professional players frequently rely on drives instead of drops because the ball travels faster and keeps opponents on the defensive.
A key insight here is that the drive forces a quicker response from the opponent, limiting their options and increasing your chances of advancing to the kitchen line.
Advantages of the Drive:
Unpredictability: Alternating between drives and drops keeps opponents guessing. Solely relying on drops becomes predictable and gives the opposition an advantage.
Wind Advantage: In windy conditions, the drive holds its path better than a drop, allowing you to maintain control.
Targeting Strategy: Hitting to the middle of the court creates indecision between opponents. Likewise, aiming at weak body spots (such as their less preferred side) can force mistakes.
Drive Tips:
Keep it low but avoid hitting the net. Missing long is preferable to missing wide or into the net.
Not looking for a winner: The goal isn’t to win the point with the drive but to put your opponent in a position where they return a weak shot, giving you an opportunity to advance.
Third Shot Drop
The third shot drop, on the other hand, is a softer, controlled shot aimed to land in the opponent's kitchen (the non-volley zone).
The goal is to slow down the pace of the game and force your opponents into a more defensive position closer to the net.
Advantages of the Drop
Controls the Pace: Slows down the game and allows you to approach the net, where you can dictate play.
Forces Errors: A well-placed drop makes opponents hit from below net height, increasing their chances of making a mistake.
Minimizes Risk: Prioritizes placement over power, reducing unforced errors compared to more aggressive shots.
Drop Tips:
Focus on height control: Just high enough to clear the net and land softly in the kitchen.
Add spin: Backspin helps the ball die quickly, preventing easy returns. A topspin drop can be used to make the ball dip down and create more difficulty off the bounce.
Target the middle: Creates confusion between opponents and forces weaker returns.
Decision-Making with the Third Shot: When to Use a Drive vs a Drop
When to Use the Drive:
Good positioning: If you’re well-balanced and the ball is landing in a favorable spot (around mid-court or slightly deeper), go for the drive.
Bad positioning: If the return forces you back, consider other options. A drive when you're on your back foot can result in poor control and give your opponent an easier shot.
When to Opt for a Drop:
If the return is short and you don’t have much court to work with, dropping is often the safer option to prevent an easy put-away by your opponent.
Third Shot Drive Drills
In the Paddlespeed Program, we offer five specific drills to help you hone your third shot skills. They are:
Third Shot Drive and Drop
Midcourt Drive and Volley
In the Gap
Flat Ball
Heavy Top
1. Drive and Drop:
Focus on hitting a drive and following it up with a drop. This helps improve your ability to transition from offense (drive) to defense (drop) while moving forward.
Key takeaway: Practice both down-the-line and cross-court drives and drops to build versatility.
2. Mid-Court Drive and Volley:
When receiving a mid-court ball, avoid swinging hard. Take some pace off the ball and aim to keep it low, then move forward for the volley.
Key takeaway: This drill is crucial for controlling the third shot when you don’t have enough space to go for a full drive.
3. In the Gap:
Aim your third shot drive between your opponents to exploit the gap and create confusion. Follow up by moving forward and preparing to drop.
Key takeaway: Driving into gaps helps create indecision and opens up space for you to transition.
4. Flat Ball Drill:
Work on hitting the ball flat and hard, avoiding top spin. The focus here is on creating a fast, low trajectory that challenges your opponent's timing.
Key takeaway: Flattening the drive creates a more direct and faster shot, which is hard for opponents to handle.
5. Heavy Topspin Drive:
Focus on creating heavy topspin, making the ball dip quickly after crossing the net. This forces your opponent to hit up on the ball, making their return weaker.
Key takeaway: Topspin gives you control over ball trajectory, allowing you to hit hard while still getting the ball to drop sharply over the net.
Practical Tips to Improve Your Third Shot
Focus on Paddle Angle: Keep your paddle low, but with a slight angle to ensure the ball lands softly in the kitchen. The key to a great third shot is making the ball “drop” into the kitchen, not just hitting it hard.
Control Your Paddle Speed: Too much speed will send the ball too far or too high. Using the right paddle speed gives you better control, allowing you to place the ball precisely where you want it.
Patience and Positioning: Don’t rush the third shot. Take a moment to let the ball come to you, set your feet, and execute with precision. If you can move smoothly into position near the kitchen line after your third shot, you’ll be in a better spot for the next play.
How Paddlespeed Can Help Improve Your Third Shot
Mastering the third shot requires more than just good technique—it requires precision, control, and the right paddle speed. In my Paddlespeed Program, we focus on teaching you how to generate the paddle head speed necessary for consistent, accurate third shots.
By understanding the science behind motion and the mechanics of the body, you’ll learn how to generate the right amount of power and spin for every shot, including the crucial third shot drop.
Here are a few key principles from the Paddlespeed program that can directly impact your third shot:
Paddle Speed Control: The third shot isn’t about raw power; it’s about spin and precision. I teach you how to use paddle speed to put the ball in the place where it is most effective at dismantling your oppnents game.
Body Mechanics: By understanding the science of motion and how your body generates paddle speed, you'll learn to make the most of every movement. This allows you to stay balanced and deliver your third shot with accuracy, power and spin even under pressure.
The Four-Step System: Every shot, including the third shot, benefits from the four core principles of my training program—The Coil, the Speed up, the Transfer, and the Contact. These four steps help you execute shots with greater control and offenseand we break them down in detail during phase one of Paddlespeed, ensuring you’re hitting the ball with optimal technique.
