Shot strategy
Pickleball Third Shot
No shot is debated more than the third shot. Drop or drive? The answer depends on the return, your position, and your skill level. Understanding when to use each, and how to execute both, is the fastest way to improve as a doubles player.
Third shot drop vs third shot drive
| Attribute | Drop | Drive |
|---|---|---|
| Difficulty | High, requires touch and precision | Moderate, pace-based, easier to execute |
| Risk | Low when executed well | Higher, faster balls easier to attack back |
| Advance opportunity | Excellent, soft ball buys time to advance | Variable, depends on opponents' response |
| Best used from | Deep baseline, any position | Short return (mid-court), aggressive play |
| Result when perfect | Ball lands at opponent feet, you reach kitchen | Opponent forced back or makes error |
| Result when poor | Short ball, attacked | Attackable return, opponents speed up |
Use the drop when:
- → Return lands deep (you're at baseline)
- → Opponents are well-positioned at kitchen
- → You need time to advance
- → Score is close, play high margin
Use the drive when:
- → Return lands short (mid-court)
- → You want to apply immediate pressure
- → Opponent is late getting to kitchen
- → Mixing up to prevent easy reads
How to hit the third shot drop
Six steps from contact to advancing.
Read the return depth
A deep return means you're hitting from near the baseline, ideal for a drop. A short return (mid-court) is a better drive opportunity. The return depth informs your shot choice.
Take a compact backswing
No big swing. The third shot drop is a touch shot, a compact pendulum backswing with the paddle leading. Overthinking the motion causes tension; trust a short, relaxed preparation.
Open your paddle face slightly
Tilt the face back (toward you) a few degrees to generate the soft upward arc needed to clear the net. Too closed = net; too open = ball lands long.
Swing through like a pendulum, low to high
The swing path goes slightly upward through contact. Contact the ball at or slightly below hip height. The upward arc creates the height to clear the net while the open face softens the pace.
Aim for the front half of the kitchen
Target within 2-3 feet of the kitchen line, not the back of the kitchen. A ball that lands deep in the kitchen can still be attacked. Landing near the NVZ line forces opponents to hit up.
Advance immediately after contact
Take 3-4 steps forward as soon as the ball leaves your paddle. Watch the ball in flight while moving. Stop and split-step when opponents contact the ball.
Frequently asked questions
What is the third shot in pickleball?
The third shot in pickleball is the serving team's first shot after the return of serve, literally the third shot of the rally (serve, return, third shot). It's the most strategically important shot in the game because it determines whether the serving team can advance to the kitchen. The two main options are the third shot drop (soft, lands in the kitchen) and the third shot drive (hard, flat or topspin, keeps opponents back).
When should you drop vs drive on the third shot?
Use the third shot drop when you need time to advance to the kitchen, the return lands deep and you're hitting from near your baseline, or opponents are already at the kitchen line. Use the third shot drive when the return is short (mid-court), your team wants to apply immediate pressure, or you've been successfully driving all match. Most recreational players should default to the drop, it's higher margin and sets up the advance better.
How do you hit a third shot drop in pickleball?
To hit a third shot drop: set up with a slight open stance, use a continental grip, take a compact backswing, contact the ball in front of your body with the paddle face slightly open, and swing gently upward with a pendulum motion. Aim to land the ball in the front half of the kitchen, not over the kitchen line. After contact, immediately advance 3-4 steps toward the kitchen. The drop should arc just above the net and die in the kitchen.
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