Top 5 3rd Shot Drop Mistakes in Pickleball
All around the pickleball world, perhaps the most feared and dreaded shot in pickleball is the third shot. We’re told how important it is by coaches, other players, and even our own blog! So, we put a ton of pressure on ourselves during this shot and unfortunately, that pressure leads to some big mistakes.
Today, we’re discussing the third shot, particularly the third shot drop.
Something to keep in mind as we go through these mistakes is that the primary goal of a third-shot drop is to land the ball in the kitchen. That’s it. The goal isn’t to roll the ball over, hit it perfectly every time, or anything else. The goal is to simply hit the ball into your opponent’s kitchen so that you put yourself in a good position for the rest of the match.
Now, let’s get into the top five mistakes we see on third shot drops.
Mistake #1 - Not Leaving Room for Error
One of the worries when hitting a third shot drop is that we’ll hit the ball too high and give our opponents a great return shot or even a slam shot to win the rally. However, the truth is it’s okay to hit the ball high because if you hit the ball too low, then you don’t even give the rally a chance to start. It’s better to hit the ball high than to hit the net on your third shot.
Is it ideal? No. But, it’s better–by a lot. Because when you hit the net, the ball is dead, and you don’t even give yourself a chance at the point.
To fix this mistake, give yourself more room for error. Put a higher arc on the ball. It also helps to aim for a target on the court instead of the players.
But adding more arc doesn’t mean you need to add more power. Instead, think of the shape that the ball makes in the air. To see this in action and practice adding more arc, throw the ball underhand. Notice how you use your legs and shoulders to release the ball and how (after a few tries) the ball lands safely into the kitchen.
Mistake #2 - Rushing Up to the Net
Many players make the mistake of just rushing to the net immediately following the third shot–no matter what that shot is. Ideally, if you’re making a drop shot rushing the net is fine. But, if you or your partner hit the ball too hard, a little too high, or mishit it completely, you become a sitting duck as you and your partner approach the net.
If it’s a great third shot drop, get up to the kitchen as quickly as possible. But, if it’s slightly off or your opponent is able to put a good hit on the ball, it’s better to stay back and wait for the right moment to get up there. No rule says you MUST be at the net after the third shot.
Mistake #3 - Not Setting Up Behind the Ball
A huge mistake seen constantly, especially from beginner players, is taking too many steps forward immediately after serving the ball. Those few steps are a major mistake because not only can your opponent hit the ball deep and put you in an awkward position, but you’ve handcuffed yourself on the third shot drop attempt.
Any good shot in pickleball involves the player being set up behind the ball and hitting it while it’s out in front of their body. Well, when we’re up too close, we risk allowing the ball too deep and get behind us–making it nearly impossible to hit a third shot drop on the return. These are often hit too hard or too high or end up hitting the net or going out of bounds. All situations that aren’t great to be in.
Instead of taking steps forward after a serve, practice taking one step back and regaining your balance. Even if they return the serve short, you should have plenty of time to get forward and reach the ball.
Mistake #4 - Taking Too Much Risk
Remember, the third shot is not an offensive shot. The serving team starts out on defense. The third shot drop is meant to help you get in a better position. Many players forget this. Instead of accepting the third shot drop as a way to get into an offensive position, they take too much risk and try to use it to score a point.
What’s better is to aim your third shot drop cross court. This not only gives you more time to get to the net but also prevents your opponent from having an easier shot back at you. It also gives you more room to get it over the net and into the kitchen.
The most challenging third shot drop is aiming right in front of you. You have to gain much more experience and confidence with your third shot to consistently hit it well in that area.
Practice underhand tossing the ball cross-court, then grab your paddle and do the same thing.
Mistake #5 - Trying to Add Top Spin
There’s nothing wrong with adding spin to your shot, but during your third-shot drop, unless you’ve absolutely mastered it, it is not the time to add topspin. To add the topspin, you need great contact with the ball, and you must hit it almost perfectly. Because the goal of the third shot drop is not to try and score but instead to put the ball into a position that allows you to get in a better one yourself, you don’t want to add topspin.
The risks outweigh the rewards, and you’re much better off bending your knees slightly and bringing your paddle up through the ball to give it that arc and soft landing inside the kitchen.
We hope you enjoyed these tips. You can learn more by watching this video from RooSportz. And for more information, news, and strategy help, continue to check out the Pickleball University Blog.
