Third Shot Options

The third shot is a crucial one in the game of pickleball. It can often set the tone for the rest of the volley. So, what options does a player have for the third shot? Ironically, there are three; drop, drive or lob.

Traditionally, the third shot drop is the hit of choice. From the baseline, the player lightly hits the ball so that it lands in the kitchen. To hit this shot most effectively, loosen your grip on the paddle when contacting the ball. Players then have time to run up to the kitchen and get set. This begins the dink rally.

My one tip is to be able to do your drop from anywhere on the court. So many people warm up by hitting drops from the baseline, but you never know in a game where it might come in handy. When watching the pros play, they can put the ball in the kitchen no matter where they are standing. This allows you to reset the volley and get back into position at the kitchen.

The next option is the drive. The reason to err on the side of caution here is because a fast-hit ball will also return to you fast. That means players can often be caught off balance. But if the opponents aren’t handling a drive well, then by all means, use it. I personally like to block a drive into the kitchen to make my opponents run for it. The choice of a third shot drive generally leads to a fifth shot drop instead, if the drive doesn’t end the volley.

Probably the least seen third shot is the lob. However, it isn’t a bad idea. The opponents are up at the net, you are at the baseline trying to move up to the kitchen. A well-placed lob has opponents running back and giving you time to get in position. You may want to practice some baseline lobs, though, as most people only use this shot from the kitchen. The length of this shot gives opponents more time to get back to receive it. If you do accidentally leave a third shot lob short, you are placed defensively at the baseline already to take the slam.

Having the ability to hit all of these shots puts you in the best position for play. You can mix things up to keep your opponents on their toes. Choose your third shot wisely, because it may determine if you win the point.