Third Shot Drop Blog

Anytime Anna Leigh Waters wants to give a bunch of free pickleball advice, you know we’re locking in.

In a new video, she discusses a bread-and-butter shot that really got us thinking: On a forehand, instead of following through across your body to the opposite shoulder—follow through up and above your paddle arm.

FYI- this is a very high difficulty shot that only 5.5 players and above can hit consistently, but we thought all of our players will find it interesting even though it’s not a shot than can be mastered without a lot of practice. Still fun to try when you’re drilling if nothing else but to further appreciate the subtle skills the pros possess. Needless to say, they don’t play the same game we mortals do.

Statistically, pro doubles matches are getting shorter. Looking at more than 40,000 shots across 4,000 rallies in gold medal matches in 2024, the average number of shots per point dropped from 11 to 10 compared to the year prior.

Sometimes it’s less about technique and more about mirroring the best players in the world.

According to PPA Tour data, third shot drives increased from 38% in 2023 to 51% in 2024, showing a clear shift among pro players toward a more aggressive approach shot.

Imagine this: You’ve made it to the kitchen line only to find yourself fighting for your life against a couple bangers. Every ball is coming back at a blistering pace. You’re hanging on for dear life.

Selkirk pro James Ignatowich has conquered his fair share of firefights. Rather than matching power with power, he recommends neutralizing the aggression with a quick but poppy punch volley.

Changing the grip on your paddle can be like changing the tires on your car: It’s not something you think too much about until something just doesn’t feel right.

To test this theory, we wanted to know how often our readers change their paddle overgrips.

When it comes to cross-court dinking, we all want to be more aggressive at the kitchen line. But where to start?

Recent MLP Florida Smash draftee and Managing Director of PPR Sarah Ansboury has played thousands more hours of pickleball than you have. So listen up.

Not all backhand attacks are created equal. If you’ve been using the terms poke, roll, and flick interchangeably, it’s time for Zane Navratil to set the record straight. Each shot serves a unique purpose and can be a game-changer when used correctly.

“One of the biggest mistakes I see amateur players make, especially those lower in rating, is poor decision-making from the baseline.” Pro player Eric Roddy. As a pro player, Eric Roddy divides the pickleball court into three separate zones based on his likelihood of attack. In Zone 1he has the green light to pull the trigger, but in Zone 3 he knows that an attack is a low percentage play.

The serve is no longer just a way to start a point. It’s an offensive weapon that can be used to win a point.

In a new video, James Ignatowich provides instructions on how to defend yourself against big serves.

Adding topspin to your pickleball game keeps opponents on their back foot and improves shot consistency. By brushing upward on the back of the ball, topspin creates a forward spin that causes the ball to dip quickly into the court, letting you hit harder while staying in bounds.

One of the commonly accepted beliefs in pickleball is that having two forehands in the middle is the best alignment for a team. A righty-lefty team where both partners could have their strength in the center of the court.

As the serving team, your goal is to reach the kitchen line quickly to neutralize the point. That, however, does not give you permission to sprint to the line with reckless abandon. Your approach should be strategic. It depends and multiple factors including the quality of the third shot, placement of the third shot, and your partner’s willingness to move forward.

If you’re not using two hands on your backhand, then the game might be passing you by. Many pros and high-level players use two hands to add power and stability to their backhand shots. But how do you decide when to add that second hand?

Pickleball is evolving into a faster-paced game that emphasizes offense over the traditional soft game. While the soft game is still an important tool, it’s no longer the cornerstone of winning strategies.

A new video from the Pickleball Playbook explains how players can embrace modern techniques and adjust their approach to have a significant edge in 2025 and beyond. Here’s how you can stay ahead:

Mari Humberg broke out onto the pro scene in 2024. One of the biggest reasons for her success is her killer backhand flick.

In this instructional video from Ed Ju, Mari Humberg shares expert insights into her signature backhand flick, a deceptive and effective shot. Key takeaways include: