Third Shot Drop

Third Shot Drop Blog

April 10 2023
Managing the Slice

A common piece of advice in pickleball is to slice your return, pushing the ball deep into the court and keeping the bounce low.

What you don't hear is what to do if you're the team receiving that ball.

April 03 2023
5 Easy Ways to Change Momentum on the Pickleball Court

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Pickleball is often times described as a game of momentum swings, where one player or one team can go on runs and string several points together.

March 27 2023
2 Critical Ways Balance Affects Your Pickleball Game

There are two critical kinds of balance in doubles pickleball. And, both are equally important to your success on the court.

March 20 2023
Position Yourself to Defend

Picture this: You or your partner pop a ball up to your opponent. The alarm bells go off and you begin to retreat. Your goal is to get to the baseline to play some defense.

March 13 2023
One More Step

Ok, I whiffed on an overhead…again.

I finally made it to the court this week for the first time in...*checks calendar*...way too long. Let me tell ya, pickleball rust is a real thing. Reaction time decays and the feel for drops and resets suffers.

March 06 2023
Tommy Tomahawk

Class please say 'Hello' to Tommy. Tommy say 'Hello' to the class. Tommy Tomahawk may be the new kid in pickleball but according to Zane Navratil, the Tomahawk is not going anywhere.

February 23 2023
Drops and Drives: Not so Different After All

Most pickleball players and coaches tend to think of third shot drops and third shot drives as very different techniques — almost opposites — from one another.

February 17 2023
Ways to Conquer the Soft Game

The most frustrating players to play against are the ones who beat you in the soft game. Here are some great tips to make sure you come out on top when the game slows down.

February 10 2023
Drop and Drive in the Same Point

Time to choose: third shot drive or third shot drop?

Either answer works. You're both right. What you need to remember is: just because you chose one or the other, you're not stuck with that decision.

February 03 2023
Which grip are you using?

Pickleball/tennis grip names are the worst. Continental, Eastern, Semi-Western...are we holding a paddle, or joining Magellan's next expedition?

January 30 2023
How to handle the drop shot

You and your partner are back by the baseline. Your opponents get cheeky and sprinkle a drop shot in the kitchen.

The alarms go off and you sprint for the dropper. You make it to the descending ball just in the nick of time.

January 24 2023
A Favorite Target for Third Shot Drops

Where do you hit your third shot drop? Middle? Sideline? Or do you just close your eyes and hope for the best? Many top players recommend targeting the backhand of the left-side player.

January 11 2023
A Pro Secret to a Better Backhand Flick

The backhand flick is a shot that separates the men/women from the boys/girls on the pickleball court. The flick is a backhand roll shot that is used to attack an opponent. It is typically deployed as a speedup volley during a dink battle.


January 06 2023
Your Goal is More Efficient Pickleball

Ready, React, Execute, Improve. These four steps apply to every shot on the court. Each is made easier by properly carrying out the preceding step.  Ready, React, Execute, Improve. These four steps apply to every shot on the court. Each is made easier by properly carrying out the preceding step. Ready - Ready position is the first step in this journey. You should be balanced, feet shoulder width apart, paddle up. This is known as a neutral body position. React - While your opponent is executing their shot, it's time to react. 

December 17 2022
Shorten That Backswing

Newton's Second Law: the acceleration of an object depends on the mass of the object and the amount of force applied. It's important to keep this top of mind when switching from tennis to pickleball. A pickleball is less than half the mass of a tennis ball. According to Sir Issac, that means half the force is required to accelerate the ball to the same speed. So why are you winding up like you're Rafa Nadal on your forehand drive?

November 29 2022
Tennis Elbow

What is tennis elbow?

Lateral epicondylitis—aka tennis elbow—occurs when the tendons adjoined to the outer part of the elbow become inflamed. Tendons are the strong connective tissues that connect muscles to bones. Tennis elbow specifically has to do with the tendons of the extensor muscles in the forearm (the muscles that pull the wrist back and extend the fingers). These muscles connect to the outer boney protrusion of the humerus (the arm bone) at the elbow.