When it comes to technique and strategy, Collin is the absolute GOAT. And he just dropped this nugget of wisdom on our third-shot choices.
Firstly, when you’re about to rip a third-shot drive, what’s going through your head? You’re probably thinking winner, winner, chicken dinner, right? WRONG! (says Collin).
Why you’re wrong: As the serving team, you’re at a positional disadvantage. Your goal shouldn’t be to win the point outright on a drive. Instead, it should be to get to neutral, or rather, gain the kitchen line.
So, what do you do?
✅ Don’t swing out of your shoes. Even on a drive, placement is more important than power. There’s no room for missing long, or even worse, in the net.
✅ Encourage your opponents to make contact. “Hitting to a small open space is a bit of a trap,” says Collin. Your drive should aim at bigger targets, earning yourself a better fifth shot and court position.
✅ Take the easier fifth shot drop. Your drive should land you a shorter mid-court ball that gives you more margin for an effective drop, bringing you and your partner to the kitchen.
✅ It’s all mental. As the serving team, you’re beginning each point from a place of weakness. A low, third-shot drive is the first shot toward gaining net neutrality. And that’s your ultimate goal. Get your team to the kitchen and you’ve brought your odds back to even.
Naturally, you’ll sometimes get a clean winner on the drives (which is great). But that shouldn’t be your goal when ripping that third.
It’s the next shot that really matters. Consistency is everything in advanced pickleball. It’s not always about speed and power; sometimes, setting up your next shot is the smartest move you can make.
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