We talk a lot about how to break the 4.0 plateau. But what if you’re not quite there yet? For anyone grinding at more intermediate levels, here are a few solid tips that’ll help take your game up a notch.
Don’t hit your dinks, push them. Sure, the pros take violent, compact swings up at the kitchen line, dropping everything back into the kitchen with expert precision. You, friend, are not a pro. Push through the ball and aim to keep it low. That’s it. Consistency wins.
Drive the ball middle. A low, hard drive in between your opponents can cause confusion and lead to easy points. The middle of the net is also its lowest point, so you’re less likely to miss. Get comfortable here, then start mixing in shots down the lines.
Stop ball watching your drops. This is a big one. After you or your partner hits a drop, get in the habit of assessing its quality, then closing ground to the net in a hurry if it feels good. If you watch it land before moving your feet, you’re already too late.
Return deep. Don’t worry about lateral placement as much as getting the ball consistently into the back third of the return box. This puts you in solid position for a better third.
Watch your opponent’s paddle. Instead of watching the ball during play, pay closer attention to the paddle face of your opponent. If the wrist cocks and the paddle face opens toward you, that’s a dead giveaway an attack is imminent. Prepare accordingly.
No matter your level, these tips can help you play smarter and more consistently. And isn’t that what we all really want in the end?
Use this code for a 10% discount on a custom paddle
First Time Buyers Only
Why we are different
There are well over 100 paddle manufacturers serving the pickleball industry. We are the ONLY custom paddle manufacturer in the world. In order to understand what it is we do and why it’s unique, it’s necessary to understand how a paddle is made.
Every paddle with few exceptions has a honeycomb core. The different companies in the industry use one of three different materials for the core- aluminum, polymer and Nomex. We use all three. The core provides 75% of the way a paddle performs.
Then the honeycomb core is sandwiched between two thin layers of surface materials. Again, the different companies in the industry use three different materials- graphite, fiberglass composite and carbon fiber. We use all three. The surface material is about 25% of the way a paddle performs. Think of it as fine tuning the paddle’s performance characteristics.
The three different core materials combined with the three different surface materials make 9 different combinations of materials. Each plays differently. We make two (soon to be three) different shapes for our paddles. The Chaos has a large square sweet spot- at 8 1/2”, it is the widest paddle on the market. The Kratos has an equally large rectangular shaped sweet spot. Each combination of cores and surfaces is available in both the Chaos and Kratos shape.
Then we give each player the opportunity to select their paddle’s weight (ranging from 7.4-10.5 ounces).
Now comes the grip. Players can choose one of three different handle shapes, their grip size from 3 7/8” to 6”, one of three different grip materials and more than 10 colors for each grip style.
Now that the player has chosen the best paddle shape, core, surface and grip for their individual game comes the fun part. We can put any custom graphic the player chooses on their paddle face- either one of our many choices or one of their own- a picture, logo or graphic of their choosing.
Now every player can play with a totally bespoke paddle and watch their game immediately improve because they are playing with the right paddle for them in every way.
Every other sport has specialized equipment for every player except pickleball. Not anymore- now pickleball is catching up to other sports. Pickleball players spend a lot of time playing the game they love. Now they can play with the gear that suits them and not be forced to use a one size fits all paddle.
Want to Join Team TSD?
We are actively seeking avid pickleballers with sales experience to educate, demonstrate and promote Third
Shot Drop pickleball paddles.
Please send your prior sales experience, where you play, how often you play, what level player you are, if you
play Tournaments, how many players you can reach and your contact information to:
Ashley@ThirdShotDrop.com
