Here’s the stone-cold truth about advanced pickleball in 2026: you can survive using the same bag of shots you’ve relied on for years. But to thrive, to dictate points and win high-level games, you need to improve your skills and add new shots. All the time.
Take this one, for example: The aggressive third-shot roll drop.
Yes, that’s a mouthful. But it’s about to become your new favorite weapon. This isn’t an all-out drive. It’s not a loopy roll. And it’s definitely not a slice or push drop.
This is a different beast entirely, a hybrid shot with attitude, hit with moderate pace, a low trajectory, and heavy topspin. The key technical differentiator comes down to one word: linear.
Here’s how to hit it, according to APP pro Richard Livornese:
Critically, instead of brushing up on the ball, you’re hitting through it, toward the net, not the ceiling.
Your paddle face and swing path will propel it forward with heavy topspin, whether you’re hitting forehand or backhand. And since you’re taking a lot of pace off, the ball will naturally dip over the net.
Now here’s the kicker: the best time to bust this shot out, says Livornese, is when the opposing team is transitioning up to the net. And the best placement is toward the sidelines, rather than the middle. This massively handcuffs your opponents’ counter-attacking options.
Hit your pace and your spot, and you guarantee a weak, defensive shot in return. And you know exactly what to do with that.
