Basics Of The Third Shot Drop

The third shot drop is one of the most important shots in pickleball. It is a strategic bridge between the baseline and the kitchen line that allows you and your partner to get to the net safely, where most points are won.

A third shot drop is essentially a dink from the baseline that lands in your opponent’s kitchen. You use it as the serving team on literally the third shot of the rally, after the serve and return.  If you can get it to land in your opponent’s kitchen, they have to let it bounce, and they can’t run in and slam it. Therefore, you are limiting their offensive options and neutralizing the advantage they gained from “returning and running” up to the kitchen. While your third shot drop is traveling in the air to your opponent’s kitchen, you and your partner can move forward towards the net without the fear of being attacked.

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