To advance to the 3.5+ level in pickleball you will need to use all third shot options depending on the situation and hit them consistently well. There are 3 primary shot options for the third shot in pickleball; the drop shot, drive shot, or lob shot.
The illustration below shows the three primary third shot options…Drop Shot (1), Drive (2) and a Lob (3).
Whether you choose a drop shot, drive, or lob, this shot is critical for leveling the playing field against opponents already at the kitchen line.
A well-executed third shot allows you to advance through the transition zone and gain an advantageous position at the net. Mastering your third shot options is essential to advance in pickleball.
Without consistent control, good shot execution, and strategic thinking, it will be nearly impossible to beat better players who already have the upper hand at the kitchen line.
To advance in pickleball you will need to be ready to hit any of these third shot options depending on the situation.Â
You will progress as you play. Most players start with the drive shot, then they start lobbing more. Eventually, they start hitting third shot drops. Drop shots are needed to effectively compete against better players and to advance to the 3.5 level and beyond.
The progress is reviewed in the next post on third shot player progression.
1 – Drop Shot
The drop shot is a soft, lobbing stroke that barely clears the net and lands near your opponents in their kitchen zone. A good drop shot may force your opponents to respond with a dink or an upward swing motion to clear the net. A well-executed drop shot limits their options; they can’t forcefully volley or slam it due to its closeness to the net and its downward trajectory. Additionally, if they let it bounce, they struggle to drive the ball effectively because many times it bounces below net level. The objective of the drop shot is to take away your opponent’s dominance of the net and let you advance to the net. In many cases it also causes an error, where your opponent either pops the ball up or hits it into the net as they try to respond.
2 – Drive
The drive shot is a fast, flat shot you hit just over the net. When you drive the ball at your opponents, you’re looking to get it by them in an opening or to hit it right at them hoping for a mistake when they try to volley it back.
3 – Lob
The lob shot is a high, arching stroke aimed to go over the opponent’s head and land near the baseline. This forces your opponent to either attempt an overhead smash from a tough angle or allow the ball to land and play it off the bounce. A good lob shot forces your opponents to retreat to play the shot giving up their position at the net.
Players typically go through a progression of shot selection for the 3rd shot. Check out the next post in this series on 3rd Shot Player Progression.