Pickleball -The First 3 Shots
Payton Bond
Book Introduction
Pickleball might seem like a fast-paced game all about quick reflexes, but there’s a lot more to it. At its core, pickleball is really about finesse, strategy, and control. Sure, many players try to rely on power—smashing hard drives and looking for quick points—but if you want to reach an advanced level, it’s all about mastering the subtle, smart side of the game.
The key to success? It starts with the first three shots: the serve, the return, and the all-important third shot. These shots set the tone for everything that follows. If you can execute these with precision, you can take control of the pace, neutralize aggressive opponents, and put yourself in a position to win.
This book is your guide to developing the strategic mindset that sets top players apart. You’ll learn how to slow down the game by incorporating drop shots and dinking—two essential skills that will force your opponents to play at your pace. By mastering these, you’ll be able to handle power players by drawing them into rallies where finesse and control win out. If you’ve ever watched the pros play, you’ll notice that they’re constantly balancing power with strategy in every single point.
Whether you’re new to the game or have been playing for years, there’s something here for everyone. If you’re a beginner and want to get comfortable with the basics before diving into the advanced strategies, we’ve included a beginner section in the addendum that includes rules, basic shot execution and other fundamental pickleball information. This will help you get up to speed and give you a strong foundation. For those with more experience, jump straight into Chapter 1 to sharpen your strategy and take your game to the next level.
Concepts covered in the book
1st Shot – The Serve
Serve Types: Traditional vs Drop Serve, Player Positions, Server Thoughts, Consistency, Handling Serve Disputes, Serving Under Pressure, Advanced Serves, Stacking Overview, Offensive Stacking, Defensive Stacking, Defensive Setup, Offensive Mistakes, Defensive Mistakes.
2nd Shot – Return of Serve
Pre-Shot Thoughts, Court Positioning for the Return, Hitting the Return, Handling Spin and Specialty Serves, Shot Placement, Return Shot Positioning, Consistency over Complexity, Player Movement, Mistakes.
3rd Shot
Pre-Shot Setup, Communication, Shot Options, Player Shot Progression, 3rd Shot Drive, Shake and Bake, Defense of the Drive, Blocking the Drive, Defensive Poach, Switching, Lob Shot, React to a Lob, Lob Defense, Lob Angle Shot, Lob Cover & Switch, 3rd Shot Drop, Drop Shot Technique, Shot Drop Positioning, Transition zone, Advancing to the Kitchen, 5th & 7th Shot, Put away Shot, Drop Shot Defense, Drop Shot Dink Return, Dealing with Power Players, Offensive & Defensive Mistakes.
Dinking
Footwork & Tethering, Cross Court Dink, Attackable Dink, Dink Fake Lob, Dink Fake Speed Up Play, Around the Post (ATP), Erne, Mistakes: Lack of Patience, Broken Tether, Caught in the Kitchen.
Chapter 5 – Seeing the Court
Things you better see and look for as your game advances.
Addendum 1 -Beginners Guide
Brief History of Pickleball
Pickleball Popularity
Pickleball Gameplay Overview and Rules
Basic shot execution
Adding spin to shots
Footwork in Pickleball
Footwork Drills
Transitioning from Tennis to Pickleball
Addendum 2 – Bonus Content
Mental Preparation
Open Play Court Etiquette
Practice/ Warm up Routines
Pickleball Skill Levels
DUPR Rating System
On-Line Resources