Ask any coach which shot separates beginners from intermediate players and most will say the third-shot drop. It's how the serving team gets from the baseline to the kitchen line without getting picked off on the way. Here's why it matters, how to hit it, and three drills to make it reliable.
The short answer
A third-shot drop is a soft, arcing shot from the baseline that lands in your opponents' kitchen, so they have to hit up and you have time to move forward to the net.
- Get to the ball early and set your feet
- Short, smooth low-to-high swing from the shoulder
- Loose grip, steady wrist, slightly open face
- Peak on your side of the net, land in their kitchen, then move in
Why the third shot is so important
Pickleball's two-bounce rule says the return of serve has to bounce, and so does the next ball. That gives the receiving team a head start: the returner hits and walks straight up to the kitchen line, while the serving team has to stay back and let the return bounce.
So on the third shot of every rally, the serving team is at the baseline facing two players at the net. Hit a hard ball and the net team can block or volley it straight back at your feet. Hit a soft ball into their kitchen and they have to let it bounce and hit up, which gives you time to come forward. That's the job of the drop.
Drop or drive?
The drop isn't the only third shot. Most good teams mix it with a drive, and many use both in the same rally: drive the third, then drop the fifth once the ball comes back softer.
Hit the drop when
They're set at the net
- The return is deep and you're hitting from the baseline
- Both opponents are already at the kitchen line
- You want to get to the net safely
- The ball is low or you're a little rushed
Try a drive when
You see a chance
- The return is short, high or slow
- One opponent is late getting to the net
- Their hands are weak or they're out of position
- You want a softer ball to drop on the fifth shot
How to hit a third-shot drop, step by step
Think of it as a long dink from the baseline: compact, smooth and controlled. You're lifting the ball, not hitting it.
- 1
Stay back and set your feet
Stay at the baseline until the return bounces. Move to the ball early so you're stopped and balanced when you hit, not still running. Rushed feet are the root of most bad drops.
- 2
Turn your shoulders, short backswing
Turn slightly sideways and take the paddle back only a little. A big backswing adds pace you then have to control.
- 3
Loose grip, steady wrist
Keep your grip around three or four out of ten and your wrist firm. The swing comes from your shoulder, like a pendulum, not a flick of the wrist. More on grip pressure.
- 4
Swing low to high
Start the paddle below the ball and lift through contact with a slightly open face. Bend your knees and let your legs help with the lift.
- 5
Peak on your side of the net
Aim for the ball to reach its highest point before the net, so it's already falling as it crosses and drops into the kitchen. Follow through toward your target and hold the finish for a beat.
- 6
Watch it, then move in
If the drop is good, move forward and split-step as your opponent makes contact. If it floats, stay put and get ready to block or reset the next ball.
You don't have to get to the net in one shot.
Hit the drop, take a few steps, split-step, and keep going on the next soft ball. Two or three shots to reach the kitchen line is normal.
Where to aim
Anywhere in the kitchen is a good drop. Don't try to clip the net or land it on the kitchen line. A few things give you more margin:
- Aim through the middle or crosscourt. The net is lowest in the middle (34" vs. 36" at the posts), and crosscourt gives you the most court to land in.
- Target the backhand. Most players are weaker attacking off a low backhand, so a drop there is less likely to come back hard.
- Give it net clearance. A drop that clears comfortably and lands a little deep in the kitchen beats one that skims the tape and finds the net.
5 mistakes that ruin your drop
-
MistakeFlicking the wrist to lift the ball.FixKeep the wrist steady and swing from the shoulder. Lift with your legs.
-
MistakeA big backswing on a soft shot.FixKeep it short. The smaller the swing, the more repeatable the drop.
-
MistakeHitting while you're still moving forward.FixStay back for the return, set your feet, then hit. Move in after.
-
MistakeRushing to the net behind a bad drop.FixIf it floats high, stop and get ready. Charging in just gives them a target at your feet.
-
MistakeAiming too close to the net.FixAim for the middle of the kitchen with clearance to spare. In the kitchen is the win.
3 drills to make it reliable
Drops take reps. These three build the feel first, then add pressure:
Drill 1
The drop ladder
Start just behind the kitchen line and dink with a partner. After 5 good ones in a row, take two steps back. Keep going until you're hitting from the baseline.
GoalReach the baseline without missing more than twice per step.
Make it harder: only count shots that land in the kitchen.
Drill 2
Drop and follow
Your partner stands at the net and feeds you deep balls. Hit a drop, then move forward and split-step. Your partner attacks anything that sits up.
GoalReach the kitchen line in 2–3 shots, 7 times out of 10.
Make it harder: your partner mixes in drives you have to reset.
Drill 3
Target practice
Put two towels or cones in the kitchen, one middle and one crosscourt. Hit 10 drops at each from the baseline, then switch to your backhand.
Goal6 out of 10 in the kitchen, 3 near the target.
Make it harder: your partner calls the target as you swing.
Does your paddle help?
A paddle won't hit the drop for you, but it can make it more forgiving. Look for a face that stays stable on off-center contact, a core that softens the ball a little at contact, and a shape you can control from the baseline. Thickness isn't the only factor: here's what really decides power vs. control.
Frequently asked questions
What is a third-shot drop in pickleball?
A soft, arcing shot hit by the serving team, usually from the baseline, that lands in the opponents' kitchen. Because the ball is low, the net team has to hit up, which gives the serving team time to move forward.
Why is it called the third shot?
It's the third shot of the rally: the serve, then the return, then this one. Because of the two-bounce rule, it's usually the serving team's first chance to move toward the net.
Should I always hit a third-shot drop?
No. Drop when both opponents are set at the net and the return is deep. Drive when the return is short or high, or when an opponent is late getting forward. Mixing the two keeps the other team guessing.
Where should the ball peak?
On your side of the net. If the highest point of the arc is before the net, the ball is already falling as it crosses and is much more likely to land in the kitchen.
Why do my drops go into the net?
Usually not enough lift: the swing is too flat, the face is closed or you stopped your legs. Swing low to high, open the face slightly and finish toward your target.
Forehand or backhand drop?
Both. Many players find the backhand drop more compact and repeatable. Practice both from the baseline so you can drop whichever side the return comes to.
Want someone to watch your drop? Ask a Royal Ambassador.
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