Master the Third Shot Drop With This Fun Drill

The third shot drop in pickleball is like a muscle. It needs to be worked on repeatedly to become stronger. It needs to be exercised to maintain its strength. Improve your third shot drop with a fun variation that you'll look forward to every week. Unlike leg day.

Use Rec Play to Improve Your Game

Let's face it, there aren't many people out there who want to drill — yet almost everyone reading these posts and visiting The Dink wants to get better. Pickleball is now one of the fastest-growing sports in America, which means more players at every level are looking for smarter ways to improve.

So, what do we do about that?

Play more? Well, that's always fun, but it doesn't necessarily help you progress, especially if you're playing the same people on a regular basis.

Practice more? That is definitely a way to improve, but it can often become stale and boring. In addition, most people don't have enough focus to drill and drill and drill for an entire session. Totally understandable, too.

But what about combining pickleball drills and games?

How the Drill Works

Here's a great exercise that is equal parts drill and equal parts game:

The serving team's goal is to get its third shot to bounce over the net — anywhere will do, but obviously in the non-volley zone is preferable. The receiving team's goal is to not let that ball from the third shot bounce.

Easy enough? Should be.

OK, so you're the serving team. If you're able to get the ball over the net and to bounce on the third shot, the rally is over and you get one point. Done. If the third shot "drops," pick up the ball and move on. That's a point.

However, if the receiving team is able to get that third shot out of the air and volley it back, the play continues. Finish out the rally as if it was any other rally — dink, drive, smash, whatever. Just play it out.

Score it like a regular game. Play to 11.

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How it Helps

What this game does is two things:

1. It forces the serving team to slow the game down.

Even at the professional level, the third shot drop remains the single most debated shot in the game — executed well, it's a weapon; missed, it's a liability. Obviously, beginners and lower-level players need to work on this skill. Higher-level players will also benefit, as they will be using this to try and drop the ball into the NVZ. It's a great drill to work on the always tough third-shot drop from anywhere on the court, even places where you would normally drive the ball.

2. It's a great drill for the defense, too.

Not only will the receiving team put a premium on returning the serve deep, as it will make the third shot that much tougher for the serving team, it also emphasizes moving swiftly up to the NVZ. It's not uncommon for beginners and lower-level players to struggle to remember to move forward. If you know that the rally will be over after three shots if you don't volley the ball, you'll make it a priority to move all the way up to the NVZ line.

More benefits? The serving team will see how helpful a deep serve is, as it makes it harder for the receiving team to return the ball deep and move up. Also, the receiving team will see a huge windfall from being able to play a volley on the fourth shot, as opposed to having to play the ball on a bounce.

While the drill centers around the serving team and the third-shot drop, what it really does is emphasize the importance of the first four shots — getting a good, deep serve in, a solid, deep return, and transitioning to the NVZ.

There is less pressure when hitting the fourth shot. This drill puts the pressure on. It forces players to reach into the kitchen and pick balls out of the air. Knees bent, arm stretched out in front is not in anyone's comfort zone. But testing the limit of what you can reach in the kitchen will make you a better player.

Any ball taken as a volley reduces the amount of time available for your opponent to advance in the court. Time is precious at the start of a rally — use it to your advantage. With this drill, all four players are getting an opportunity to improve.

All of this while playing a game, too. You might even forget you're actually practicing and getting better. Shh. Don't tell anyone.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the third shot drop in pickleball?

The third shot drop is the third shot hit in a rally — typically by the serving team — designed to arc softly into the non-volley zone (kitchen) so the ball bounces before the opposing team can attack it. It's one of the most important shots in the game because it slows down the rally and gives the serving team time to advance toward the NVZ line. Without a reliable third shot drop, players get stuck at the baseline while their opponents control the kitchen.

Why is the third shot drop so hard to learn?

The third shot drop requires a delicate combination of soft touch, proper body positioning, and timing — all while you're moving forward after the serve. Most players either hit it too hard (making it attackable) or too soft (sending it into the net). Like any finesse shot, it needs consistent, deliberate repetition to become muscle memory, which is exactly why drills like this one are so valuable.

Can beginners benefit from this drill, or is it only for advanced players?

This drill works for all skill levels. Beginners benefit by learning to slow the game down and prioritize moving to the NVZ after the serve. Intermediate and advanced players can use it to work on placing the third shot drop precisely into the kitchen from different court positions — including spots where they'd normally opt for a drive. The competitive scoring format keeps it engaging regardless of skill level.

How does this drill improve the receiving team, not just the serving team?

While the drill focuses on the third shot drop, the receiving team sharpens two critical skills simultaneously: returning the serve deep (to make the third shot harder) and sprinting up to the NVZ line quickly enough to volley the third shot out of the air. If they don't reach the kitchen in time, the rally ends. That urgency forces receivers to develop faster footwork and better court awareness.

How often should I run this drill to see improvement?

Even running this drill once a week can produce noticeable results over time. The key is consistency — the third shot drop is a shot that deteriorates quickly without regular practice. Treat it like a weekly maintenance drill and pair it with regular rec play to reinforce what you're building.