5 Drills for a More Reliable Third Shot Drop (With a 4-Week Plan)

Why the third shot drop matters

In doubles, the serving team starts at a disadvantage. The return of serve lets the receivers walk up to the non-volley zone line, while the servers have to wait at the baseline for the ball to bounce. The third shot drop is the usual way to fix that: a soft, arcing shot that lands in or near the opponents' kitchen, so they have to hit up on it while you move forward.

USA Pickleball's skill level matrix describes a 3.5 player as developing the drop shot in a way to get to the net, and a 4.5 player as consistently executing third shot strategies that are not easily returned for advantage. In other words, it is a skill that keeps developing across several levels, not something you learn once.

Before you start: what a good drop looks like

Aim for a ball that peaks on your side of the net, then falls. A drop that peaks over the net or on the far side is usually too high and can be attacked. Use a relaxed grip, a short lifting swing from low to high, and let your legs do the work rather than flicking your wrist. The goal is height control and depth control, not pace.

Drill 1: Kitchen-line dink to drop ladder

Start with your partner at the kitchen line and you just behind your own kitchen line. Hit soft shots that land in their kitchen. After a set number of successful shots, take one big step back. Keep stepping back until you reach the baseline. If you miss several in a row, step forward again.

This builds the feel of the shot gradually. Most of the touch you need at the baseline is the same touch you use at the kitchen, just with a longer, smoother lift.

Drill 2: Baseline drops to a target

Place a target in the opponents' kitchen: a towel, a few cones or a strip of tape. Your partner feeds medium-paced balls to you at the baseline, and you drop toward the target. Count how many of a set of balls land in the kitchen, and how many land past it.

Keeping a simple tally gives you your own baseline to improve on. Track your own numbers rather than comparing them to anyone else's.

Drill 3: Drop and move up

A drop is only useful if you follow it. Your partner feeds a ball to your baseline, you drop it, then move forward. Your partner returns the ball softly toward your feet, and you either drop again from where you are or reset it into the kitchen. Repeat until you reach the kitchen line.