Pickleball · Third shot · Footwork

Third shot drop

From the baseline, drop the third shot softly into the kitchen and move up.

FB
Start / 5
Time
12 min
Players
2–4
Age
U10+
Area
Full court
Equipment
8 pickleballspaddles

Setup

  1. One player at the kitchen line feeding, one at the baseline.

How it runs

  1. Feeder hits a deep ball; the baseliner drops it into the kitchen.
  2. On a good drop, move forward; on a bad one, stay and reset.
  3. Ten drops, then swap.

Coaching points

  • Low to high with a long, slow swing.
  • Aim the apex on your own side of the net.
  • Move up behind the drop, not before.

Common mistakes

  • Hitting it like a drive and popping it up.
  • Running in before the drop is good.

Say it: “Slow, low to high.”

Make it harder

  • Feeder returns the drop with a dink; play it out.
  • Drop from a moving start.

Make it easier

  • Drop from the service line.
  • Feeder tosses by hand.

Reviewed by the Sportdify coaching team.