One of the most common things I hear during clinics is:
“I swear I can hit this shot in warmups.”
And honestly? You probably can.
The third-shot drop gets harder the moment you add movement, nerves, speed, and the pressure of trying not to mess it up in front of other people. That’s normal.
Most players think they’re popping the ball up because they need “more touch.” Usually, that’s not actually the problem.
What I see more often is:
- swinging too hard
- rushing through contact
- trying to hit a perfect shot instead of a playable one
- or moving faster than the feet can handle
The good news is that the fix is usually simpler than people expect.
A better third shot starts with slowing things down.
Not slowing down your feet completely — slowing down your mind.
Instead of trying to “win” the point with the third shot, think about giving yourself time to get to the kitchen comfortably. A good third-shot drop is really just a transition tool. That mindset shift alone helps a ton of players relax.
A few things I tell students all the time:
- Lower than you think
- Softer than you think
- Earlier than you think
- And please stop trying to hit the lines
Seriously. If your drop lands safely in the kitchen, nobody cares if it was pretty.
One of my favorite moments as a coach is watching someone suddenly realize:
“Ohhh… I don’t need to force this shot.”
That’s usually when the game starts getting a lot more fun.
And if your third shot still pops up sometimes? Congratulations. You officially play pickleball like the rest of us.