Pickleball legend, Simone Jardim, shares her top tips on hitting a successful third shot drop.What is a successful third shot drop?A successful third shot drop is a ball that neutralizes your opponent’s ability to be offensive and allows you and your partner to make your way to the non-volley zone (NVZ). You want your third shot drop to either bounce in the NVZ or, if taken out of the air, to be low enough that your opponent’s cannot attack.TIP #1: Minimal to no backswing, focusing on a good follow through.

• Because the third shot drop is a soft shot, you want to minimize your backswing so that you don’t overhit. The back swing should be small while remaining a full follow through so that your shot doesn’t fall short.

TIP #2: Let the ball come to you!

• When the service return is coming back to your side, rather than running to the ball, let the ball come to you. If the return is deep, you should even be moving backward so that you’re making contact in front of you.

TIP #3: Keep your grip pressure soft

• Because the third shot drop is a soft shot, keep your grip pressure light to avoid over hitting.

TIP #4: Make sure that you get under the ball

• Make sure that you are getting your paddle face under the ball so that you’re able to hit with an upwards trajectory. To do so, give the ball some time to drop before making contact and then swinging up on the ball.

What do I do after I’ve hit my third shot drop?After you’ve attempted your best third shot drop, make a quick judgment on if you think you’ve hit a good shot or not. If you think your shot is staying low, make your way up to the NVZ. However, if you don’t think you’ve hit a great shot, it’s important to stay back and keep attempting a good drop until you feel comfortable moving forward.

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