Third Shots in Pickleball: Professional pickleball players are highly skilled at keeping third shots in play, according to stats from gold medal matches this season. In 27 finals across Men’s, Women’s, and Mixed Doubles, pros kept 93.6% of their third shots in play, offering a key lesson for amateur players.
Pros Keep the Rally Going
The third shot is one of the most important shots in pickleball. It often decides how the rest of the rally plays out. A recent stat study looked at 27 gold medal matches from this season across three divisions: Men’s, Women’s, and Mixed Doubles.
From nearly 4,000 third shots hit in those matches, 93.6% stayed in play. That means fewer than two-and-a-half missed third shots per game across all four players. The Men’s Doubles finals averaged 93.5%, the Women’s finals had 94.4%, and the Mixed Doubles came in at 93.1%.
Examples of Pro Accuracy
Several pro players stood out for their consistent shot-making. Anna Leigh Waters made 49 of 50 third shots in the Women’s Doubles final at the Masters.
Christian Alshon made all 53 of his third shots in the Men’s Doubles final at the 2025 Carvana Mesa Cup. Jorja Johnson made 43 of 44 third shots in the Mixed Doubles final at the North Carolina Cup.
Why It Matters for Amateurs
Third shot drops need the right path to clear the net safely. Third shot drives that stay in the court can lead to easier fifth shots and help keep the rally going.
A study from last August showed that only 17 percent of pro rallies with third shot drives ended by the third or fourth shot. This means most rallies continued longer when the drive stayed in play.
Improving third shot drops and drives, and making sure they stay in play, will help amateur players. It will give them better control, longer rallies, and more chances to win points. These insights highlight how avoiding early mistakes can extend rallies and increase success.
News in Brief: Third Shots in Pickleball
Pro pickleball players kept 93.6% of third shots in play during 27 gold medal matches. With fewer than 2.5 errors per game, the data shows high accuracy. Top players like Waters, Alshon, and Johnson led the way. Amateurs can improve by refining drops and drives to keep rallies alive.
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