Pickleball 3rd Shot Drop Drills: Pickleball players are learning how to fix their third shot drop problems by using footwork drills and pressure-based practice. In a training video, coaches shared three drills designed to help players make their drop shots more consistent during real games. The drills focus on foot movement, quick decision-making, and game-like pressure.
The video highlights the importance of proper footwork. “This first drill is perhaps my favorite drill when it comes to practicing the drop shot. It’s because it forces me to get my footwork involved,” said the coach.
Killer Footwork Drill Builds Control
The first drill, called “killers,” uses cones to mark a large target area. One player stands crosscourt at the kitchen line while feeding balls anywhere in a wide zone. The player practicing must move and hit each drop shot to the same crosscourt spot.
“She can be moving me around with pace in different locations and I can really work on varying my spin and my pace,” said the coach. The goal is to hit five to ten solid shots in a row. Once that’s done, the feeder moves to the other side, and the player works the full baseline again.
“This drill will drastically improve your footwork, which is the most important thing for hitting a consistent drop,” the coach added.
711 Game Brings Match-Like Experience
The second drill is called “711” and is used to simulate a real game. One player stays at the baseline and practices their third shot while trying to move forward. The other player is at the kitchen line and tries to win the point.
“If you win the rally, then you get a point. If your partner on the other side of the net wins the rally, then they get a point,” explained the coach.
However, because the kitchen player has the advantage, they need to score 11 points to win. The baseline player only needs 7 points. “And you’re gonna go until either your partner gets 11 points or the person at the baseline gets 11 points.”
The drill can be done straight, crosscourt, or opposite crosscourt. It forces players to move forward just like they would in a real game.
“What I love about this is it gives you that game-like scenario working up the kitchen and then playing out real life points,” said the coach.
Under Pressure Drill Sharpens Quick Thinking
The third drill, “Under Pressure,” is designed to test how well players can perform their third shot under stress. A partner stands about a foot inside the kitchen, which is illegal in a real game but helps apply extra pressure during training.
“She’s just going to work on continually adding pressure,” said the coach. “Because I have less time to respond, I’m really going to have to get my feet involved.”
In the second part of this drill, players pick a number—like three, five, or ten—depending on their skill level. After hitting that number of good shots, the pressure partner steps back to the legal kitchen line, and the rally is played out.
“Once you hit that number, so let’s say once you hit five shots, she’s then going to back up off of this pressure zone back to the kitchen line and I’m going to attempt to work my way up to the line and we are going to play the point out,” explained the coach.
Once the player becomes more comfortable, they can increase the shot count or lower it if needed.
Why These Drills Matter
These three pickleball drills help fix common mistakes with the third shot drop. Players improve footwork, timing, and shot placement. They also learn how to perform under pressure—just like during a real match. By turning practice into a game-like experience, players prepare better for competition.
News in Brief: Pickleball 3rd Shot Drop Drills
Pickleball players can now fix their third shot drop using three new drills. These include footwork workouts, game-like challenges, and pressure drills. Each one trains players to move better and handle real match stress. The goal is to improve accuracy and confidence during game play.
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