Are you looking to up your pickleball game and dominate your opponents? Look no further than the third shot drive! This powerful shot, executed after the serve and before the fourth shot, can give you the edge you need to win more points and take control of the game.
To execute the perfect third shot drive, use a continental grip and put plenty of topspin on the ball to keep it low and difficult to return. But be careful not to hit the ball too hard or with too much slice, or you risk making it hard to control or sending it out of bounds. The key is to hit the ball low to the ground and follow through with your swing.
So, when should you use the third shot drive? If you’re playing against an opponent with strong attacking skills, use it to keep the ball in play and throw them off their game. Against weaker opponents, use it to go for the win outright. And if you find yourself in a tight match, use the third shot drive to take control and keep the pressure on.
But don’t just take our word for it – check out these amazing videos from pickleball pros Jordan Briones, Mark Renneson, Matt Wright, and Lucy Kovalova. They’ll show you the technique and strategy you need to dominate with the third shot drive.
- Jordan Briones’ “4 Ways to DOMINATE with 3rd Shot Drives.” In this video, Briones explains the four key times when you have the go-ahead to take the third shot to take advantage that you might have created in the point.
- Mark Renneson’s “Master The 3rd Shot DRIVE In Pickleball To Win More Points.” In this video, Renneson demonstrates how to execute this and explains the strategy and technique behind it.
- Pickleball 411’s “Say Hello to the 3rd Shot Drive” with Matt Wright and Lucy Kovalova. In this video Wright and Kovalova show when they use the third shot drive in a game. They warn that it does not replace the third shot drop, rather it is a different tool for use in different situations, such as: (a) off a deep return and (b) off a spinning return. Say Wright and Kovalova, If you struggle with these scenarios, “give the 3rd Shot Drive a chance. The drive will force your opponent to react quicker and hopefully give you a better 4th shot that allows you a safer approach to the net.”
In short, the third shot drive is a game-changer in pickleball strategy that can take your game to the next level. So get out there, practice your technique, and start dominating the court!
The information in this blog post comes from my research and experience playing pickleball and can be found in my books — HOW TO GET STARTED PLAYING and HOW TO IMPROVE FROM BEGINNER TO INTERMEDIATE IN PICKLEBALL — both are available on Amazon. I hope you learn something from this post that you can take onto the courts to help you improve your game.