Third shot drop or drive in pickleball: when to use each
Drop the third shot when both opponents are already set at the kitchen line and the ball is below the net. Drive it when the ball sits above net height, when the return is short, or when one opponent is still moving up and you can hit at their feet. The drop is a good default, but it is a default, not a rule.
Why the third shot is hard
The two-bounce rule makes the serving team start behind. The receiver must let the serve bounce, and then the serving side must let the return bounce before anyone can volley. By then the returning team is usually walking up to the non-volley zone, a 7-foot strip on each side of the net, while the serving team is still near the baseline. The third shot has one job: get you to the net without handing them a high ball to attack.
The drop: slow the point down
A third shot drop is a soft arc that lands in the opponent's kitchen. A bounced ball in the kitchen forces the opponent to lift it or play it neutrally, and it buys you time to walk forward. It is the safest choice when you cannot hit the ball down.
Choose the drop when:
- The return is low and you would have to lift the ball to drive it.
- Both opponents are already set at the kitchen line.
- Your opponents are strong volleyers or like pace.
- Your partner is already moving forward.
The drive: use pace to force a weak reply
A third shot drive is a fast groundstroke hit off the bounce, usually when the return sits at waist height or higher. The goal is rarely a clean winner. TopSpinPro describes the aim as rushing the opponent into an uncomfortable block that lands short or pops up, which sets up an easy fifth shot. Pickleball Effect makes the same point: expect good players to hit it back, and use the drive to set up the next ball.
Choose the drive when:
- The ball is above net height, so you can hit it flat without lifting it.
- One opponent is still moving through the transition zone. Drive at their feet.
- The return is short and high, and your partner can move in to clean up.
- One opponent has weak hands or reacts slowly.
A quick decision table
| What you see | Best choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| One opponent still moving up, ball at or above net height | Drive at the feet | A player who has not stopped is the hardest to handle at their feet |
| Ball above net height, both opponents set | Drive, aimed at the weaker volley | A free ball is wasted on a soft drop |
| Ball below net height, both opponents set | Cross-court drop | Any drive would have to rise, and the cross-court arc gives the most room to land soft |
| Short, high return | Drive, cross-court toward your partner's side | Sets up your partner's put-away |
What pros actually do
Pickleball Effect's author watched more than 250 doubles rallies from the men's and women's gold medal matches at APP Open tournaments and counted the third shot. Players dropped 66 percent of the time and drove 34 percent. Drives won 53 percent of points and drops won 45 percent. Treat that as a small hand count, not a study, and remember that drives were chosen at good moments. The takeaway is that driving is a normal part of high-level play when the ball allows it.
Mistakes to avoid
- Driving a low ball. TopSpinPro calls driving a ball below knee height the most common mistake it sees below the 5.0 level. It goes into the net or sits up.
- Swinging too hard. It suggests about 80 percent of your maximum pace.
- Aiming at the best volleyer. Target the weaker side or the middle.
- Standing still after the drive. Move forward right away, ready for the fifth shot.
Read it in two seconds
- Look at their feet. Is anyone still moving up?
- Look at the ball. Is it above the net when you hit it?
- Look at your partner. Are they moving in, and which side are they on?
Feet and ball height settle most third shots.
How DUPR IQ helps
DUPR IQ is an iPhone app that trains this choice. Each drill shows a doubles position with all four players' feet and the ball, offers four shots and grades the answer, then names the principle behind it, such as dropping when the opponents are set or driving at the player who is not. Positions are generated, and 15 graded balls a day are free. It is independent and not affiliated with DUPR or USA Pickleball, and shot selection is coached opinion, so the app states the system it grades against.
Frequently asked questions
Should I drop or drive on the third shot?
Drop when both opponents are set at the kitchen line and the ball is below the net. Drive when the ball is above net height, the return is short, or one opponent is still moving up and you can hit at their feet.
Why is the third shot so hard in pickleball?
The two-bounce rule makes the serving team let the return bounce, so the returning team usually reaches the net first. The third shot has to avoid giving them a high ball to attack while you move forward.
How often do pros drive the third shot?
In one author's count of more than 250 doubles rallies from APP Open gold medal matches, players dropped the third shot 66 percent of the time and drove it 34 percent. It is a small tally, not a formal study.
Where should I aim a third shot drive?
At the feet of an opponent who is still moving, at the weaker volleyer, or at the middle. Avoid hitting hard at the player with the best hands.
What is the non-volley zone?
The non-volley zone, or kitchen, is the 7-foot area on each side of the net. A player cannot volley the ball while standing in it or touching its lines.