Third Shot Drops With Tanner Tomassi

A very underrated shot in pickleball is the 3rd shot drop.

"I like to have an 'attack first' mentality and there's no better way than setting the tone of the point with a sharp drop." – Tanner Tomassi

It’s interesting because most players use it just as a means of approaching the kitchen line. I like to take a different approach, and use it to get on the offensive before my opponents can.

I do this by hitting an aggressive top spin drop aimed toward my opponents backhand. If I can get it to land in the kitchen, it often gives my opponents trouble and will lead to a popped up fourth ball.

Learning and understanding this concept will take your game to the next level. I like to have the “attack first” mentality and there’s no better way than setting the tone of the point with a sharp drop.

Keys To Hitting An Aggressive Drop:

This shot may look fancy, but it’s not. It’s almost like a half drive half drop landing in the kitchen. It’s very important you have a dropped paddle head and strike the ball low to high, really utilizing your legs to get underneath of it. A common mistake is using your wrist to generate spin. You want to use your shoulder and paddle angle to make for the most consistent shot.

Things to Remember:

Tip #1 - Have a dropped paddle head

Tip #2 - Strike the ball low to high

Tip #3 - Utilize your legs to get underneath the ball

Tip #4 - Use your shoulder and paddle angle to make for a more consistent shot

Remember, your goal isn’t to hit a winner on the drop, the goal is to set up an easy next shot for your partner to poach.