Drops or Drives? How To Make The Right Decision For Your 3rd Shot
For this tip I’m going to talk about the decision between 3rd shot drops and drives. The first point I’ll make is: everyone is different, and you should play to your own strengths.
Image via Instagram by @avaignatowich
As a tennis player, I feel more comfortable driving from the back, so you’ll see a higher percentage of 3rd shot drives, which is fine! The only goal is to get to the kitchen - it will look different for everyone. That being said, there are some general guidelines worth following to make it easier on yourself.
Guidelines for Making the Decision Between a Drive or a Drop
First, if the ball is high enough, I’m going to drive it every single time. For me it’s a little above the waist. This height allows me to hit through the ball linearly so it never really has to travel upwards.
If the return is hard and deep, I will also likely hit a drive. Especially if I’m on my back foot, it’s too difficult to hit the perfect drop consistently. It’s easier to hit a drive in this situation for almost everyone.
Now if the ball is below my waist level and not too deep, this is the tough decision. A lot of times it will depend on how I’m feeling personally, the situation of a match (maybe I won’t go for the perfect drop after my partner just missed a serve), or the quality of the person returning. If you’re confident in your drop, then go for it. If you think you can get an easier drop on the 5th shot by hitting a drive, then go for it. It really doesn’t matter as long as you’re committed to your shot early enough.
Last note: if the return is really short and low, drop it every time. You don’t have enough room to hit a drive hard, low, and in. A lot of people think this is an opportunity to attack, but you’re going to be initiating speed from a low position in the mid court, which is not ideal. You're already close to the kitchen at this point, so just drop it and look to win the point from there.
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