The Third Shot Secret

Swipe through these 5 slides if you're stuck at 3.5... because the jump to 4.0 really just comes down to making ONE passing grade on your depth reading test. I see this all the time. Players decide they're going to drop or drive before the serve even goes over the net. That's like ordering a steak at a sushi joint... you're asking for trouble. The rules say you have to let that return bounce before you hit it, but you need to pay attention to where it bounces. Here are the reads you need to master: • If their return lands short in the "drive zone", drive it. Aim a 70 percent shot right at the player trying to hustle through the transition area to catch them vulnerable. • If they pin you deep near the baseline, drop it. You have miles to run to get to the kitchen... so hit a soft drop to neutralize their positioning and buy yourself some time. • Remember your end goal here. You are NOT trying to smash a winner on shot three. That 70 percent drive is just bait to force a weak short block so you can comfortably hit your 5th shot drop. Try mixing both up in your first few rec games today to scout what your opponents struggle with. Stop pre-planning your attacks. Let the depth of the return make the decision for you. #LimitlessPickleball #PickleballTips #PickleballDrills #PickleballCoaching #ThirdShotDrop