What Is A Drop Shot In Pickleball? A Helpful Beginner’s Guide

Pickleball features many unique shots and techniques, but few are as paramount as the drop shot. This move is known for being tough to learn but strategically vital when the level of play is elevated. So, what is a drop shot, and why is it so crucial in pickleball?

Drop shots are precise, gentle shots that bounce into your opponent’s non-volley zone. They allow your team to advance to the net while equalizing your opponent’s positional advantage. Also known as the third shot drop, this shot is arguably one of pickleball’s most advanced techniques.

This article will describe what drop shots are, why they’re so crucial to pickleball, and how to execute this shot along with drills to perfect it.

In short, the drop shot in pickleball has the ability to take a beginner or 3.0 level player and turn them into a tournament-ready 4.0 player.

Yes, it’s that important. Let’s get into it.

The Drop Shot In Pickleball

The drop shot is a crucial skill in any pickleball player’s arsenal. Though generally utilized from the baseline as the third shot of a rally, it can help players gain time to cover ground and get to the kitchen line.

But drop shots are also common at the net to take pace off a hard-hit ball and initiate a softer dink rally.

No matter where you are on the court, if you can take the pace off of a fast ball hit at you and drop it in the non-volley zone; you’re executing one of the most lethal shots in the game of pickleball.

The ultimate goal of any drop shot in pickleball should be to either force an error by your opponent or set yourself up for an attackable ball to capitalize on.

What Is The Purpose Of A Drop Shot?

Drop shots target your opponent’s non-volley zone, often referred to as the NVZ or “kitchen.” By doing so, you are accomplishing two key things that give you a competitive edge: net control and setting up the return shot to your advantage.

Related: For the story behind why it’s called the Kitchen, click here.

First and foremost, a proper drop shot gives your team net control. More specifically, its slow, floaty path allows you time to travel forward to the non-volley zone line.

You typically want to play at this position on the court since it gives you the best chance to score. Pickleball is won and lost at the net, so getting there is crucial. And no other shot allows the serving team time to get to the net like a well-placed drop shot.

Secondly, a well-placed drop shot ensures the opponent’s return shot is a prime opportunity for you. The lack of power behind a drop shot means it shouldn’t bounce high. So, the low height forces your opponent to typically return the ball with an upward swing close to the net.

The Strategic Advantage of a Drop Shot

These upward-shot balls generally travel slower, higher, and towards you at the non-volley line. As a result, they present ripe opportunities for you to score with a solid downward return hit. This is called an “attackable ball”. Drop shots can set them up.

In short, a well-placed and well-timed drop shot in pickleball will force your opponent to have to hit up on the ball and allow you more opportunity to hit down on your next shot and put it away with authority.

Pros use the drop shot to set themselves up and put points away with an overhead smash or baseline passing shot. But, it takes patience and precision to set up.

You can think of the drop shot as a sort of pickleball equalizer. You can use it to neutralize your opponent’s advantage of already being at the net while giving you and your teammate time to position strategically.

When To Do A Drop Shot In Pickleball

The best time for a drop shot is when you and your partner are positioned near the baseline because it allows you to move forward to the net.

This is most commonly done during the third shot of a point after the serve and return of serve. Hence the name “third shot drop” – a term so often used in pickleball.

Because of this, the drop shot is more common for the serving team. In fact, if the return team keeps the serving team back at the baseline with hard-hit deep shots, the serving team may need to wait until the 5th or 7th shot of the point to go for a timely drop shot into the kitchen.

More specifically, serving teams typically utilize drop shots on the third shot of a rally to compensate for the positional disadvantage that their team has.

Remember, unlike tennis, the return team has the advantage because they can get to the net faster.

Pro Tip: The drop shot is most effective if your opponents are already at their non-volley zone line. It can be used if your opponents are back behind the baseline but only if you think you can drop one in and catch them off guard with a drop shot that bounces twice before they can get there.

But remember, in pickleball, controlling the net means controlling the game.

Ultimately, just because drop shots are advanced shots, it does not mean they are always optimal. The move can yield a high reward but is also high risk due to the precision required.

Explaining The Third Shot Drop

Let’s flush out what the third shot drop is and why it is such an important technique used in pickleball for both recreational games or a tournament-level play.

The third shot drop earned its nickname due to the technique commonly occurring on the third shot of a rally. You could spend a lot of time digging into why this happens and pickleball strategy as a whole, but I’m going to keep it as simple as possible.

In a game of pickleball with four players, the serving team will generally have both players back near the baseline to start.

Conversely, the returning team will typically have one player back but also one near the kitchen. Because the defending team has a player forward near the net, they begin with a positional advantage.

The server hits the ball to the person diagonal to them (the receiving player in the back). The receiving team then returns the serve. At this point, the serving team will normally still be at their baseline and the opposing team will move forward.

Using the drop shot for the third hit in the above example means the serving team drops a low, soft shot into the kitchen and gains ground toward the net. When executed properly, this shot and the follow-up shot effectively eliminate the positional advantage the defending team has.

The third shot drop is the great equalizer and evens the playing field.

How To Do A Drop Shot

At this point, you’re probably eager to learn how to do a shop shot in pickleball and learn how to perfect it

Here are the basic steps you’ll need to learn in order to perform a lethal drop shot in pickleball.

Below are 7 tips for beginners on how to properly perform a consistent drop shot:

1. The drop shot is essentially a longer dink with a similar technique and a loose grip.
2. Bend your knees and get under the ball. Aim for a contact point about knee high or lower.
3. It should be a push shot with not much wind-up behind it.
4. Contact the ball in an upward, pendulum lifting motion, get under it to provide the arc.
5. The apex of the arc should always be in your kitchen area on your side of the net. Let gravity do the rest of the work for you.
6. Aim for somewhere in the middle of the opposing kitchen area. Not too deep but not too close to the net.
7. Follow through and keep your forward momentum going to propel you to the net.

Tips For Perfecting Your Drop Shot

It’s worth reinforcing again that your drop shot should hit its apex (the highest point while traveling through the air) over your side of the court. If not, you might be aiming too far or hitting too hard.

In terms of trajectory height, find something in between too low (net height) and too high (like a rainbow). Typically the higher the arc, the deeper your drop shot will land.

Too deep and it’ll be easy for your opponents to volley it right out of the air. Too shallow and you run the risk of hitting the net. It’s a Goldilocks approach. Aim for something in between that lands in the middle of the kitchen.

Are you more of a visual learner? If so, you’re in luck. There are dozens of video guides online detailing how to accomplish this maneuver.

These video tutorials on YouTube are a great place to star:

Pickleball Channel:

Simone Jardim Pickleball:

Drills for Drops Shots

Drop shots are among pickleball’s most difficult shots. So, don’t be discouraged if you can’t pull it off right away! Most people need ample practice to learn the move and even more time on court to use it competently while playing.

You can try a few different methods to nail this move down, and newcomers should take an incremental learning approach.

Practicing Drop Shots With a Partner

If you’re lucky enough to have a friend willing to help, they’ll make drilling this technique feel much more natural.

Assuming you have a court and net available, the drill is pretty simple. Start with both players standing on opposite sides of the net near or at the kitchen.

From here, your partner can send direct shots for you to return to their NVZ. Stay loose and low while practicing upward contact, and take note of how the ball travels so you can adjust appropriately.

Remember, keep your grip loose.

As you get more comfortable, take a step backward. As you get into a rhythm, take more steps backward until you’re landing drop shots from the baseline.

Your partner can also change angles and depth to give you more of a challenge.

Do this and switch up where your partner is hitting from so you can work in cross-court drop shots and backhanded ones too.

Practicing Drop Shots Alone

ou can still practice a drop shot even without a pickleball partner.

One way to do this on your own is to drop pickleballs in front of you and practice hitting them squarely into the kitchen.

This doesn’t accurately mimic a return of serve shot for you to hit off of, but it will allow you to work on your upward dinking motion from far away and improve your aim into the kitchen.

You could also set up targets to hit in the kitchen to improve your shot accuracy even further.

What Is A Drop Shot In Pickleball – Conclusion

Pickleball takes minutes to learn and a lifetime to master. Few sports manage to balance such broad accessibility with a massive skill ceiling the way pickleball does.

Of the shots to master in pickleball, the drop shot is the most important but also the most difficult. While challenging, it can be achieved by a beginner and used recreationally.

The three main goals of the drop shot in pickleball are to get your team to the net, force an error by your opponent, or set yourself up to hit an attackable ball.

And the only way to master the drop shot is to drill, drill, drill, and then drill some more.

Despite its more advanced technical demands in shot mechanics, the drop shot can be achieved by any skill-level player but depending on your experience it just might take more time.

So, be patient and have fun! I hope this was helpful!

Quick Hitters – Other Drop Shot Related FAQs

What is a drop shot in pickleball?

A drop shot in pickleball refers to a softly hit shot that lands softly near the baseline or the non-volley zone (NVZ). It is a critical shot used to by advanced players to get to the bet but can be learned by a beginner. The drop shot is also a great way to control the game and set yourself up for the next shot.

How do you execute a drop shot in pickleball?

To execute a drop shot in pickleball, you need to take pace off of the ball and use touch to drop the ball gently over the net into your opponent’s kitchen area. The objective is to hit the ball softly so that it clears the net but lands just over it, making it difficult for your opponent to return the ball effectively.

What is a third-shot drop in pickleball?

A third shot drop in pickleball refers to the third shot of a rally, typically executed by the serving team. It is an important shot that aims to softly drop the ball into the opponent’s non-volley zone, forcing them into a more defensive position and allowing the serving team to advance to the kitchen line.

Why is the drop shot considered a difficult shot to master?

The drop shot in pickleball is considered difficult to master because it requires touch while taking speed off the ball. It requires you to hit the ball softly with just the right amount of spin and angle, making it challenging to execute consistently.

What is the non-volley zone (NVZ) in pickleball?

The non-volley zone (NVZ) in pickleball is a designated area on the court, located near the net. Players are not allowed to step into this zone and hit the ball in the air (volley) unless the ball has bounced. The NVZ is also known as the kitchen line.

How can I improve my drop shot in pickleball?

To improve your drop shot in pickleball, practice is critical. Focus on developing your touch and control, and experiment with different angles and spin. Drilling is also especially important. Have a partner hit a hard shot at you while you stand at the baseline and try to drop the ball into the non-volley zone on the other side of the net.

What is a dink shot in pickleball?

A dink shot in pickleball is another term that describes a drop shot. It involves hitting the ball softly and placing it accurately near the opponent’s baseline or NVZ, making it challenging for them to return.

When would you use a drop shot in pickleball?

A drop shot in pickleball is often used when you want to change the pace of the game, catch your opponent off-guard, or force them into a defensive position. It can also be an effective shot to use as a return of serve, especially if the server is positioned close to the baseline.