Wow, That Was Effective

Wednesday, October 09, 2024

Rally Academy Pickleball Blog/Tips/Wow, That Was Effective

Wow, That Was Effective

We're taught that a third shot drop is most effective when hit to the center of your opponents' NVZ. No issue there, the net is lower and the ball being in the middle will often cause confusion for your opponents.

But I've encountered a better location - it is much harder to hit but it seems to be much more effective if you can make it. Try dropping these shots a foot or two inside the sidelines, but still in the NVZ. I get tied up by these a lot of times, and I also win a lot of rallies with this shot.

Part of the issue seems to be that in the center of the court, your opponent can hit these drop shots off to the side so not much movement is required. But at the sidelines, they have to get completely behind the shot once they let it bounce. That's quite a bit more movement and actually quite difficult. People often panic and try to short hop the return but that rarely works; or off balance and out of position they try to lift it over the net and that's a tough shot as well.

Work on this with a partner at your next practice and you will both build a valuable skill. Note that if you are hitting from the right/even side of your court then this is a forehand. From the left/odd side, it is a backhand. I often see this shot coming from the left side as a forehand and it rarely works. You are hitting with a wide open stance and your wrist is bent weirdly trying to control it - a perfect storm for an unforced error.

And a bonus tip - if your partner is good at making these drop shots, an awkward return by your opponent is the perfect opportunity for an Erne!

See you at practice!

Michael Gauthier
Rally Academy
Pickleball Strokes

Michael Gauthier

Michael Gauthier

Owner, Pickleball Strokes

These pickleball tips and insights have all been previously published on Facebook, but not everyone gets to see all of those. So this is the official and complete home for all of my pickleball writings.  

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