Mastering the Drop Shot: Elevate Your Pickleball Game

I started playing pickleball ten years ago, back when gathering four people for a game was a challenge. Initially, I played like I was on a tennis court—emphasizing topspin and hard shots. While topspin was difficult to generate consistently with the technology available at the time, I still managed to win frequently. I relished passing opponents down the line with powerful ground strokes. However, someone once called me a “banger” and warned that if I didn’t learn the soft game, I’d start losing.

At first, I brushed off the advice. But then my doubles partner and I began losing, mainly to opponents who could strategically place the ball away from us, hit it down the middle, or drop it over the net. Nowadays, I rely on the drop shot—a crucial technique when you're at the net and someone smashes the ball at you. With the right paddle position, you can angle the ball to the side or middle, dropping it into the Non-Volley Zone (NVZ). Bangers, who often stay back, find this shot particularly challenging to handle.

Because bangers tend to hang back, another effective strategy is a soft return directly at them. Let them wind up and take their shot repeatedly until you have a clear opportunity for a put-away.

The Power of an Effective Drop Shot

An effective drop shot forces bangers out of their comfort zone in the mid and back court, making them come forward quickly. Many players struggle with this transition and often “run through” a shot, hitting it on the move. This creates offensive opportunities for you as they are likely off-balance after their shot.

Mastering the Third Shot Drop

The “third shot drop” is essentially a long dink. Mastering this shot allows you to drop the ball softly over the net, setting you up to advance and continue the soft game.

Drills to Develop Drop Shot Skills

Improving your drop shot skills requires consistent practice. Here are several drills to help you hone this crucial technique:

1. Target Practice

• Setup: Place targets or markers on the opponent's side to simulate drop shot landing zones.
• Practice: Drop the ball into different target areas, focusing on precision and placement.
• Variation: Experiment with varying heights and trajectories to develop versatility.
• Skill Test: Aim to drop 8 out of 10 shots into the NVZ straight on and cross-court from both sides.

2. Drop and Reset

• Rally: Start rallying with your partner, alternating between dink shots and drop shots.
• Reset: After a drop shot, practice resetting the ball with a soft dink or drive to simulate different game scenarios.
• Focus: Maintain consistency and control in both drop shots and resets.

3. Lob Off the Dink

• Scenario: Engage in a dink battle with your partner, then hit a lob.
• Observation: See how the baseline player handles the lob. If they bang it or lob it back, you often win the point. If they hit a third shot drop, play it out.
• Tip: Against right-handed players, lob over their left shoulder, making it difficult for them to reach.

4. Drop and Drive

• Combination: Mix drop shots with aggressive drives or put-away shots.
• Strategy: Set up drop shots with precise placement, then capitalize on weak returns with powerful drives.

5. Third Shot Drive - Fifth Shot Drop

• Pro Technique: Hit your third shot directly at the net player and move in. Even if they manage a drop, it will be hard for them to angle it away from you.

Observing the Pros

Watching professional players can provide valuable insights into mastering the drop shot. Focus on these characteristics:

1. Variation

   Pros vary their drop shot techniques, including angles, heights, and placements, to keep opponents guessing.

2. Placement

   They aim to drop the ball close to the sidelines or at acute angles to exploit gaps.

3. Timing

   Pros have excellent timing and anticipation, recognizing when opponents are out of position.

4. Shot Selection

   They combine drop shots with drives, volleys, and lobs to create a diverse offensive strategy.

5. Spin

   Using topspin cross-court or underspin straight on or cross-court forces opponents to hit up on the ball, creating offensive opportunities.

Conclusion

Incorporating the drop shot into your game can significantly elevate your performance and help you beat the bangers. Practice these drills, observe the pros, and refine your technique to take your pickleball game to the next level.

-Greg Hansen