How to Master the 3rd Shot Drop | A Coach Explains Pitfalls for Experienced Tennis Players and 3 Tips for Improvement

"I understand the 3rd shot drop in my head, but on the court, I just end up driving it." This is a common complaint from experienced tennis players. In fact, this very 3rd shot drop is the first "technical hurdle" you'll encounter when you start playing pickleball.

Even I (Coach Yoshi), who played tennis for 15 years, was thoroughly beaten by this when I first encountered pickleball in LA. Today, I'll thoroughly explain from a coach's perspective what the 3rd shot drop is, why it's important, the pitfalls tennis players fall into, and three tips for improving.

What is the 3rd Shot Drop?

The "3rd shot" is, as the name suggests, the third shot in a rally. Specifically, it goes like this:

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よしコーチ / Pickleball Lab 代表
元スキー世界大会出場選手・現役テニスコーチ。2026年LAでピックルボールと出会い、国内外100本以上のパドルを試打。Engage Pickleball唯一の日本正規代理店（2026年5月時点）。
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