Mastering the third shot drop: The Around the World drill

One key to becoming a well-rounded pickleball player is mastering the third shot drop, a critical shot in the game. Proper technique is essential, and good movement is crucial for being in the right position to execute your shots effectively.

In this Selkirk TV original, pickleball coach Morgan Evans demonstrates his favorite drill for improving third shot drops: the Around the World drill.

What you need

To practice this drill, you'll need the following:

• Several pickleballs
• A pickleball court
• Two players
• Two pickleball paddles

Getting started

Begin by assigning roles — one player is the coach, and the other is practicing the drill. Both players start at the kitchen line, facing each other across the net.

The coach feeds the ball to the practicing player, who attempts to hit a dink into the kitchen. If successful, the player moves a few steps backward; if not, they stay in place until they land the ball in the kitchen.

The Around the World pattern

The goal of the drill is for the player to hit the ball into the same spot in the kitchen while moving to different court positions. The sequence is as follows:

1. Dink from the kitchen line, directly in front of the coach.
2. Dink from the transition zone, a few steps off the kitchen line.
3. Third shot from the baseline, in front of the coach.
4. Third shot from the center line at the baseline.
5. Third shot from the baseline sideline, opposite the coach.
6. Dink from the transition zone, opposite the coach.
7. Dink from the kitchen line, opposite the coach.
8. Dink from the center line at the kitchen.
9. Dink from the original kitchen position.

Once the player completes the circuit, they reverse the pattern, moving back through each position.

Advancing the drill

Once the player can successfully complete each shot on the first try, the drill becomes more challenging. Remove the transition zone shots and move directly from the kitchen line to the baseline for the third shot drop. This increases the pace, requiring the player to move more quickly.

The coach can also increase difficulty by volleying the ball before it bounces, simulating game conditions where the player must hit off-balance.

Around the World game

When the player consistently succeeds, turn the drill into a game. The coach now tries to make it harder for the player to complete the circuit. 

The player has three lives to complete the sequence, winning a point if they succeed. The coach wins if the player loses all three lives before completing the circuit.