Member Training Tips

Apr 25, 2025

Drive Preparation and When to Hit a Third Shot Drive

Tip 1: Drive Preparation

In pickleball, preparation is key. This could not be more true of the third shot drive! In fact, your preparation can make or break the entire shot. Here are two keys on the backswing that you want to pay attention to when preparing to hit a third shot drive:

  1. Start taking your paddle back as soon as you recognize that your opponent’s return will be drivable. You cannot wait for the ball to get to your side of the court to take your paddle back, it will be way too late! Begin your preparation by turning your shoulders as the very moment you realize that your opponent hit you a return that you would like to drive. By the time the ball bounces, the paddle should be fully prepared, and you will only be swinging forward to contact.
  2. Move with the paddle back. If the return is not hit directly to you, get your paddle back first, then move. If you wait until you get to the ball to take your paddle back, you will almost certainly be late. Taking the paddle back first, then moving allows you to prepare early so that you only have to worry about swinging forward after the ball bounces.

Tip 2: When to hit a third shot drive

Drives are a lot of fun to hit! But unfortunately, that doesn’t mean that we should hit a drive on every third shot. There are some situations where the drive is the most effective third shot option, and others where the drop is the most effective option. Here is how you can determine whether you should opt to hit a third shot drive:

  1. If the peak of the bounce is above your knees, you should drive. Third shot drives are most effective when your opponent hits a high return — that gives you the best opportunity to hit the ball hard and make the shot! Hitting the ball at waist height is ideal, but any return that bounces above your knees can be hit as a drive.
  2. You are able to “step into the ball.” Stepping into the ball is when your last step before you hit is forward. When you step into the ball, you are typically balanced with forward momentum and control. That means that you will have the most success with a hard shot like the drive.
  3. Your opponent’s return lands about halfway between the baseline and the kitchen line. Building off the second tip, this will give you the best opportunity to step into the ball and hit it hard while maintaining control. Plus, you will be hitting from closer to your opponent giving them less time to react.

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