Drill of the week

Slow-Motion Drop Drill

Third shot dropPlaying (DUPR 2.5–3.0)10–15 minutes

The drill

Stand at or near the baseline and feed yourself balls (or have a partner feed) to your backhand side. Focus on one thing only: hitting third-shot drops with a deliberately *slow* swing and loose grip. Set your paddle at 45 degrees, turn into a semi-closed stance with feet pointed at your crosscourt or middle target, and hinge from the shoulder. Hit 20 balls crosscourt, then 20 to the middle. Resist any urge to accelerate.

You've got it when: the ball clears the net with a gentle arc and lands softly in the kitchen, without floating long or popping up high enough to be attacked.

Spotted in a breakdown by Briones Pickleball Academy — watch the full lesson.

A new drill lands every Monday — a single, concrete thing to work on, pulled from the coaches we trust. See what's coming up →