Shorter Players
Pickleball Singles with a Drop Shot
The purpose of a third shot drop when playing singles is to take pace away from your opponent. Taking pace off the ball can neutralize a point when you are on defense.
As an example, let’s say I am serving and my opponent is able to approach the net after hitting their return. In this situation, I will try to hit a drop shot to the backhand corner. My goal is to force my opponent into a dink rally, moving me from defense to neutral and then to offense when the occasion arises.
Defense … Neutral … Offense
The important thing to keep in mind is that when playing pickleball we move through stages or conditions in a logical sequence. Our goal when we are on defense is to get to neutral … from neutral to offense. It may take several shots to accomplish this. I may not be able to move directly from the baseline to the non-volley zone line using a single drop shot. I may only be able to take a few steps forward, into the area often called no mans land. However, coming forward that little bit shortens the distance. If I continue to hit a drop shot, with time, I will be able to once more capture the line.
Playing Pickleball Singles … Shorter Points
We often see players want to bang the ball more when playing singles. Using the drop shot can neutralize an opponent and set up a point in your favor. It will take practice, but hitting an effective drop shot is an important strategy when you are playing pickleball singles.
