Drive Your Third Shot Low From the Baseline So You Can Split-Step and Take the Fifth In

Summary

Briones Pickleball Breakdown says your third shot is holding you back when you drive without a plan. If you’re going to drive the third — especially from the baseline — drive it nice and low so you can set up, hit your fifth, and come in.

When the ball is contacted out of the air, you may not get all the way in. Split-step so you’re on balance, then take the next shot to finish the approach.

Key takeaways

• A baseline third-shot drive should stay low so it sets up the fifth
• Use that fifth to come in; don’t treat the drive as a winner by itself
• If you take the ball out of the air, split-step to stay on balance before finishing the approach

Action items

• From the baseline, hit 15 third-shot drives aimed low, then split-step and take a fifth as you move in
• On any third you contact out of the air, freeze a split-step before rushing the rest of the way in