The Third Shot Every Tennis Player Gets Wrong
Summary
Selkirk TV, part of a 10-part series for tennis players, with Coach Matthew Haley working with two players on third and fifth shots. For a tennis player, the goal of the third (and fifth) isn’t a winner: it’s transition to the non-volley zone. Read the incoming ball: if it comes low with pace or deep and hard, bump back a soft drop (soften the grip, short swing, higher target); if it comes higher, softer and shorter, set your feet and drive it with a lower target at about 80% pace, closing the face and staying forward. Players call ‘drive’ or ‘drop’ out loud based on the feed, then practice drive on the third and drop on the fifth (the drive is meant to draw a soft fourth ball so you can come in), then drive, drop and finish at the kitchen. It ends with a ladder game: start at the baseline, move up one position for each good drive or drop, move back on a miss, and finish the point at the NVZ.
Key takeaways
- Third and fifth shots are about getting to the NVZ, not hitting winners
- Low/hard or deep ball: soft drop with a relaxed grip and short swing
- Higher, softer, shorter ball: drive at about 80% with a lower target
- Drive the third, drop the fifth: the drive sets up a soft fourth ball
- Ladder game rewards good shot selection, not big swings
Action items
- Partner feeds a mix; call ‘drive’ or ‘drop’ out loud before each third
- Drill drive-drop-finish sequences, moving forward after each shot
- Keep drives at about 80% and stay forward through contact
- Play the ladder game: move up on a good shot, back on a miss