fourth shot - The Drop Drive

Player in sunglasses moving into a ready position with his paddle held in front

Tic-Tac-Toe Off the Bounce: Fourth-Shot Accuracy Grid

ByChief October 17, 2026

John Cincola’s Titan drill (off-the-bounce version) places nine cones in a tic-tac-toe grid and uses rapid-fire from transition left or right. Goal: hit each cone line to train fourth-shot control off the bounce.

Close-up of a player scooping a low dink just over the net, paddle face open near the court surface

Fourth Shot: Air → Step-Back Bounce → Then Concede

ByChief October 17, 2026

John Cincola wants more aggression on the fourth so you stop gifting easy points. Progression: first look to take the ball out of the air when opponents are back dropping or driving — that steals the most time.

Doubles players crouched in a ready position at the net as the ball comes over, seen from behind an opponent

Tic-Tac-Toe Out of the Air: Fourth-Shot Control Drill

ByChief October 15, 2026

John Cincola’s Titan drill works fourth-shot control out of the air.