As a reminder, a drop is similar to a long dink. However, the length of the pickleball court that you need to hit a drop (in particular, a third shot drop), as compared to a dink, is much longer and could be as long as the length of your entire side of the pickleball court. As a result, some of the basic mechanics between a dink and a drop are different, including your ready position. When preparing to hit a drop, you should generally be in Tennis Ready when you are at or near the baseline.

Now that you are in Tennis Ready at or near the baseline, the basic mechanics for hitting a neutralizing drop shot are:

1. Prepare Your Body – As the pickleball is approaching, move your body behind the pickleball so that you are in a position to hit a forehand drop. Forehands drops will generally be easier and more consistent than backhand drops. As you are moving behind the pickleball, slightly turn your shoulders and upper body toward your paddle side, bend your knees, and compress your body into your paddle-side hip and knee. This bend and compression motion is similar to your dinking mechanics at the Non-Volley Zone or Kitchen Line.

2. Prepare Your Paddle – Place your paddle out in front of you with the paddle face slightly down and open up to the sky. The paddle should be in a position where you can see it with your peripheral vision. Think of your paddle position as if you were a horse with blinders on, you should be able to see the paddle in front of you despite having the blinders on.

3. Short Backswing – Remember this is a soft shot. You should have a short backswing to avoid striking the pickleball with too much power and momentum, which will make it difficult to hit the drop with the proper arc to land in your opponents’ side of the Non-Volley Zone or Kitchen.

4. Proper Contact Point – Strike the underside of the pickleball out in front of you between your knee and your hip. Having the proper contact point will help you hit your drops with consistent power and placement.

5. Lift Up and Through – After striking the pickleball, lift your paddle up and through the pickleball. Be careful not to come across your body or flip your wrist. Your wrist should stay in a cocked, firm position and finish between the 11 and 1 o’clock position if the clock face was standing vertical on the court in front of you.

What happens if you absolutely cannot get around the pickleball to hit a forehand drop? You hit a backhand drop! It is important to spend as much time practicing your forehand drops, as it is your backhand drops. The mechanics are the same for both your forehand and backhand drops, except for the rotation of your shoulders and upper body. Instead of preparing your body by rotating your shoulders and upper body to your paddle side, you will prepare your body by rotating your shoulders and upper body to your non-paddle side.

Drill, drill, drill and drop, drop, drop to master this skill, which is one of the most difficult shots to master in the game of pickleball. Continue reading for ideas for basic drop drills!

Key Takeaways:

1. To hit a quality drop:
a. Start in Tennis Ready if you are at or near the baseline;
b. Move your body behind the pickleball and rotate your body slightly toward your paddle side;
c. Get your paddle out in front, with a slightly down and open paddle face;
d. Take a short backswing;
e. Hit the pickleball out in front between your waist and your knees; and
f. Lift up and through the pickleball, with a finish between 11 and 1 o’clock.
2. Drill, drill, drill and drop, drop, drop!