5 Drop Shot Techniques to Elevate Your Pickleball Game

The drop shot is one of pickleball's most essential skills, yet it's also one of the most misunderstood.

Whether you're hitting from the baseline or transitioning through the midcourt, a solid drop can shift momentum and set you up for an offensive opportunity.

Ava Ignatowich, a PPA professional player, breaks down five distinct drop techniques in her latest video, offering practical guidance on how to hit consistent drops from anywhere on the court.

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The Foundation: Four Rules That Matter

Before diving into specific techniques, Ignatowich establishes four core principles that apply to every drop shot you'll hit.

• Miss deep, not high. Focus on hitting a low ball that dips before crossing the net, forcing your opponent to hit up rather than down.
• Lean forward, not backward. Always move your feet behind the ball and lean into the shot to keep it low and controlled.
• Wait for the bounce. Never hit a drop on the rise; let the ball bounce first so you can catch it at the right height.
• Keep a loose grip. Feel the ball through your fingers at contact rather than squeezing the paddle tightly.

These fundamentals apply across all five drop variations. The grip Ignatowich uses throughout is a continental grip, which she demonstrates by pretending to shake hands with the paddle and positioning the V between your thumb and index finger on the edge guard.

1. The Basic Forehand Drop (The Grandma Drop)

This is the easiest drop to learn and the most straightforward. Hold your paddle in a continental grip with the butt cap facing up and the paddle face down. Move your feet behind the ball, catch it, and swing through with a short shoulder movement straight up. Your paddle stays directly in front of your body throughout the motion. Think of it like tossing a ball into the kitchen; if you can master that motion, you've got the basic forehand drop down.

2. The Forehand Slice Drop

This variation uses a more horizontal paddle face and a compact, U-shaped swing. Rather than cutting under the ball, cradle it into the court with a soft motion. The key is avoiding too much spin, which risks popping the ball up. Ignatowich recommends practicing forehand slice dinks first until you're comfortable, then stepping back to apply that same feeling to the drop shot.

3. The Backhand Slice Drop

The backhand slice uses the same soft U-shaped motion as the forehand version, but body positioning matters more here. Keep your body closed, with your shoulder pointing in the direction you want the ball to go. If you're hitting crosscourt, stay closed; if you're going down the line, rotate your shoulder accordingly. Maintain a loose grip and a firm, stable wrist to keep the paddle facing upright. Never let your wrist drop during the shot.

4. The Topspin Roll Drop

This is a wristy drop that generates topspin through wrist action. The key difference from a topspin drive is the finish: your paddle should finish on the same side of your body rather than crossing over your opposite shoulder. This finish position helps absorb pace from the ball. Keep your elbow close to your body throughout the swing, and stay low with your legs to maintain a low ball trajectory.

5. The Backhand Roll Drop

Think of this as a slower, wristier version of the backhand drive. Keep most of the feeling in your non-dominant hand; Ignatowich suggests pretending you're hitting a short lefty forehand roll with your dominant hand just guiding it. Unlike the forehand roll drop, you'll finish through the ball slightly rather than on the same side of your body. Choke up on the paddle with your non-dominant hand and place a finger on the paddle face for added control and spin.

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The Slinky Drill: Practice That Works

Ignatowich shares a practical drill for dialing in your drops from every court position. Start at the kitchen line and hit dinks back and forth with a partner until you're comfortable. Once you're feeling confident, take a step back and continue hitting dinks from that new position. Keep stepping back until you reach the baseline, then work your way forward again. This progression lets you practice dinks, drops, and every midcourt ball in one session. She does this about twice a week when she really wants to sharpen her touch.

Why These Drops Matter

The drop shot isn't about hitting a perfect ball that lands right in the kitchen every time. It's about hitting repeatable drops that reliably get you to the net and set up your next offensive shot. These are the same concepts Ignatowich focuses on while competing against the best players in the world, and they form the foundation of a controlled, pressure-proof transition game. Master these five techniques, and you'll have the tools to handle drop shots from anywhere on the court.