The 5 Third-Shots Every Pickleball Player Needs — & When to Use Each One

Modern pickleball demands versatility. You need multiple tools in your arsenal, and knowing when to deploy each one separates 3.5 players from 4.0+ competitors

You can't win pickleball if you can't get to the kitchen line consistently. That's the foundation of modern pickleball strategy, and it's why understanding your third shot options is absolutely critical.

John Cincola, from the John Cincola Pickleball YouTube channel, breaks down exactly when and how to use five different third shot techniques to stop guessing and start executing with confidence.

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The Five Third Shot Arsenal You Need

Modern pickleball demands versatility. You need multiple tools in your arsenal, and knowing when to deploy each one separates 3.5 players from 4.0+ competitors.

Cincola walks through five distinct third shot options, each with specific situations where it shines:

• The slice drop for when you're forced to reach laterally.
• The push drop for simple, repeatable consistency.
• The roll drop when you're pushed back near the baseline.
• The hybrid (or drip) for aggressive offensive opportunities.
• The drive as a tool to set up an easier fifth shot.

1. The Slice Drop: Your Defensive Reach Shot

When your opponent hits a really good return and you're moving laterally, the slice drop becomes your best friend. This shot uses an open paddle face and underspin to keep the ball low and unattackable.

The beauty of the slice is that it naturally travels across your body, which means it tends to go crosscourt without you forcing it.

Use the slice when you're stretched and can't get behind the ball cleanly. Let the paddle do the work, come under the ball slightly, and focus on keeping it low. You're not trying to be aggressive here; you're just trying to survive and slowly work your way forward.

2. The Push Drop: Keep It Simple

If the slice drop is your defensive weapon, the push drop is your bread and butter.

Use the push drop when the ball is in front of you and you can get behind it cleanly. This typically happens after you hit a good serve and get a short return. Your opponents are already at the kitchen line, so there's no opportunity for anything flashy.

Get your paddle set in front of you, keep the ball out in front, and execute a simple push motion. Keep it low. Your opponents won't have many options other than letting you advance to the kitchen line. That's a win.

3. The Roll Drop: Adding Topspin When You're Pushed Back

The roll drop is your answer when you're pushed back toward the baseline or even slightly behind it.

This isn't an offensive shot. It's a survival shot designed to buy yourself one more ball. If you can get the ball to net height or below, your opponent has to hit up on it, which gives you a chance to come forward and have more options on your fifth shot.

It doesn't have to be perfect. It just has to be good enough to neutralize the difficult position you're in and give you a chance to reset the point.

4. The Hybrid: When Your Opponent Is Late to the Line

The hybrid (sometimes called the drip) is where you shift from defensive to offensive mindset. It's a slower drive with lots of topspin, and it's designed to exploit situations when your opponent is late getting to the kitchen line.

If your opponent is trying to get to the line but they're a couple steps behind, move forward, take the ball early, and use that upward motion with topspin to find their feet quickly.

You're trying to put them in a bad position and then crash behind the shot to apply immediate pressure. It's a calculated risk that pays off when you read the situation correctly.

5. The Drive: Your Underrated Setup Shot

The drive gets misused constantly. Players hit it when they're trying to win the point or crash in aggressively. Instead, the drive is a tool to get you to the kitchen line — nothing more.

When your opponent hits a good return and moves you back a bit, this is your chance. Your opponents are already established at the line. Hit a drive at 70 to 80 percent power, keep it low, and let them deal with it.

Most likely, they'll hit a block volley back that lands shorter. Now you're moving forward with more options for your fifth shot.