After the serve and return, the serving team is at the baseline while the returners are at the net. The third-shot drop is a soft shot from the baseline that arcs over the net and lands in the kitchen, forcing the opponents to hit up and giving you time to move forward.
Think of it as a long dink. The ball should peak on your side of the net and fall into the kitchen. If it is a little high, it becomes attackable; if it is a little short, it hits the net. Consistency comes from repetition, not from a perfect swing.
Key cues
- 1Get low and hit with your legs
- 2Apex on your side of the net
- 3Soft hands, minimal backswing
- 4Move forward behind a good drop, hold behind a bad one
Common mistakes
- Popping the drop up and getting attacked
- Running forward regardless of the drop's quality
- Only dropping when driving is the better play