What To Do When Your Third Shot Drop Stops Working

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I referenced this mind-blowing idea in last weeks email, but lean in, because this one's wild:

You CANNOT WIN a match if you cannot make a third shot.

Ok, technically, if the other team misses eleven returns in a row... maybe. But statistically? Not a strategy I'd take to the bank.

I was reminded of this the hard way at my last tournament. My drop was off for a full 3 game match. Same shot, same result, getting worse by the point. If you've ever been that person, and I think most of us have, you know exactly how that spiral feels.

The frustrating thing about a broken third shot is that worrying about it makes it worse. The more you focus on what you're missing, the tighter your hands get, the more you're in your head, and suddenly a shot you've made plenty of times in practice feels elusive.

So what to do...what to do...

Here's an in-game decision tree I wish I had used:

1. Do a quick fundamentals check. Before you change anything, check the basics: Is your grip relaxed? Are your feet in position? Is your paddle tip down? Are you shifting your weight forward to get the momentum you need? Nine times out of ten, one of these has gone missing. A ten-second self-eval and reset can be enough to get back on track. And breathe, please. Just in case - here is a link to the fundamentals of 3rd shot drops.​

2. Miss high. If your drops are going into the net, start making it your mission to get them OVER. Shift your target and think about the apex of the ball being on your side of the court not theirs. You're not trying to be perfect right now, you're trying to increase your margin for error. A drop that's a little high is still in play and there's still hope. A drop in the net is curtains.

3. Just drive the ball. Nobody says you have to drop every third. If your hands are tight and your nerves are shot, a drive at 70% can actually help more than another failed drop. You get something over, you stay in the point, and it interrupts the anxiety loop your brain is stuck in. Sometimes you need to break the pattern before you can find the shot again, and something inside goes, "ok, I CAN get it over. Go me."

4. Yield to your partner for middle balls. This one may feel like giving up. It isn't. Letting your partner take the thirds on middle balls until you start to feel better is smart team play. You're managing your game, keeping your team in points, and giving yourself a chance to reset without the pressure of every ball coming to you. Sure you may need to have a gentle convo with your ego, but what is your partner there for if not to be carry a little more. You would do the same for them (right??).

The goal in any of these isn't perfection. It's survival until you find your game again. And the players who move up aren't always the ones with the prettiest drops, but they're the ones who know what to do when things go sideways and adjust.

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In Case You Missed It

Last week I posted a video on 5 High Pickleball IQ Moves That INSTANTLY Win You More Matches - and the response was generally positive. So if you haven't seen it yet, I didn't want you to miss it.

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A Note From Me

I posted my very first YouTube video just about 6 months ago and it has been a real journey. I am still learning so much about how to do this content thing, and how to best make an impact. I'd certainly describe myself as a coach who is absolutely obsessed with the sport and with how to help people improve, but finding the best way to share it is still very much a work in progress. It's been a real stretch (you wouldn't believe how many hours of footage have been scrapped as I fumbled to learn).

But what keeps me going is knowing that every once in a while something clicks for someone out there on the court.

If there's something you're working on, struggling with, or just curious about, I genuinely want to hear it. Reply to this email, tell me about your game, share a win, let me know what's frustrating you, or maybe even what you feel is missing in the pickleball learning space. It all helps me figure out what to make next, and honestly, I just love hearing from you all.

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Cheers!

Coach Jess
Athena Pickleball 🏓✨
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p.s. Putting a couple Intensives on the calendar for June - more on that next week!
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