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In the ever-growing world of pickleball, players are increasingly tempted to emulate the flashiest shots they see on social media: spinning Ernes, tweeners, behind-the-back saves, and jump smashes. While these highlights may attract likes and shares, they often distract players from the foundation that truly leads to success—mastering the fundamentals.
If your goal is to become a strong, consistent, and winning player, focusing on exotic, low-percentage shots is not the path. Instead, doubling down on your 3rd shot drop, 3rd shot drive, serve, and return will serve your game in every sense. Here’s why.
The Fundamentals Win Matches
Here’s what you need to remember: fancy shots won’t save you in a tight 9-9 game. Fundamentals—under pressure, repeatedly—are what will win and create momentum.
– The serve is your chance to start the point with purpose, depth, and strategy.
– The return sets up your ability to control the kitchen line.
– The 3rd shot drop slows down the game, resets play, and allows your team to approach the net.
– The 3rd shot drive keeps opponents honest and forces errors when used wisely.
These four strokes constitute the entire purpose. They are not skills—instead, they are tactics.
The Problem with Flash
Exotic shots are high-risk, low-reward. They are difficult to replicate on a large scale, especially under adverse conditions, and are more prone to failure than success. The most significant issues with specializing in them are:
– Inconsistency: Most players struggle to repeat an Erne or ATP (Around-the-Post) move consistently in specific match situations.
– Positioning mistakes: Taking a wild shot will pull you out of good court placement.
– Disruption of flow: Fundamentals build rhythm. Flash disrupts it.
– False sense of improved skills: You might “feel” like you are doing better since you made a flashy shot once, but your game in total can remain vulnerable to strategic, fundamental players.
In short, exotic shots are dessert—delicious in small doses, but unsustainable as a full-course meal.
Fundamentals Are More Than Mechanics
When you hear “fundamentals,” you might think of just technique. But it’s much deeper than that. Fundamentals teach:
– Court awareness
– Patience in point construction
– Shot selection
– Consistency under pressure
– Transitioning from defense to offense
These are the qualities of veteran players. The best in the world—including Tyson McGuffin and Anna Leigh Waters—built their games upon a foundation of flawless technique in fundamentals.
Why the 3rd Shot Is Everything
If you focus solely on mastering your 3rd shot drop or drive, your game will improve.
3rd Shot Drop:
– Purpose: neutralize opponents who are already at the kitchen line
– Benefit: allows you to get to the NVZ (Non-Volley Zone) and reset the point
– Effectiveness: high, especially against aggressive poachers
3rd Shot Drive:
– Purpose: push opponents back or force weak volleys
– Benefit: gives you flexibility when a drop isn’t ideal
– Effectiveness: situational but essential for keeping opponents guessing
Learning both allows you to make your decision based on the ball, the opponent, and the time, rather than relying on guesswork.
Repetition over Flash
There is a reason why professional players practice the same shot hundreds of times in every session. Muscle memory, consistency, and confidence are developed through repetition, not experimentation.
Here’s how you can best utilize your training time:
– 100 serves to a deep target
– 100 cross-court returns
– 50 third shot to each side
– 50 drives with focusing on placement
You’d be amazed at how much of an impact this makes on your game, more so than if you hit one successful tweener in an entire month.
The Fundamentals Scale with Skill Level
Whether you are a 3.0 or seeking 5.0, there are always fundamentals at play:
– At 3.0–3.5: They’re how you win more points.
– At 4.0: They’re how you hold your own in fast hands battles.
– At 4.5+: They become your anchor when the game speeds up and the pressure mounts.
Exotic shots don’t scale. You can only rely on them at precise times—and usually only when the odds are low that they’ll work.
Social Media Isn’t Real Match Play
Scroll through your Instagram or YouTube feed, and you’ll see creators making trick shots—but you won’t generally see them doing them in a tournament final against 4.5+ competition. That’s because those shots are for camera purposes, not the court.
Don’t let highlight culture define your metric for success. Winning players aren’t in reels—you’ll see them standing on podiums.
The Real “Wow” Factor
What impresses coaches and seasoned players?
– A consistent 3rd shot drop that lands soft every time
– A return of serve that pushes deep to the baseline
– A serve that consistently finds the corners with spin
– A 3rd shot drive that skims the net and forces an error
That’s the kind of “wow” that wins leagues, tournaments, and respect.
Master the Boring. Win Big.
You don’t need to eliminate fun and creativity from your game, but you do need to know where your priorities lie. Fundamentals:
– Make you dependable
– Make you competitive
– Make you confident
– And eventually, make you dangerous
Exotic shots are alluring distractions. Basics are classic instruments. The next time you find yourself wanting to practice your around-the-post backhand flick rather than third-shot drops, remind yourself: “What will win me the next point?” The response, most likely, is not flash. It’s fundamental.
Picture Credit: iStock