Pickleball instruction: Turn a good third-shot drop into a point-ending putaway

Payton Bond

Contributor

Last Edited

Sep 02 2025

Move in to finish the point early

This is a pivotal moment in pickleball.

Moving in on a well-placed drop shot is crucial and often sets you up to end the point. When you and your partner advance together, it’s like turning up the heat. You put immediate pressure on your opponents.

As they see you closing in, they’re forced into a split-second decision: Do they try to speed it up, dink it or simply hope for the best? (Spoiler: hoping for the best rarely works out.)

If one of you stays back, experienced players will spot it faster than you can say “kitchen violation” and send the ball straight to the feet of the player hanging out in No Man’s Land.

But when you both move in, their options shrink and the pressure rises. Suddenly, their decision-making gets a lot messier and mistakes are far more likely to follow.

Move to the kitchen line as a team

If your partner is more advanced and consistently lands drop shots at the opponent in front of you, they expect you to move in and be ready to capitalize. Think of it as teamwork. They set the table, and you’re there to finish the meal.

Failing to move forward and prepare for a putaway shot isn’t just a missed opportunity. It’s a fast track to your partner losing confidence in their drop shots. And let’s be honest, nobody wants a partner second-guessing their plays because you’re stuck in the transition zone.

Staying alert and advancing on a well-placed drop shot is key. When your partner nails that shot, it’s your cue to step up, close the gap and put the pressure on your opponents.

Moving to the net on a good drop shot isn’t just a skill -- it’s a mindset. It’s essential for improving your game and solidifying your place at the 3.5+ level in pickleball.

Executing the putaway shot

In the illustration, you hit a good drop shot that lands in the kitchen just over the net. You and your partner advance to the kitchen line.

You have successfully leveled the playing field by advancing to the kitchen line and are looking for a mistake from your opponents.

Your opponent doesn’t concede it is a good drop and tries to hit a quick speedup shot back at you. Alternatively, they attempt a dink but pop it up. In either case, the ball is moving up to get over the net, it is above net height and is within your reach to volley.

You are at the kitchen line waiting for this and you put away the shot. You smash or volley it hard and down.

Conclusion

In pickleball, a well-executed drop shot is your ticket to taking control of the point, but only if you follow through. Advancing to the net positions you to capitalize on your opponents’ responses, whether it’s a weak return or a costly mistake.

Hesitating or staying back not only misses this opportunity, but also undermines your partner’s efforts.

The takeaway is simple: Be proactive, move in and stay ready to finish the play. At the 3.5+ level, putting pressure on your opponents and closing out points with confidence is what elevates your game.

Payton Bond is a pickleball enthusiast and author who focuses on strategy and helping players better understand the game. This article is adapted from his book, Pickleball Strategy – A Guide to 3.5 and Beyond, available on Amazon.