Shots & strokes
Drop
also called third-shot drop
A soft, arcing shot that lands in the opponent's kitchen — typically the third shot, used to safely move the serving team to the kitchen line.
The drop (commonly the third-shot drop) is the soft alternative to the drive. After the serve and return, the serving team is back at the baseline; the drop lets them advance to the kitchen line by landing the ball where the opponent can't attack it.
A perfect drop arcs over the net and dies in the opponent's kitchen at a height they can't volley. Mastering the third-shot drop is the single biggest unlock between intermediate and advanced pickleball.
Related terms
Drive
A flat, hard shot hit with little arc — typically off a bounce. Used to push opponents back or set up a third-shot transition.
Dink
A soft shot hit from near the kitchen, arcing just over the net into the opponent's kitchen. The fundamental soft-game stroke.
Reset
A soft shot hit from a defensive position to neutralize an attack — usually landed in the kitchen so opponents can't follow up.