Why Slowing the Game Down is the Key to Success
In both my personal pickleball journey and my experience as an instructor, one of the most common goals players bring to me is learning how to slow the game down with resets and drop shots—especially the third shot drop.
Here’s my best advice on this topic: It starts with mindset.
This might sound simple, but it’s a shift that can’t happen until you’re ready to accept the need to change your approach and commit to retraining your game.
Breaking Through Plateaus: My Story
When my game plateaued, I realized that learning to slow down the game through third shot drops, resets, and kitchen shots was the next step in my development.
One immediate decision I made was to challenge myself to hit every shot—minus the serve and return—into the kitchen. The results were transformative:
- More rallies won
- More games won (even though that wasn’t the goal)
The wins were simply confirmation that I was on the right path. I knew it was time to seek out professional instruction to refine these techniques further.
Pickleball is a Game of Execution
When I teach clinics or lessons, I often step into rec games with students. Many players ask me to help them win their first game, and this becomes the perfect opportunity to challenge them to hit all shots into the kitchen, except the serve and return.
Why? Because pickleball is a game of execution.
Let’s break it down:
- If your team loses 11-7, how many points did the other team actually earn?
- How many points did you give away through missed executions?
Example: If you hit 3 returns out and 4 shots out during rallies, and you gave up 6 points through missed executions. Subtract those from their 11 points, and suddenly the score could’ve been 8-5 in your favor. Executing shots with precision and purpose can change the game.
This principle holds true at every level of play. As skills improve, execution might look different, but the strategy remains: focus on precision and put pressure on the opponents.
The Secret to Slowing the Game Down
Slowing the game down isn’t about being passive—it’s about intentional play. Creating resets and opportunities forces opponents to make decisions, and this is where your game can thrive.
To reach this level, you must train your mindset and skills to slow down the pace of play. This is where professional instruction can make all the difference.
Coming Up Next—Part 2: Drills and Strategies for Resets and Dinking
In Part 2, we’ll dive into drills, strategies, and tips to help you implement resets, third shot drops, and the art of dinking into your game.
We’ll also explore how to leverage these techniques to take full control of rallies and develop patience and precision on the court.
Stay tuned for Part 2! And if you’re ready to start training now, check out our Precision Pickleball Training sessions here.
