The third shot in pickleball is one of the most important and misunderstood shots in the entire game, especially in doubles play. After a solid serve and return, what happens next often determines who controls the rally. Many players, particularly newer ones, fall into the trap of blasting a hard drive from midcourt, assuming that power equals control. Unfortunately, this often backfires. A fast third shot keeps you and your partner stuck at the baseline while your opponents seize the net and...

Let’s talk about the serve and return, the two most common shots in pickleball and the two that almost everyone does the exact same way every time. Think about it like attacking in a match. If you attack the same way every single time, your opponents are going to figure you out. It’s the same with your serve and return. Most players get into autopilot with the same pace, same target, and same spin, and over the course of a game, your opponents start subconsciously timing and expecting what’s...