Pickleball Tips - 4.0 To Pro, A Pocket-Sized Pickleball Podcast 07: DRIVES. A Critically Important Part of Pickleball in 2025
Jul 8, 2025
Discover the evolving importance of the drive shot in pickleball, crucial for masterful gameplay by 2025. Learn when and how to effectively execute the third shot drive, shifting the game's dynamics in your favor. Explore innovative strategies, including the hybrid drive shot, to target opponents' weaknesses and improve partner communication. Gain insights into making every shot count through strategic footwork and timing. All this while acknowledging recent challenges faced by players, ensuring empathy and connectivity within the community.
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Third-Shot Drive Is A Strategic Reset
- The third-shot drive has come back as a primary strategic weapon in 2025 rather than a gimmick.
- Drives are often used to set up an easier fifth shot rather than to hit immediate winners.
Pros Shifted Back To Drives
- Mike observed pros like Ben Johns using drives almost exclusively at the Masters, showing a tactical shift.
- Mircea recalls loving third-shot drives when he started and seeing the pendulum swing back to drives now.
Drive To Set Up Your Partner
- Use a third-shot drive to set up your partner for a pop-up or poach opportunity in a shake-and-bake.
- Communicate where you will drive so your partner can crash and anticipate the finish.