Third Shot Choice Game
A four-player game where every third shot must be called — drop, drive, or lob — before the ball arrives, with successful calls scoring double.
- LevelAdvanced
- Players4 Players
- Duration20 min
- EquipmentNet
At the advanced level, the third shot drop stops being a rule and becomes an option. The truly dangerous server walks up to the line having already decided — based on the return, the returner's position, the score — whether this third ball will be a drop, a drive, or the occasional lob that flips the point. The Third Shot Choice Game trains the decision itself. The format is a four-player game with one structural twist: on every third shot, the server must call their choice out loud before the ball arrives. 'Drop', 'drive', or 'lob' — announced during the return's flight, committed before contact — and then executed. Points play out under normal rules, and the call does two things. First, it makes the decision visible. When you must say 'drive' in advance, you start noticing how often you choose it out of habit rather than opportunity, and the lob you never call reveals a hole in your game that opponents have probably already found. Second, it hands your opponents information — they know what is coming — which the game balances by making successful execution worth double. A called drop that lands in the kitchen and leads to a won rally counts for two; a called drive that produces a weak reply or a winner counts for two. The premium rewards players whose choices are honest, because a called shot you can actually execute is worth twice as much as a mystery ball. What advanced groups discover, usually within two games, is that their third-shot choices correlate strongly with the return's depth: deep returns pull the call toward drops, short returns toward drives, and the returner who always lands short gets punished by pattern rather than by power. Play three games rotating the serving pair each game, and keep the calls honest — the moment players start calling strategically to mislead, the drill loses its mirror. The goal is not a perfect mix of choices; it is knowing, out loud, why you chose.
Equipment: You will need a net.
How to run this drill
Play a standard four-player game to 11, with the serving pair starting each point from behind the baseline.
On every third shot, the server must call 'drop', 'drive', or 'lob' out loud while the return is still in flight — the call is committed before contact.
A called shot that executes and leads to a won rally scores two points instead of one; the opponents hear the call and may position for it.
Rotate the serving pair each game and play three games — keep calls honest, because the drill's value is seeing your real tendencies.
Sets, reps & pass standard
Sets & reps: 3 games to 11
You're ready to move on when: You're ready to move on when your called-shot execution wins double points on at least half of your third shots across a full game.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Defaulting to the comfortable call — if you have not called a lob in three games, that is a finding, not a style.
- Calling based on ego rather than the return — deep returns pull the honest call toward drop, and pretending otherwise costs points.
- Changing the swing to match a late call — commit early or hold the mystery ball for singles; doubles punishes indecision twice.
Frequently asked questions
What equipment do you need for the Third Shot Choice Game?
You need a net.
How long does the Third Shot Choice Game take?
About 20 minutes, typically organized as 3 games to 11. It is rated Advanced and works for 4 players.
What does success look like on this drill?
You're ready to move on when your called-shot execution wins double points on at least half of your third shots across a full game.