Time to choose: third shot drive or third shot drop?
Either answer works. You're both right. What you need to remember is: just because you chose one or the other, you're not stuck with that decision.
News flash: your fifth shot can be different from your third!
One stubborn mistake players make, myself included, is that once we decide on a third shot drive, we can't stop. We follow it up with a fifth shot drive and seventh shot drive.
Just because you drove the third does not mean the whole point needs to follow suit.
Go ahead, drive your third, but as the ball leaves your paddle, you should evaluate the following:
- How well you hit it
- How your opponent reacts
- Your court position
- Then it's time to choose again.
Don't let the rush of hitting the last drive dictate your next shot. Evaluate the situation and make the smart play.
Read Next: Third Shot Strategies in Mixed Doubles
If the ball is short and high, drive again. If it's low and at your feet, switch it up and hit a drop.
To quote Rocky IV, "If I can change...then you can change. Everybody can change."
