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Master the first 4 shots
Paul from Pickleball Daily
January 08, 2026
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Tip of the day
The Briones Pickleball Academy breaks down the essential strategies for the first four shots of every point to help players build a stronger foundation.
The primary goal of a serve is to achieve maximum depth, which forces the returner back and delays their arrival at the kitchen line.
For the return of serve, players should focus on hitting deep, lofty shots to buy themselves more time to get established at the net.
Creating space with your footwork on the return allows you to strike the ball out in front and move your momentum toward the target.
When hitting the third shot, you must decide between a fast drive or a soft drop based on the positioning of your opponents.
If the returner is caught mid-court, a drive is the most effective way to apply immediate pressure and catch them out of position.
A third-shot drop is preferred when both opponents are already established at the kitchen line, forcing them to hit the ball upward.
On the fourth shot, the returning team should aim to take the ball out of the air whenever possible to limit the opponent's reaction time.
Successful fourth shots target the opponent's feet or the person closest to the net to create a difficult defensive situation.
Key Points:
Prioritize depth on your serve to keep opponents far from the non-volley zone.
Use lofty returns if you need extra time to reach the kitchen line safely.
Evaluate the returner's position before deciding to drive or drop your third shot.
Look to volley the fourth shot out of the air to keep the pressure on the serving team.
Target the feet of your opponents to force them into hitting defensive, upward shots.
Deal of the day
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That’s it for today! As always, thank you for reading. 🙏
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Happy pickling,
Paul