The Most Important Shot in Pickleball: How to Master the Fourth Shot and Take Control of the Point

Main Points

• Why the Fourth Shot Matters: The fourth shot is critical because it determines which team takes control of the rally and gains an advantage at the kitchen line.
• Stop Giving Up the Kitchen: Many amateur players automatically concede the kitchen after their opponent hits a third-shot drop. Instead, look for opportunities to attack and apply pressure.
• Improve Your Footwork: Avoid staying square with your feet and swinging with your paddle behind you. Turn sideways, step back, create space, and prepare to drive the ball.
• Prioritize Taking the Ball Out of the Air: Whenever possible, attack the third-shot drop before it bounces. This takes time away from your opponent and allows you to apply more pressure.
• Attack Higher Balls Aggressively: When the ball is at sternum height or higher, use a short, relaxed, whipping motion to drive through it without taking a large backswing.
• Use Topspin on Lower Balls: For balls between waist and knee height, close the paddle face and swing from low to high on the same side of your body. This generates topspin and makes the ball more difficult to handle.
• Create Space on Kitchen-Level Drops: If the third-shot drop lands in the kitchen, step back to create room and drive the ball with pace rather than simply tapping it over the net.
• Know When to Concede the Kitchen: When your opponent hits an aggressive third-shot roll that lands near your feet or the kitchen line, recognize when attacking is too risky. A soft shot into the kitchen may be the better option.
• Force Your Opponent to Reset: The objective of an aggressive fourth shot is to make your opponent handle a difficult ball and potentially force a weak reset or pop-up.

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Summary

The fourth shot is arguably the most important shot in pickleball because it can determine which team takes control of the rally. While many players focus on perfecting their serve, return, and third-shot drop, they often overlook the importance of how they respond to their opponent’s third shot. The fourth shot is your opportunity to apply pressure, prevent your opponents from comfortably advancing to the kitchen line, and potentially take control of the point.

One of the biggest mistakes amateur players make is automatically conceding the kitchen after their opponent hits a third-shot drop. Instead of applying pressure, they allow their opponents to move forward without having to deal with a difficult ball. The better approach is to look for opportunities to attack the third shot. Proper footwork is essential. Rather than remaining square to the net with the paddle pulled behind the body, turn sideways, step back when necessary, and create enough space to drive the ball aggressively.

The first priority when preparing for the fourth shot should be determining whether you can take the ball out of the air. Hitting the ball before it bounces takes time away from your opponent and gives you a better opportunity to apply pressure. If the ball is too low or difficult to reach, allow it to bounce while maintaining proper positioning. Turn sideways, create space, and prepare to attack rather than simply conceding the kitchen.

The technique you use to attack the fourth shot depends on the height of the ball. When the ball is at sternum height or higher, use a short, relaxed whipping motion to drive through it. Avoid taking a large backswing. For balls between waist and knee height, close the paddle face slightly and swing from low to high on the same side of your body. This creates topspin, causing the ball to jump after bouncing and making it more difficult for your opponent to return.

When your opponent’s third-shot drop lands in the kitchen, you may need to step back to create additional space before attacking. The goal is to drive the ball with enough pace to make your opponent struggle with the return. Simply tapping the ball over the net gives your opponent an easy opportunity to advance toward the kitchen line. Applying pressure forces your opponent to make a difficult reset, which can lead to a weak return or a pop-up that you can attack.

However, not every third shot should be attacked. If your opponent hits an aggressive third-shot roll that lands near your feet or close to the kitchen line, attacking may put you in a difficult position. In these situations, conceding the kitchen and playing a soft shot into the non-volley zone is often the smarter decision. If your opponent attempts to attack that ball instead of playing softly, you may be able to counterattack and finish the rally.

The biggest takeaway is that the fourth shot should be an intentional part of your pickleball strategy. Rather than automatically giving your opponents the kitchen, recognize opportunities to attack, improve your footwork, and force them to hit difficult resets. Learning when to drive aggressively and when to play softly will help you win more kitchen battles and become a more effective doubles player.

Source: tanner.pickleball | YouTube

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Tags: doubles strategy | footwork techniques | fourth shot attack | fourth shot strategy | kitchen line strategy | offensive tactics | resets | Shot Selection | tanner.pickleball | third shot drop | topspin drive