Go on court with pro coaches Dominic Catalano, Maria Lopez, and Susannah Barr as they break down exactly how to defend against the third shot drip. Each coach brings a different perspective, but they all come back to one thing: footwork is the key to beating aggressive third shots.
You’ll learn how to handle the drip whether you’re:
➡️ The player already set at the kitchen, ready to defend a fast, dipping ball.
➡️ Or the returner running in, trying to stay balanced against heavy topspin.
What you’ll learn:
✅ Dominic’s 3-step strategy: read it early, decide whether to take it out of the air or let it bounce, and use strong “dive step” footwork.
✅ Maria’s pro tips for keeping your paddle out front and adjusting for the topspin kick.
✅ Susannah’s “slow-close drawer” analogy for moving up to the kitchen with balance and control.
⏱️ Timestamps:
0:00 Teaching highlights
0:56 What Is a Drip? (Drive + Drop Hybrid Explained)
1:20 Two Ways to Defend It: Take It Out of the Air or Let It Bounce
3:07 The “Dive Step” Footwork Technique (Dom’s Key Movement Tip)
3:32 Dom Defends Against Susannah’s Drip
6:21 Coach Maria’s Tips: Respecting Spin, Paddle Out Front, Handling Topspin Kick
7:15 Don’t Linger After the Return
7:55 Susannah’s Tips: “Slow-Close Drawer” Analogy for Footwork
8:59 Susannah Defends Against Dom’s Drip
10:31 Plan C: When You Have to Short Hop
11:29 Join us at TFPA
🎥 Watch Next:
👉 Break Ankles with the DRIP! Aggressive Third Shot Drop Masterclass → https://youtu.be/5bLJzw708Bc
🤝 Never train alone again — join The Flying Pickle Academy today.
✨ Pro Coaching. Real Community. A system that keeps you growing week after week.
https://the-flying-pickle-academy.mn.co/landing/
🏓 Want to bring a premium indoor pickleball club to your hometown?
We’re growing The Flying Pickle nationwide and looking for partners to open new clubs.
📩 Email us at academy@theflyingpickle.com to learn more.
#pickleball #pickleballtips #thirdshotdrip #thirdshotdrop #pickleballcoaching #pickleballtraining #pickleballfootwork