Make Your 5th Shot Automatic (It Starts With Your 3rd Shot)

💫 Get my FREE match planning worksheet here! 👉🏼athenapickleball.kit.com/matchplanningworksheet 📓Pick up your FREE pickleball goal setting workbook here ⬇️: https://athenapickleball.kit.com/goal... Stop treating your third shot like a standalone shot. The players who level up fastest understand SEQUENCES. In this video, I break down typical 3rd shot + 5th shot patterns that actually work so you can recognize situations faster, make better decisions, and finally get to the kitchen consistently. In this video, I walk you through simple “if this, then that” decision making, so you can stop guessing and start playing with intention. 🔑 What You’ll Learn: The 5 essential 3rd + 5th shot combinations When to drop vs drive vs reset How to read your opponent and make the right decision instantly Why your split step timing is the key to everything How to transition to the kitchen without getting caught off-balance When to attack vs when to neutralize 🧠 Key Concept: If your opponent is hitting up on the ball → you can attack If your opponent is hitting down on the ball → you need to reset Master this, and your game will level up fast. 🏓 This video is for you if: → You're an intermediate player (3.0–4.0+) trying to break through → You drive or drop but don't know what comes next → You rush the kitchen and get caught off balance → You want to build smarter, more intentional points 🎯 My Mission: I’m Coach Jess with Athena Pickleball. former D1 tennis player and pro pickleball coach (also a practicing psychotherapist as it happens). I’ve coached thousands of hours of pickleball and my goal is to help you play smarter, compete harder, and become a more complete player. 🔗 More Resources: 👉 Learn the Third Shot Drop:    • Learn the 3rd Shot Drop from Scratch - 3 S...   👉 Join my email list for drills, info, and opportunities to train with me: https://athenapickleball.kit.com 👉 Get 10% off at CRBN Pickleball using code COACHJESS I'm OBSESSED with the new Barrage line. CHAPTERS 00:00 – Intro 00:48 – Foundation: The purpose of the 3rd shot + split step timing Drive Sequences 01:53 – Sequence 1: Drive → 5th shot drop (from transition) 03:30 – Sequence 2: Drive → Attack (Shake & Bake) Drop Sequences 04:25 – Sequence 3: Good drop → Attack above the net 05:13 – Sequence 4A: Decent drop → Reset (opponent attacks) 05:50 – Sequence 4B: Decent drop → Counterattack opportunity Handling Mistakes 06:42 – Sequence 5: Bad drop → Reset / neutralize 07:39 – Simple rule: When to attack vs reset 08:07 – Why sequences help you get to the kitchen 08:20 – Quick Recap of All 5 Sequences 09:37 - outro / closing thoughts Bonus 10:38 – Paddle mention & discount code 💬 Let Me Know: What sequence do you use the most—drive → drop or drop → attack? Drop it in the comments 👇 ******** Want help setting 2026 pickleball goals? Check out this Youtube video here👇 : ▶️    • Make 2026 the Year You FINALLY Level Up in...   And then 📓Pick up your FREE goal setting workbook here: https://athenapickleball.kit.com/goal... 💰 #Pickleball #PickleballTips #PickleballLesson #PickleballForWomen #PickleballCoaching #AthenaPickleball