The Third Shot Reset Mechanics: Mastering Soft Hands to Neutralise Pace
Mastering the third shot reset is a crucial defensive skill that can completely transform your game. It is about turning your opponents’ power into a soft, unattackable ball in the kitchen by employing relaxed, “soft” hands instead of muscling the shot. When executed well, this single technique can completely neutralise pace and buy you essential time to reach the non-volley zone and re-establish yourself in the point.
What the Third Shot Reset Really Is
A third shot reset is a soft ball that lands precisely in the kitchen after your opponents have attacked your weak third shot or driven hard at you during transition. The primary goal is not to win the rally outright but to effectively slow the pace down so both teams are once again dinking at the kitchen line.
Unlike a drive or a drop which requires a bigger swing, the reset is predominantly a deflection: you meet the incoming ball with a stable paddle face and allow its speed to do the majority of the work. Think of it as a crucial “control shot” that turns a defensive situation back into a neutral one, rather than trying to hit a winner.
Key Mechanics of Soft Hands
The foundation of a successful reset lies in 'soft hands', which starts with a loose grip—typically around 2–3 out of 10 on a pressure scale, significantly lighter than the grip needed for drives (6–8/10). This looser grip allows the paddle to absorb the incoming pace instead of ricocheting the ball up into your opponent’s strike zone.
While the hand and forearm must remain relaxed, the wrist must stay firm so that the paddle face does not wobble at contact. Players should aim to feel like they are catching and cushioning the ball on the strings rather than hitting “through” it.
Body Position and Paddle Angle
For consistent resets, it is vital to set a strong base with a wide stance and stable balance before the ball arrives, especially while moving through transition. Once your feet are planted, minimise extra movement and allow the ball to come to your contact zone in front of your body.
The paddle should be kept slightly open, with the face tilted up just enough to add loft. This loft is essential so the ball arcs over the net and falls softly into the kitchen. Use a compact motion driven by the shoulder and legs, carefully avoiding big swings or wristy flicks that add unpredictable pace to the ball.
How Resets Differ from Drops and Drives
While both a reset and a classic third shot drop land in the kitchen, the critical difference is the situation. The reset is used to handle a much faster incoming ball, often from midcourt or the baseline when you are under intense pressure. You are reacting to pace and absorbing it, rather than generating your own soft ball from a slower feed.
The grip pressure also differs: the reset uses a light, 2–3/10 grip, while the drop uses a medium 4–5/10 grip. Advanced players regularly mix drives, drops, and resets within the same point, instinctively choosing the reset whenever a previous shot has put them in trouble, as its primary goal is to neutralise pace and escape trouble.
Practical Cues Players Can Use
To help players achieve the correct feel, many coaches use practical cues. A common instruction is to “pretend you’re holding a live bird” with the paddle to instantly feel the right grip tension. Another useful cue is to think of "catch then push" the ball, mentally imagining the paddle as a glove absorbing the shot before gently guiding it into the kitchen.
Breathing out at the moment of contact helps to keep the upper body relaxed and prevents that last-second tightening that often causes the ball to pop up. Players should also mentally commit to the idea that the reset is not a swing but a soft block, which naturally discourages over-hitting.
Drills to Build Soft Hands
To develop this essential skill, you can practise a few simple drills:
Kitchen Block Drill: Start close to the kitchen line and have a partner or coach feed firm balls at chest and shoulder height. Your focus should be on blocking them softly into the kitchen with almost no swing.
Transition Repeat: Once the block drill feels comfortable, step back into the transition area and repeat, training your feet to set early and stay quiet.
Wall Practice: Solo players can stand a few metres from a wall and practise light blocks with a loose grip, aiming to make the ball land close to the wall after the rebound. Over time, add targets (such as cones or taped squares) in the kitchen area to reinforce precision and depth control.
The third shot reset is arguably one of pickleball’s most overlooked defensive weapons. By focusing on minimal deflection over maximum swing, you gain the ability to stop an opponent’s attack dead in its tracks, securing your position at the net and turning the point back in your favour.
