Plenty of recreational players float a drop into the kitchen and then dash forward, only to be caught on the move when the reply comes back. The Dink, drawing on coaching from Kyle Koszuta (ThatPickleballGuy on YouTube), blames that dash for many pop-ups. It lays out two movement patterns to use instead.
What happened
The article opens with the familiar advice to reach the kitchen line quickly. Its complaint is that players apply that advice every single time, whatever the depth of the return and whatever the quality of their own drop. Hitting while your body is still surging forward makes a soft, controlled shot much harder. Koszuta's adjustment is to arrive promptly, but only as soon as your shot has earned it.
His solution is to build patterns: movements you rehearse until they run on their own, so you are not making frantic choices in the middle of a point. The piece describes two.
The one stop approach
This is for a short, low return. Because you are already near the kitchen, you pause once to play your drop and then step to the line. The article suggests aiming toward the opponent who is charging in. It also advises against trying to attack a low ball that landed short, since it is tough to keep it dropping softly and it tends to fly long.
The two stop approach
This is for a deeper return, when your third shot comes from the baseline area and you cannot get to the line in one move. You play the drop, advance as far as the time allows, pause again, get your feet set, and then hit the next ball. According to the article, that second ball is frequently the one you can attack. The guideline: if you are at or behind the baseline for your third, expect two stops; if you are inside it, expect one.
When your drop floats up, the article says three or more stops is perfectly acceptable. Hurrying forward after a high ball just sets you or your partner up to get smashed.
Split step timing
The article also covers the split step. The idea is to have both feet land just as your opponent's paddle meets the ball. Many players begin the hop too late, which leaves them stretched or off balance, and that is when pop-ups and smashes tend to happen.
Before moving, the piece suggests running through three quick checks:
- Depth of the return: a shorter ball calls for fewer stops, a deeper one for more.
- Angle of the return: a wide ball changes where you should be heading.
- Quality of your drop: if it sat up, ease off and wait.
Koszuta also recalled working with a 3.5 player who ran flat out to the kitchen regardless of what his partner hit. The article puts that down to beginners being told to run in without ever being told when to hold back.
What it means for you
The main lesson is to decide how many stops you need before you start moving, not while you are mid-sprint. Notice where you are standing when you hit your third shot and how low your drop was. Deep in the court, plan to stop twice. Closer in with a low ball, plan to stop once. If your drop popped up, slow down and let the next ball come to you.
Players with limited mobility have extra reason to try this. The article stresses that smart movement beats raw speed, and that being balanced and set gives you a better chance to reset or counter rather than reach and pop the ball up.
A simple way to practice is to play a few games where your only goals are a well-timed split step and a steady base at contact. Forget about winning the race to the line. If you are curious how your game stacks up against others, the Vara Performance ratings explainer is a good starting point.
To test these habits under match pressure, you can browse upcoming events on Vara Performance. Current listings include the West Virginia State Pickleball Championship on Saturday, November 7, 2026, at the Hazel & J.W. Ruby Community Center, and the 15th Annual East Valley Tournament in Arizona on Tuesday, November 3, 2026.
Source
This explainer is based on reporting by The Dink, in the article 5 Third Shot Drop Approach Rules That Stop Pop-Ups After 50.