Drop shot
A softly played shot designed to land just over the net, forcing the opponent to rush forward.
Definition
A drop shot is a delicate, gently struck shot in racquet sports such as tennis, badminton, squash and pickleball. Instead of power, it relies on touch to drop the ball or shuttlecock just over the net so that it lands short in the opponent’s side.
The drop shot is especially effective against an opponent standing well back, since they must sprint forward to reach it. It is often used to vary the pace of a rally and to contrast with deeper, more powerful shots.
Where you’ll hear “drop shot”
Sports that use this term:
Tennis
A singles or doubles racquet sport that blends agility, strategy and stamina on court.
Badminton
A fast indoor racquet sport played with a shuttlecock that rewards agility and touch.
Squash
A fast, high-intensity indoor racquet sport played inside an enclosed court where the walls stay in play.
Pickleball
A friendly, easy-to-learn paddle sport played on a small court with a solid paddle and a light, perforated ball.
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Skills
Tactics
- Net playControlling the point from close to the net with volleys, smashes and touch shots to cut down an opponent’s time.
- Serve and volleyAn attacking tennis tactic where the server follows their serve to the net to finish the point with a volley.
- Counter-attackWinning the ball and moving forward at speed to attack before the opponent can reorganise their defence.
- Baseline playA patient tennis style built around rallying from the back of the court and constructing points with groundstrokes.
- Doubles formationHow a pair positions itself on court — one up, one back, or both at the net — to control space in doubles.
Facilities
- Badminton courtA rectangular indoor court, divided by a high net, on which badminton is played as singles or doubles.
- Tennis courtA rectangular marked court, divided across the middle by a net, where tennis is played as singles or doubles.
- Volleyball courtA rectangular court split by a high net over which two teams rally the ball, played indoors or on sand.
- Padel courtAn enclosed court, much smaller than a tennis court, walled with glass and mesh so the ball can be played off the walls.
Strategies
- Playing the percentagesFavouring the higher-probability, lower-risk option most of the time to cut out unforced errors, while recognising when a calculated risk is worth taking.
- Transition PlayTransition play is the strategy of switching quickly between attack and defence the moment possession changes, exploiting the opponent's brief disorganisation.
Player roles
- Utility playerA dependable, versatile player who can competently fill several different positions as the team needs, rather than specialising in just one.
- Target playerA target player is a focal attacker who receives, holds up and links play for others, often physically strong and good in the air or with the hands.
- Ball-winnerA ball-winner is the player tasked with regaining possession through pressing, tackling and interceptions — a team's tireless defensive workhorse.
- PlaymakerThe playmaker is a team's creative hub — the player who orchestrates attacks, controls the tempo and distributes the ball so teammates can score.
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- Content type
- Term
- Provenance
- Tier A — evergreen educational
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- Content updated
- 2026-08-04
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