Rochester Area Pickleball Association (RAPA) welcomes you! Please consider joining. Membership is $25/yr and the benefits include:
Organized activities like ladders, tournaments and lessons
Designated play time at Cooke Park and Eagles Club (2023)
Resources to improve play
A way to connect with others at your level
If you are a business owner, sponsorships are available. These are the signs hung at Cooke Park.
RAPA membership not required to play at these locations. However, RAPA members do have designated playtime at the Eagles and Cooke Park.
Outdoor Play:
Cooke Park (6): 722 7th St NW, Rochester MN 55901 (if non-RAPA member, see court schedule for open play times)
Eagles: 917 15th Ave SE, Rochester MN 55904 (if non-RAPA or Eagles member, see court schedule for open play times)
Goose Egg Park: 199 9th Street NW, Rochester MN 55901
Elmcroft Park: 505 Elmview Pl SW, Rochester MN 55902
Bear Cave Park: 800 10th Street NW Stewartville, MN 55976
Byron
Pine Island
Indoor Play:
Rochester Recreation Center (must register to play) (Pro Tip: buy your punch card or pass first)
125 Live
Rochester Tennis Connection
Byron Community Education
Chip Shots
If you become a RAPA member, reach back out to any of these Court Ambassadors for assistance or rapacommunications@gmail.com:
Kileen: 507-261-8875 Mona Hoeft: 507-884-1741 Laurie: 507-254-9551
Sara: 507-990-1817 Ed: 507-261-8037
Resources:
https://usapickleball.org/what-is-pickleball/how-to-play/basics/
https://usapickleball.org/what-is-pickleball/how-to-play/basics/rules-summary/
https://usapickleball.org/what-is-pickleball/how-to-play/basics/scoring-position/
https://usapickleball.org/what-is-pickleball/how-to-play/basics/serving/
https://usapickleball.org/what-is-pickleball/how-to-play/basics/return-of-serve/
Third Shot Drop:
What is it?
The third shot drop is essentially just what it sounds like; it’s a drop shot that comes after the serve and return serve, hence the name “third shot drop.” This particular shot is intended to arch upward and then drop into your opponent’s kitchen, effectively bringing play closer to the net and evening the chances of winning the rally.
What’s the big deal?
The third shot drop is an important play for the serving team. After the serve and return serve, the serving team is typically still back at the baseline away from the net while the opposing team has had the opportunity to inch closer to the net. This third shot drop is a slow, arching shot that, if done correctly, buys the serving team enough time to meet their opponents near the net. The dropping effect also makes it more difficult for your opponents to smash the ball down in the kitchen, a move that could result in your team losing the rally. By moving your team closer to the net and lowering the level of play, you put yourself back in position to control the rally.
How is it done?
The third shot drop can take a lot of time and practice to master, but it will be worth your while. It might be helpful to think of it as a “long dink.” Be sure you’re consistent with your dink before you take on the challenge of the third shot drop. As you begin to feel more comfortable with your close-range dink, start moving back a few steps. Eventually, you’ll find yourself at the baseline of the court and you’ll see that your dink just needs more power and follow-through. Get low to the ground and stay there all the way through the shot; don’t come back up too early to rush up to the kitchen and ruin your shot in the process.
This video does a great job of demonstrating how to perfect the third shot drop with time and consistency. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-VOy2lhtB8
Practice makes perfect, and the third shot drop is no exception. The more you play, the better you’ll get, and the more third shot drops you throw at your opponent, the more opportunities you’ll have to win the game.
