Coach profile
Briones Pickleball Academy
The most-cited coach across this site. Jordan Briones runs the channel solo, teaches mostly through structured progressions, and is the one source we trust for "what's the modern version of this shot in 2026" because his framework breakdowns get updated as the sport evolves.
- Subscribers
- 108K
- Videos
- 948
- Total views
- 18.5M
- Channel since
- 2016
Stats verified 2026-05-02 via the YouTube Data API. The channel link is @brionespickleball.
By Valentin · 7 min read · Last reviewed 2026-05-02
Why we cite Briones more than anyone
Three reasons:
- The frameworks update. The 2026 third-shot drop video doesn't reuse 2020 mechanics. When the sport shifts (foam paddles, shake-and-bake patterns, the drip / hybrid shot), Briones's video is usually the first one we find that integrates the new context cleanly.
- The structure is rec-first. Most pro coaches teach what works at 5.0. Briones teaches what works at 3.0 to 4.5, which is where almost every reader of this site actually plays. The 3-step reset progression is the model: a beginner can do step one immediately, an advanced player can use step three.
- The mechanics are concrete. Most "tip" videos handwave with "use your legs" or "stay loose." Briones gives you grip-pressure numbers (3-4 of 10), paddle-tip positions ("below the ball"), follow-through directions ("same side of shoulder for the topspin dink"). It's coachable in a way that vague advice isn't.
The frameworks Jordan teaches
Across the videos we've cited or embedded, four named frameworks come up over and over. Each links to the take or guide where we synthesize Briones with other sources.
The five third-shot drop variants
The lift / push drop, the topspin drop, the slice / back-spin drop, the drip / hybrid, and the shovel drop. Each fits a specific return read. The drip in particular is one of the modern shot inventions Briones gets credit for popularizing.
The 3-step reset progression
A scaffolded drill: basic reset standing in the kitchen, reset under pressure with a partner adding pace, reset on the move while advancing from baseline to kitchen. Loose grip 3-4/10 is the common thread.
Mid-court defense and the shuffle-and-split-step
Three to four hard steps forward, split-step on opponent contact, hit a soft reset or a counter based on the Traffic Light shot height rule, repeat until at the kitchen. The pattern that separates rec from advanced players in transition.
The topspin dink
Paddle tip well below the ball, swing straight up vertically, finish on the same side of the shoulder, wrist stable, shoulder driving. The lift creates margin over the net plus a dip into the kitchen on the bounce.
Featured videos
The Briones videos we cite or embed across this site, in order of how often they come up in our coverage. Each links to its embedded location plus the source on YouTube.
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8:01Modern 3rd Shot Drop: The Game Has Changed
Five distinct drop variants including the topspin drop and the drip / hybrid, the framework most rec coaching from before 2024 missed entirely.
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9:34Stop Losing Points on Your 4th Shot
The defensive companion to the third-shot drop. How the receiving team handles the drive-drop, aggressive topspin drops, and crashing pressure.
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11:24Mastering The Reset In 3 Simple Steps
The 3-step reset progression Briones argues is what separates intermediate from advanced. Embedded in our hands-battle take.
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7:32How To STOP Popping Up The Ball For GOOD
The grip-pressure diagnostic most rec coaches skip. Why pop-ups come from a tight grip plus reaching, not slow hands.
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0:46Dink Better Instantly With This Topspin Technique
The topspin dink swing path in 46 seconds. Briones argues 80%+ of dinks should be topspin at 4.0+. Embedded in our dinking strategy guide.
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0:43Mid-Court Defense Simplified
A 43-second walkthrough of the transition zone Traffic Light shot selection. Embedded in our transition zone guide.
Where Jordan and other coaches diverge
Briones is not the consensus voice on every topic. Two real divergences worth knowing about:
- Topspin first vs. flat foundation. Briones argues 80%+ of dinks should be topspin at 4.0+ levels. CJ Johnson at Better Pickleball teaches a flat-foundation dink first, layering topspin only after the basic mechanics are reliable. Honest take: CJ is right for foundation, Briones is right for the ceiling. See our dink-rally take for the full side-by-side.
- Five third-shot drop variants vs. one. Briones teaches five distinct drops; CJ Johnson teaches one drop with strict mechanics. Dave Weinbach at PrimeTime treats it as one shot with timing variations. Briones's five-variant framework is the right destination for a 3.5+ player; the one-shot pedagogy is the right starting point for a 3.0. See our third-shot-drop take for the meta-analysis.
Best for which player
A 3.0 player will find Briones's "Mastering the Reset" and the basic third-shot drop walkthroughs the most actionable. A 3.5 to 4.0 should watch the Modern 3rd Shot Drop video carefully to understand the drip / hybrid and start adding the topspin drop. A 4.0+ should be on the topspin dink, the drive-drop counter, and the body-shot patterns.
How we cite Jordan
Across this site, Briones is cited or embedded in:
- Third-shot drop coach take (two videos)
- Hands-battle coach take (two videos)
- Dink-rally coach take (one video)
- Transition zone guide (mid-court defense embedded)
- Dinking strategy guide (topspin dink embedded)
- Shake and bake guide
- Hands battle guide
- Bert shot guide
Subscribe
The channel link is @brionespickleball on YouTube. Briones uploads roughly weekly, mixing structured walkthroughs with shorts. We refresh the featured-video list on this page about once a quarter as new content lands.
Other coaches we cite
Browse the full coaches index. CJ Johnson at Better Pickleball, PrimeTime Pickleball, Tanner Tomassi, and Tyson McGuffin are also cited heavily across the site. Per-coach deep dives ship as we synthesize their content.
