Pickleball has taken the sports world by storm, offering an exciting blend of strategy, skill, and athleticism. Whether you have been playing for a while or only played a few games, you’ve wanted to find out how to improve and what drills will help you improve. To become a better player, you need more than just a great serve, you must refine your footwork, increase your control, and improve your shot accuracy. So that is why I am here. These are ten essential drills to improve your pickleball game and gain an edge over your competition.
1. Dinking Control Drill
If you have played pickleball before, you will know that dinking is crucial for setting up winning shots. So improving at this skill will help you to win points a lot easier. To perform this drill, stand at the kitchen line with a partner and exchange soft dinks. What you want to focus on is keeping the ball low and placing it where you want to place it. Once you get more comfortable, you can increase the intensity of the drill by aiming for the sidelines and adjusting angles. This drill is only as good as you make it, try to add shots you struggle with so that you can get comfortable with them so that you are game-ready.
2. Third Shot Drop Drill
The third shot drop is used to set up offensive plays. So practicing these can really help you become more comfortable being on the attack. So to perform this drill what you want to do is stand at the baseline and hit soft, arching shots into the opponent’s kitchen (as seen in the image above). Work on placement and try to develop your consistency to ensure your drops land unattackable. If you want to step this drill up a notch, place cones or objects in the opponent’s kitchen and try and aim at those. This will help you develop precise placement around the kitchen.
3. Volley Reflex Drill
When a pickleball gets fired up, volleying starts to become your go to shot to try and end the point quickly. So getting comfortable with the volley and also receiving a volley, is key to not drop easy points. So we need to improve your quick reflexes so that you can win points at the net. How to perform this drill is by standing close to the net with a partner and volley back and forth without letting the ball bounce. Try to keep track on how many volleys you can do in a row and try to beat that number every time. This drill sharpens reaction time and enhances hand-eye coordination.
4. Serve and Return Accuracy Drill
A strong serve and return set the tone for every rally and will allow you to not give away easy points. When you serve that is the only time in the game where you have full control of the ball, so you need to use this opportunity to its fullest. In order to set up drill, place cones on different court zones and aim your serves and returns at these targets. This drill builds precision and strategic depth and also builds your confidence in your serves.
5. Footwork Ladder Drill
Agility and quick movement improve court coverage. Developing your quick-fire muscles and becoming more agile helps you reach shots that could have been unreachable. The video above will show you how to use an agility ladder to perform fast footwork drills. This is a very nice, inexpensive way to develop footwork.
6. Crosscourt Dinking Drill
Crosscourt dinks add variation to your game. They can take your opponent by surprise, and being effective at it will gift you easy points. How to perform this drill is to stand diagonally across from your partner and exchange dinks crosscourt. This drill forces you to control angles and opens up attacking opportunities. This drill also gets you used to the size of the court, allowing you to dink balls at the edge of the court.
7. Wall Rally Drill
Sometimes you do not always have a partner on hand when you want to practice. One thing you can do if you lack a practice partner is use a wall. This drill is really easy, all you need is a paddle, pickleball and a wall. Hit the ball against the wall, alternating forehands and backhands. This solo drill enhances consistency, control, and stamina. It also allows you to practice pretty much anywhere which is great.
8. Overhead Smash Drill
A powerful overhead smash can end points quickly. However, they can also give points to your opponent if you do not hit the ball correctly. In order to perform this drill, have a partner lob the ball high, and then you practice smashing it into the court with controlled power. Ensure proper technique by stepping into the shot. Once you get comfortable with the smash, add cones or objects in your opponent’s side and try and hit those targets. This will also improve your precision.
9. Transition Zone Defense Drill
Defending against fast-paced shots is critical. Court movement is also crucial. This drill tackles both those points and puts the in one drill. So start at the baseline and slowly advance to the kitchen line while a partner is handling deep shots. This drill helps you transition effectively and stay on the attack.
10. Game Simulation Drill
Nothing beats real-game scenarios. Play practice games where you focus on specific aspects, such as attacking third-shot drops or improving your net play. This drill ties all the skills together in a competitive setting.
Final Thoughts
Drilling consistently turns good players into great ones. Integrate these drills into your training regimen, and you’ll develop sharper reflexes, better placement, and an unbeatable court presence. Keep practicing, stay disciplined, and watch your pickleball skills soar!
