Get Better at Pickleball

Get Better at Pickleball: Essential Drills and Practice Tips

Pickleball players always seek ways to improve their game. Whether you’re a beginner or an advanced player, refining your skills with the right drills is crucial. This guide covers several key drills that will help you get better at pickleball, improve your strategy, and boost your performance on the court.

Dink Competition: Master the Art of Consistent Dinking

Dinking is a fundamental skill in pickleball. A great way to improve your dinking game is through a dink competition. Start at the kitchen line and play games up to 5 or 7 points. Initially, avoid speed-ups to focus on consistency. As you get better, introduce speed-ups, especially when going up the line. This drill can be done both up the line and cross-court. To truly enhance your dinking skills, be competitive and push yourself to be more aggressive with your dinks. Don’t just hit dead dinks.

Dial in Your Third Shot Drops and Drives

The third shot is a crucial part of pickleball strategy. To master it, focus mainly on drops. Drops are essential for moving from the baseline to the kitchen line. As you advance, mix in drives. Learning to follow up a drive with a drop is a valuable skill that can catch opponents off-guard. Practicing both third shot drops and drives will help you become more versatile in your approach.

7-11 Drill: Transition from Baseline to Kitchen

The 7-11 drill is perfect for working on both your offensive and defensive strategies. One player starts at the kitchen line, while the other begins at the baseline. The goal is for the baseline player to reach 7 points before the kitchen player gets to 11. The baseline player works on third shot drops and moving forward, while the kitchen player focuses on fourth-shot rolls and keeping their opponent back. This drill is great for developing control and shot placement.

Skinny Singles: Putting It All Together

Skinny singles is an excellent drill for integrating various skills you’ve practiced. It involves playing one-on-one on a half-court, starting from the right side of your half. When a point is scored, you switch to the other side. This means you’ll be hitting from backhand cross-court, forehand cross-court, and straight ahead. Skinny singles offer live-action reps that sharpen your kitchen skills and positioning.

Warm-Up Drills for Beginners

For beginners, warming up properly is essential. Start with some basic straight-ahead dinks to get your body moving and develop a feel for the ball. Next, move on to cross-court dinks, both forehand and backhand. Initially, focus on cooperative play to maintain long rallies. This builds control and consistency without the pressure of competitive play.

Cooperative Hands and Swinging Volleys

Once you’re warmed up, it’s time for cooperative hands drills. Both players stand at the kitchen line and hit volleys back and forth. The aim is to maintain a neutral ready position between volleys. Next, step a few feet off the kitchen line and increase the intensity, practicing swinging volleys. This drill prepares you for harder shots and faster exchanges.

Mini Skinny: Develop Kitchen Skills with Scored Play

Objective:

The “Mini Skinny” drill is designed to help players develop control, accuracy, and strategy around the kitchen line. It focuses on practicing both cross-court and straight-ahead shots from both sides of the court.

Setup:

• Use half of the court (from the centerline to the sideline) for play. This is why it’s called “Skinny”—you’re playing on a narrower court.
• Both players start at the kitchen line (non-volley zone line).

Gameplay:

1. Start the Drill: One player begins by serving the ball underhand to the opponent diagonally across the net. The serve must land within the designated half of the court.
2. Play the Rally: The players rally back and forth, keeping the ball within their half of the court. The objective is to develop control and precision by keeping the ball within the “mini” side of the court.
3. Scoring System: Players play to 11 points, using regular pickleball rules (only the serving side can score points).
4. Switching Sides: After every 5 points, players switch sides of the court. This ensures practice from different angles and helps players adapt to varying shot types, such as cross-court dinks and straight-ahead volleys.

Benefits:

Develops Angles and Strategy: Forces players to think strategically about shot placement within a smaller space.

Improves Kitchen Skills: Focuses on control and precision, which are essential for dinking and volleying close to the net.

Enhances Cross-Court and Straight-Ahead Shots: Switching sides allows you to practice both cross-court and straight shots, improving versatility.

Transition Drills: Drop, Reset, Counter

Transitioning from the baseline to the kitchen line is a critical skill. The Drop and Roll drill involves one player practicing drop shots from deep while the other practices topspin rolls. Once the baseline player has moved up to mid-court, mix in attacks to simulate game-like scenarios. The final drill, “Transitions,” involves hitting a drop, resetting at mid-court, and then countering a speed-up at the kitchen line. Mastering this will accelerate your path to becoming a 4.0 player.

Drive and Counter: Practice Against Hard Hit Shots

In the Drive and Counter drill, one player stands deep and cranks hard drives, while the other counters or blocks them at the kitchen line. As the driving player moves up to mid-court, the pressure on the kitchen player increases, honing their ability to handle aggressive plays. This drill is perfect for improving reflexes and decision-making under pressure.

Skinny Singles Variations: Advanced Gameplay Practice

Finish your practice session with skinny singles, incorporating different angles and shot types. Start on your own right side and move diagonally for forehand-to-forehand rallies. Switch sides after scoring a point to practice all permutations. Skinny singles provide a comprehensive workout that simulates real game conditions, helping you get better at pickleball by refining your overall skills.

Off-Schedule Skill Drills: Lobs, Overheads, and Trick Shots

To round out your practice, incorporate off-schedule drills for lobs, overheads, topspin, backspin, ATPs (Around the Post), and Ernes. These are often overlooked but can be important in matches. Practice these shots to ensure you have a well-rounded skill set.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: What is the best drill to improve dinking in pickleball?

A: The dink competition is highly effective for improving dinking. Start from the kitchen line, and focus on keeping the ball low and in play.

Q: How do I practice third shots in pickleball?

A: The 7-11 drill and dedicated third shot drop drills are great for practicing third shots. Start at the baseline and work your way up to the kitchen line with consistent drops and drives.

Q: What are the benefits of playing skinny singles?

A: Skinny singles help improve positioning, shot selection, and overall gameplay by providing realistic, game-like scenarios in a half-court setting.

Enhance Your Pickleball Game with Consistent Practice

To get better at pickleball, consistent practice is key. Incorporating these drills into your regular practice routine will enhance your skills, improve your strategy, and elevate your overall gameplay. Remember, it’s not just about playing hard—it’s about playing smart and focusing on specific skills that will make a difference on the court.