IMPROVE YOUR PICKLEBALL SKILLS | Drills & Pro Tips

Improving your pickleball skills is an ongoing process that requires dedication, practice, and the right approach. This section provides practical tips and drills to help you improve various aspects of your game, from basic techniques to more advanced skills.

Fundamental Skills Improvement

Serve:

• Practice: Serve 50 balls daily, focusing on consistency and placement.
• Tip: Keep your toss low and consistent to improve accuracy.

Return of Serve:

• Practice: Have a partner serve to you, focusing on deep returns.
• Tip: Step into the ball and aim for your opponent's feet.

Dinking:

• Practice: Dink rallies with a partner, aiming for specific targets.
• Tip: Use a continental grip and focus on soft, controlled shots.

Volleys:

• Practice: Rapid-fire volley drills with a partner.
• Tip: Keep your paddle up and in front of you, ready for quick reactions.

Third Shot Drop:

• Practice: Start at the baseline, hit a drop shot, then move to the kitchen line.
• Tip: Focus on arc and soft landing rather than speed.

Advanced Skill Development

Spin Shots:

• Practice: Experiment with topspin and backspin on groundstrokes.
• Tip: Brush up or down on the ball at contact to generate spin.

Lobs:

• Practice: Aim for targets deep in the court when lobbing.
• Tip: Use lobs sparingly as a surprise tactic.

Around-the-Post (ATP) Shots:

• Practice: Set up scenarios near the sideline to attempt ATP shots.
• Tip: Only attempt when you have a clear opening and are near the net.

Erne Shots:

• Practice: Start behind the kitchen line, step around, and volley.
• Tip: Use the Erne as a surprise attack, not a regular strategy.

Footwork and Positioning

Split-Step:

• Practice: Do split-step drills, reacting to a partner's movements.
• Tip: Time your split-step with your opponent's contact on the ball.

Kitchen Line Movement:

• Practice: Shuffle side-to-side along the kitchen line, maintaining ready position.
• Tip: Stay balanced and avoid crossing your feet.

Transition Zone:

• Practice: Start at the baseline, hit a shot, and quickly move to the kitchen line.
• Tip: Move forward as soon as you've hit your approach shot.

General Improvement Tips

• Video Analysis: Record your matches or practice sessions. Review footage to identify areas for improvement.
• Play with Better Players: Seek out opponents who challenge you. Learn from their techniques and strategies.
• Focused Practice: Set specific goals for each practice session. Spend extra time on your weakest skills.
• Physical Conditioning: Incorporate agility drills and cardio exercises into your routine. Focus on core strength and flexibility.
• Learn from Pros: Watch professional pickleball matches and analyze their techniques. Attend clinics or workshops led by experienced players or coaches.

Looking for more structured training ideas? Check out our Pickleball Drills guide.

Remember, improvement comes with consistent practice and patience. Focus on one or two aspects of your game at a time, and don't get discouraged if progress seems slow. Every player develops at their own pace.

Ready to take your game to the next level with advanced tactics? Let's explore Pickleball Strategy and Tactics to learn how to outthink your opponents on the court!