If you’re struggling to find the right pickleball drills that actually make a noticeable difference in your game, you’re not alone. Many players hit a plateau simply because they rely on casual play instead of focused training. The truth is simple: the right drills can sharpen your technique dramatically, faster than regular games ever will. With a little structure and the right practice routine, your weaknesses can quickly turn into your strengths and that’s exactly what this guide is going to help you achieve.
Below, you’ll find the most effective pickleball drills for beginners, intermediate players, advanced players, solo practice, partner practice, at-home sessions, machine training, and more. Each drill is explained with depth and clarity so you can implement it immediately. Whether you’re working on footwork, dinks, resets, third shots, volleys, or accuracy, consider this your complete roadmap to improving your pickleball game.
1. Paddle-Up Control Drill
This simple beginner drill teaches touch, paddle awareness, and wrist control, three foundational skills that later influence your dinks, drops, and resets. Start by tapping the ball upward off your paddle repeatedly, keeping the ball centered on the paddle face. Once you’re comfortable, try walking around, increasing and decreasing the bounce height, or moving laterally. It’s also a great way to warm up before a match.
2. Selfie Bounce Drill
Begin with your paddle flat, bounce the ball upward, allow it to hit the ground once, and scoop it back into a controlled bounce. This drill reinforces paddle angle control and teaches beginners to transition between soft touch and controlled rebound. Pair it with early footwork practice for maximum benefits.
Best Pickleball Drills for Intermediate Players
By the time most players reach the intermediate stage, two weaknesses commonly appear: predictable dinking and inconsistent third-shot drops. These drills target both issues.
1. Triangle Dinking Drill
Intermediate players often fall into patterns, we notice a lot of dinking to the same spot repeatedly, which makes them predictable and easy to pressure. Triangle dinking forces you to vary direction intentionally.
Place three target markers on the opponent’s side (left, middle, right). Aim for each in sequence. This helps refine forehand/backhand touch, court vision, and your ability to change direction under pressure — all vital skills for high-level kitchen play.
2. Third Shot Drop Repetition Drill
Stand at the baseline while your partner occupies the kitchen line. Your focus: drop the ball softly into the kitchen with arc, touch, and consistency. This drill builds the muscle memory needed to transition from the baseline to the non-volley zone with confidence a move that separates intermediate players from advanced ones.
Best Pickleball Drills for Advanced Players
Advanced drills require stamina, quick transitions, and total control over shot placement. These exercises replicate high-level match scenarios.
1. Hit-and-Run Court Movement Drill
Begin at the baseline. Your partner hits a deep, fast drive down the sideline; you chase it down and return cross-court. They hit another ball down the opposite sideline, forcing you to sprint again. This continuous movement builds elite-level footwork, lateral speed, and drive accuracy.
2. Dink-and-Lob Combination Drill
This advanced deception drill teaches you how to disguise your lob behind a soft dink. Your opponent dinks from the kitchen; you return a soft dink, then suddenly switch to a high-arching lob aimed three feet from the baseline. This keeps opponents honest and prevents them from over-crowding the kitchen line.
Pickleball Drills for Two Players
Training with a partner multiplies your improvement especially when both players commit to consistency.
1. Continuous Volley Battle
Both players volley back and forth without letting the ball bounce. Add alternating right/left volleys to simulate real-time exchanges. This drill sharpens reflexes, paddle angle control, and comfort at the kitchen line — essential for doubles play.
2. Bert & Erne Footwork Drill
Since the Erne involves jumping outside the court to attack a ball at the net, and the Bert involves crossing into your partner’s zone to poach an Erne, both require precise timing and footwork. Practice the approach steps hop, plant, explode and integrate soft setups to prepare these shots safely.
Pickleball Solo Drills
Solo training is invaluable when a partner isn’t available. These drills help you refine technique without relying on someone else.
1. Shadow Swing Technique Drill
Perform forehand and backhand swings in the air exactly as you would during a real point. Study your paddle angle, shoulder rotation, and follow-through. Using a mirror amplifies results. This drill strengthens your muscle-memory foundation — the secret behind smooth, repeatable strokes.
2. Serving Accuracy Targets
Set up multiple targets on the opposite baseline and practice hitting each repeatedly. Consistency in serve depth and placement dramatically improves your ability to set the tone of a rally. You’ll quickly notice your error count decreasing and free points increasing.
Pickleball Wall Drills
A simple wall can unlock hours of meaningful practice especially for players living in urban areas.
1. Wall Target Accuracy Drill
Mark a spot on the wall and aim to hit it repeatedly from various distances. This builds precision and prepares you to hit specific zones under pressure. Once you’re consistent, move the target higher or wider to keep challenging yourself.
2. Drive-and-Move Reaction Drill
Hit hard drives from several yards back, allowing the ball to rebound off the wall. Move quickly to intercept the rebound and drive again. This simulates high-speed exchanges and helps build stamina and predictable ball-tracking skills.
Pickleball Drills You Can Do at Home
You don’t need a court for every training session. These drills keep your skills sharp even on busy days.
1. Footwork Shuffle Lines
Mark two parallel lines on the ground and shuffle side-to-side between them while maintaining a low stance. This improves agility, balance, and early movement all critical for reaching dinks and sharp angles.
2. Sprint Intervals
Set two markers and alternate sprints with recovery walks. Pickleball isn’t just about touch it requires explosive bursts, and this drill mimics in-game movements.
Fun Pickleball Drills to Keep Training Interesting
Training doesn’t always need to be intense. These lighter drills keep practices enjoyable while sharpening reflexes and ball control.
1. Reflex Pressure Drill
Start with soft dinks, then unpredictably fire a fast drive at your partner. They must calmly absorb the shot and return it softly without popping it up. This teaches poise under pressure and prepares players for competitive play.
2. Catch-and-Return Control Drill
Your partner hits balls at varying speeds and spins. You must “catch” the ball on your paddle, reducing its bounce to nearly zero before sending it back. This develops elite-level control and touch essential for resets and net play.
What Skills Do These Drills Build?
These drills collectively enhance the four pillars of strong pickleball performance:
- Balance – for stability and shot execution
- Footwork & stance – for positioning and court coverage
- Reflexes & hand-eye coordination – for volleys and fast exchanges
- Ball control – for dinks, resets, and drops
How to Plan an Effective Drilling Session
A successful session requires structure so before you even decide to book a session you need to ask yourself these questions:
- What specific weakness do I want to improve today?
This will help you in transforming your weakness into your strength, for eg: you were getting caught on a lob constantly, in that case you will need to focus on doing a drill to counter the lob. - Am I practicing alone or with a partner?
This will help you determine the types of drills that you can do, just like in the gym, coming in with a pre-determined plan of action will help you to be productive in a drilling session.
- Do I have court access or only home space?
Againg depending on your answer you can set a plan of action either solo drills or even wall drills can be done. - How much time do I have?
Knowing this can help you in determining how many areas can you work on in a session.
Mix up drills regularly so training stays exciting and productive.
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