Essential Pickleball Drills for Improvement: If you’re struggling to keep up with experienced pickleball players, it’s time to try some drills that will take your game to the next level. These five essential drills are designed to improve your footwork, speed, accuracy, and overall performance. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned player, these exercises will help you become a stronger competitor.
Drill 1: Crosscourt
The crosscourt drill is perfect for players at any skill level. To start, you need a partner and a pickleball court. The goal is to dink the ball back and forth across the court, focusing on keeping the ball low. This will improve your accuracy, footwork, and balance.
As you move side to side, stay low and keep your weight centered to maintain control. After practicing for a few minutes, turn it into a competition, playing to five or seven points to sharpen your skills under pressure.
Drill 2: Backhand Dinking
This drill helps improve your backhand skills. It starts like the crosscourt drill, but now you’ll focus on hitting with your backhand. Spend a few minutes practicing different techniques with your partner.
You can also aim to take the ball out of the air or force your opponent to react quickly. After practicing, play a few points and try to use the skills you just worked on. The key is to stay focused and intentional with your shots.
Drill 3: Third Shot Drop
This drill focuses on the third shot drop, an important part of any pickleball game. One player stands at the kitchen line while the other stands at the baseline. The server hits the ball, and the other player returns it. The server’s goal is to hit a third shot drop into the kitchen or force the opponent to hit the ball upwards.
This exercise helps improve your top spin and bounce control. To make the drill more exciting, turn it into a game, like “7-Eleven,” where the player at the kitchen line tries to score 11 points while the baseline player aims for seven.
Drill 4: Blocking
Blocking is an essential skill in pickleball, especially for beginners. Many players hit the ball hard, but the key to defense is blocking. This drill helps you practice blocking, which prevents your opponent from driving the ball past you.
While you block, your partner can work on their driving skills. This is an excellent drill for improving your defense and learning when to let balls go out, a tricky skill to master.
Drill 5: Skinny Singles
Skinny singles is a fun way to put everything you’ve learned into practice. In this drill, you’ll play one-on-one on a smaller court. It allows you to use forehand and backhand shots, dinks, third shot drops, and blocking techniques.
To play, simply serve the ball, and the winner of each point switches sides. The game continues until someone reaches 11 points. This drill challenges you to use all your skills in a game setting.
News in Brief: Essential Pickleball Drills for Improvement
Here are five must-try pickleball drills to improve the game: Crosscourt, backhand dinking, third shot drop, blocking, and skinny singles. These drills will help enhance your footwork, speed, and accuracy on the court. Try them out to boost your performance, no matter your skill level.
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