Pickleball Drill Strategy for Advanced Players: Pickleball coach and player Tanner Tomassi recently revealed five practice drills that helped him reach a 5.0 DUPR rating. Aimed at intermediate and advanced players, these drills are designed to improve hand speed, game strategy, and pressure performance. The tips were shared in a video featuring Tanner Tomassi and fellow player Ridley during a training session.
The drills are ideal for players who feel stuck in their progress or are preparing for tournaments. Tomassi emphasized that these exercises not only build technical skills but also increase court confidence and mental sharpness.
Dinking Under Pressure: Tug of War Drill
The first drill, called “Tug of War,” focuses on long-dink rallies and pressure handling. Tanner Tomassi and Ridley play with a shared score starting at five. When one player hits the net, the opponent gains a point. The goal is to reach ten or zero points. “No speed ups off the bounce. Only out of the air,” said Tomassi during the session.
To add pressure, if a player reaches one point but loses the next, the score resets to five. This rule keeps both players mentally alert. “Getting to zero — it’s the number of the universe. I think it hasn’t been defined,” joked Tomassi during a break in the drill.
Building Fast Hands with the Triangle Effect
The second drill centers around fast hands and a movement trick called the Triangle Effect. Tomassi hits a dead dink to Ridley, who then speeds up the shot, and they play out the point. Tomassi called this drill key to his quick reactions.
“Getting good at this drill is the separator that will take you to the next level,” he said. He explained that most top players don’t expect to win on their first fast shot. Instead, they prepare for a return and then finish the rally. This two-hit plan mimics a “one-two punch.”
“Just like in boxing, never speed up and expect the point to be over,” said Tomassi. The Triangle Effect helps players guess where the return will land based on where they aimed their shot.
“Think of it like a wall. If I have this wall here and I speed up straight ahead, where’s the ball come back to? Straight back to me,” explained Tomassi. “If I attack across body, look where it would have went. Boom. Boom.”
He then demonstrated the effect, saying, “I’m going to obliterate him. Watch this. Not staged. Not staged. Did you hear anything I said?” he asked Ridley. “No,” Ridley responded.
Attacking From the Middle of the Court
Drill three trains players to attack from midcourt, making them more dangerous from all positions. Ridley feeds Tomassi a ball. Tomassi hits an aggressive third shot drop and then rushes the net to start a hands battle.
“The year is 2025. Our paddles are faster. You have to be able to attack from all areas of the court to make yourself a threat,” said Tomassi. He believes this drill boosts confidence and puts pressure on the opponent early in the rally.
Defending Overheads with Aggressive Returns
The fourth drill helps players defend against lobs and overhead smashes. Ridley feeds the ball to Tomassi, who lobs it back. Ridley then smashes the ball, and they continue the point.
This drill simulates intense game situations where players must earn their way to the net. “What’s one thing you notice I’m doing every time when I throw up that lob to Ridley and he’s slamming it? I’m driving that first ball,” said Tomassi.
He noted that top players like Ben Johns and Anna Leigh Waters always drive the return after retrieving a lob, instead of trying to reset. “Trying to reset a ball that somebody’s cranking is next to impossible,” said Tomassi.
Hayden Patriquin’s Favorite: Crash and Return Drill
The final drill is a favorite of Hayden Patriquin, currently ranked number two in the world in men’s doubles. Tomassi recently added this drill to his training and noticed quick improvement.
In this drill, Ridley serves. Tomassi returns the serve and rushes the kitchen line. Ridley hits a hard drive down the line. The focus is on handling aggressive returns and recovering quickly.
“It has the biggest bang for your buck when it comes to drilling,” said Tomassi. This drill mimics real-match conditions and forces players to react quickly while moving into position.
Why These Drills Matter
Tanner Tomassi’s five drills offer practical and targeted training for players aiming to improve fast. Each drill sharpens a different part of the game — from control and reaction time to shot anticipation and pressure handling.
The tips and techniques he shares are already helping other players reach new levels in competitive play. By training with these drills, many players could boost their DUPR ratings, gain an edge in matches, and overcome plateaus in their performance.
News in Brief: Pickleball Drill Strategy for Advanced Players
Tanner Tomassi revealed five pickleball drills that helped him reach a 5.0 DUPR rating. The drills focus on fast hands, pressure play, midcourt attacks, overhead defense, and using the Triangle Effect. Each drill is simple yet game-changing and is ideal for players training for competitive or recreational improvement.