Pickleball Chair Drill Training: Pickleball coach Jarrett Chirico has introduced a special drill called the “Chair Drill” to help players improve posture, ball control, and game performance. This drill, which can be practiced anywhere, focuses on staying low, using proper body movement, and aiming the ball into targeted zones for better point play.
The Chair Drill helps players improve how they take the ball out of the air by training them to squat straight down and rise with control. The speed and direction of the ball depend on how quickly the player moves their legs and adjusts their shoulder position.
How the Chair Drill Works
Jarrett Chirico explained that the Chair Drill teaches players to keep their posture while reaching low and forward. The drill uses cones to divide the court into a defensive zone (in front of the cones) and an offensive zone (behind the cones). The main goal is to hit the ball into the defensive zone.
“You only get a point if you hit it in the defensive zone inside the cones. If you hit the cone, you also get a point.” – (Jarrett Chirico)
He added that players can stop their opponent from scoring by stepping in and taking the ball out of the air. This encourages both players to move forward, stay low, and keep their posture strong throughout the rally.
“If I break my posture, I get nowhere near my cones. But by keeping my posture, I can get much further. I’m not a tall person.” – (Jarrett Chirico)
Turning a Drill into a Real Game
To make the Chair Drill more fun and useful, Jarrett Chirico adds point scoring. It begins with a firm feed to the chest. The opponent must try to drop the ball short into the defensive zone. Each successful shot counts as a point, and the score builds as players improve.
“0-0, 1-0, 1-1, 2-1… 4-4, 5-4, 6-4, 6-5, 7-5,” said Jarrett Chirico while explaining how the scoring looks. He pointed out how both players are always leaning forward, staying on their toes, and trying to hit the ball early with perfect posture.
“What’s so great about this drill is not that it’s teaching us to reach forward and that we’re looking to take balls out of the air. What’s so great is that our comfort zone might only let us reach forward to here if we’re playing a point and then we stop. But in this drill, suddenly we’re both all the way out here completely on our toes, all of which would allow us to attack balls that we never would be able to attack before and win the point.” – (Jarrett Chirico)
Why the Drill Matters
According to Jarrett Chirico, the drill helps players move outside their comfort zones and develop natural movement they didn’t know they had. The key is to focus on reaching forward, keeping the body in position, and controlling the ball out of the air.
“It feels natural because we never knew we could do it. But when we start getting competitive and we start having a purpose to win a point, it’s amazing what starts to happen.” – (Jarrett Chirico)
He added that posture, tracking the ball, and staying balanced are important parts of success.
“Our posture is perfect, our bullseye is sticking out, we’re both trying to reach in, we’re tracking the ball… perfect posture — that was completely excellent.” – (Jarrett Chirico)
He also noted that taller players have an advantage but stressed the importance of good tracking and movement.
“Tracking is when I’m following that ball. I’m trying to take it out of the air. But if it drops, it’s okay. Then I have more time. But force yourself out of those comfort zones.” – (Jarrett Chirico)
Final Thoughts on the Chair Drill
Jarrett Chirico believes the Chair Drill is one of the best ways to teach new and experienced players how to take control of their body and paddle. He compared it to the difference in flexibility between someone who never stretches and someone who practices yoga regularly.
“This drill is incredible for not only being able to take balls out of the air and reset them. Taking it out of the air is the first step. Being able to reset it in the defensive zone is the second. Make sure you push yourself to reach in, keep your posture, set your paddle, don’t move your feet, and you’ll be amazed at what you can achieve.” – (Jarrett Chirico)
News in Brief: Pickleball Chair Drill Training
Pickleball coach Jarrett Chirico’s “Chair Drill” helps players build better posture, control, and quickness by forcing them to squat, reach forward, and take balls out of the air. The drill uses cones and scoring to make training fun and teaches skills that can lead to real point-winning results.
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