Pickleball Prediction Training Drills: Kyle from ThatPickleballSchool has introduced three drills designed to help pickleball players stop hitting out balls and win more rallies. By focusing on prediction instead of reaction, players can improve their decision-making and add four to six extra rallies per game.
Lessons from Baseball
To explain prediction, Kyle compared pickleball to Major League Baseball. A fastball traveling 100 miles per hour reaches the catcher in .38 seconds, similar to the speed of a midcourt speed-up in pickleball.
He pointed to Albert Pujols, one of the greatest baseball hitters, who struggled against Jenny Finch, a top softball pitcher. Pujols could not hit her pitches because the delivery looked different, leaving him without familiar cues. Kyle explained that pickleball players face the same challenge: learning to read indicators rather than just reacting.
Which Shots Go Out Most Often
Kyle emphasized that the shots most often hit out are speed-ups from the kitchen and drives from the baseline or midcourt. To address these, he designed three progressive drills that train the eyes and mind to recognize patterns.
Drill One: Feed and Learn
In this stage, one player feeds while the other hits speed-ups. All balls bounce first—no volleys—so the defender can focus only on reading signals.
The defender studies:
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Ball height
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Court depth
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Opponent footwork
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Length of backswing
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Spin type
Kyle noted that most players make decisions after contact, leaving them only .25 seconds to react. He encouraged players to predict before the swing.
Drill Two: Feed and Read
This drill adds decision-making. The feeder tosses, the hitter speeds up, and the defender chooses whether to counter or dodge.
Key cues include:
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Balls above net height usually come down fast.
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Low or shallow shots are more likely to go out.
Kyle encouraged players to move lower, adjust their stance, and expect mistakes while learning. He explained, “Sometimes, dodging a ball and staring down your opponent is more demoralizing than hitting a winner.”
Drill Three: Feed and Lie
Here the hitter must speed up within the first five balls. The defender applies all cues—ball height, footwork, and depth—while making quick predictions.
For realism, Kyle suggested skinny singles, where the server must drive the third and fifth shots. The returner then moves forward while predicting, adding pressure similar to real games.
Why Prediction Matters
Kyle explained that reacting too late makes players appear unprepared, much like Albert Pujols against Jenny Finch. By watching closely, players can learn to spot small cues such as changes in footwork, paddle angle, or body movement.
Quick Practice Option
Kyle recommended short daily sessions, saying that players only need 15 minutes before matches to run these drills. Over time, more repetitions improve accuracy and confidence.
He concluded by encouraging players to build habits gradually: “Eat your beans at every meal.”
Importance of Training
These drills highlight the difference between guessing and reading plays in advance. Players who train their eyes to predict will save points, build confidence, and control matches more effectively.
News in Brief: Pickleball Prediction Training Drills
Kyle from ThatPickleballSchool shared three drills—Feed and Learn, Feed and Read, and Feed and Lie—that help players predict out balls instead of reacting late. Inspired by lessons from baseball, these drills train players to win more rallies, avoid errors, and improve confidence in competitive pickleball matches.