Pickleball Drills for Teamwork Improvement: Pickleball mental coach DJ Howard introduced “Volley 100,” a four-player game designed to improve volleys and teamwork. The challenge requires players to reach 100 volleys before the opposing team, focusing on control, quick reactions, and consistency at the net.
How the Game Works
In this drill, only volleys count toward the score. Feeds do not count, and shots that bounce off the ground are not included. As DJ Howard explained, “Only volleys out of the air count. Trying to get to 100 first before the other team. Are you ready? Get set. Go.”
Shannon and John played together on one team, while Jamie, Sue, and Damen formed the other team. The objective was to return the ball out of the air as many times as possible until reaching 100. If a mistake happened, play continued from the last total rather than restarting.
Keys to Success in Volley 100
Howard emphasized proper technique during the game. Players were told to keep their knees bent, paddles out in front, and to reach for the ball early. He reminded players, “Obviously important to keep the ball up and out of the net because any ball that you hit in the net is going to delay you and your team from getting to 100 volleys.”
Controlling speed and height was also stressed. “Control the pace of this ball. Control the height of this ball,” Howard said. Hitting too fast leads to errors, while hitting too slowly gives the other team an advantage. Players were encouraged to find the right balance.
Rotations and Winning the Game
Once a team reached 100 volleys, teammates swapped to create new pairings. For example, John and Shannon earned one victory after reaching 100 first. The game continued with three total rounds so that each player could team up with different partners. The player with the most round wins was named the overall winner.
Why It Matters
Volley 100 is not only a competitive challenge but also a valuable warm-up before matches. By repeating volleys under pressure, players improve hand-eye coordination, reflexes, and teamwork. DJ Howard described it as “a team challenge. Great warm up before you go out to play your pickleball. Warm up the volleys and get your body ready to play.”
News in Brief: Pickleball Drills for Teamwork Improvement
Pickleball coach DJ Howard created “Volley 100,” a four-player drill that improves volleys and control. Teams aim for 100 volleys without ground bounces or feeds. Players rotate teammates each round, and the most wins decide the champion. The game doubles as a fun and effective pre-match warm-up.
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