Pickleball Left Side Drills: Cam Luring, a professional pickleball player competing on the A and PPA Tour and ranked inside the top 20 in mixed doubles, shared drills to improve left-side play in doubles. He explained how mastering positioning, shot selection, and teamwork can help left-side players control the court and win more points.
Left-side players often react to shots instead of controlling the middle. Luring emphasized that using the right strategies allows players to set up their partners, attack effectively, and maintain court coverage. He demonstrated three key drills to enhance both offensive and defensive skills on the left side.
Drill 1: Should I Dink or Should I Go?
This drill focuses on deciding when to take the ball out of the air or dink it back. Luring explained, “One of the most common patterns that I see at all levels, especially the pro level, is this left-hand side player looking to take the ball out of the air and push out wide to that backhand side.” He added that players should consider ball height: below the waist for a dink and above for an attack. Luring stressed keeping the paddle in front of the kitchen line to avoid overextending.
Drill 2: Push vs. Roll
Luring distinguished between defensive push dinks and offensive roll dinks. Defensive pushes use a slicing motion, while offensive rolls involve controlled topspin. “If the ball is not close to your body, it should be a defensive dink. The closer the ball is to your body, the easier it is to manipulate the ball and create top spin,” he explained. Practicing backhand-to-backhand volleys builds consistency and deception for left-side play.
Drill 3: Left Side Gameplay
In live game drills, players practice controlling the middle and attacking diagonally. Luring advised positioning: “If you are going to be a left side player, you need to be looking to protect the middle with the forehand or counter with the forehand when the ball is diagonal from you.” He noted that most winners are hit through the middle, making court coverage and correct foot placement essential. Players can vary the drill by allowing only one side to initiate a speed-up, focusing on counterattacks and maintaining court discipline.
Using these drills, left-side players can improve decision-making, accuracy, and court control. Luring emphasized that timing, paddle placement, and anticipation are key to turning defensive positions into offensive opportunities. Proper practice can help players dominate their side of the court and support their partners effectively.
News in Brief: Pickleball Left Side Drills
Cam Luring, top-20 mixed doubles pickleball player, shared drills to improve left-side play. Focusing on deciding when to dink or attack, practicing push and roll dinks, and controlling the middle can boost court coverage and winning chances. Proper positioning and teamwork allow left-side players to dominate points in doubles matches.
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