Double Ball Drill With Jay Devilliers: When it comes to building strength, many focus on muscles like biceps and quads. However, for pickleball players aiming to improve their performance on the court, especially in the kitchen area, training the eyes is equally important. Jay Devilliers, a top pro, has introduced the “Double Ball Drill” to help players enhance their visual tracking and see the ball with greater clarity and precision.
What is the Double Ball Drill?
To perform the Double Ball Drill, players position themselves on opposite sides of the net, standing at their respective kitchen lines. Each player holds a pickleball and begins dinking the balls back and forth simultaneously.
Initially, the objective is to establish a rhythm. Players should start by hitting the balls softly and straight ahead, allowing both individuals to adjust to the timing and coordination. It might take a few attempts to get comfortable with this setup.
Once they are accustomed to the basic rhythm, players can increase the difficulty by executing sharper dinks and moving each other around the court to simulate more realistic play conditions.
The Keys to a Successful Drill
For the Double Ball Drill to be effective, players need to challenge themselves and their partners to push the limits of their coordination and reaction time. As they progress, the following strategies can be incorporated:
- Intercept Balls Mid-Air: Players should take balls out of the air whenever possible to sharpen their reflexes.
- Shift the Partner’s Position: They should aim to move their partner left or right to enhance spatial awareness and adaptability.
- Adjust the Speed: Occasionally increasing the speed of dinks is beneficial, but players must keep it controlled to avoid injuries. It is advisable to use about 50 percent power to maintain safety while boosting intensity.
The Benefits of the Double Ball Drill
Eyesight can deteriorate over time due to conditions like presbyopia, which impairs the ability to focus on close objects. This weakening of eye muscles often necessitates the use of reading glasses or bifocals.
Regular practice of complex drills such as the Double Ball Drill can help players strengthen their visual tracking abilities and potentially improve their overall pickleball game. This drill not only sharpens eye-hand coordination but also helps maintain and enhance visual acuity, keeping performance at its peak.