The Only 6 Pickleball Drills You’ll Ever Need to Elevate Your Game

If you’re serious about stepping up your pickleball game, these six drills are your golden ticket to sharper skills and smarter play. Tailored for players at every level, they focus on essential areas like serving, returning, dinking, and hand speed. Whether you’re looking to dominate at the kitchen or outsmart your opponent mid-court, these drills make every practice session count.

1. Openers: This drill refines your serves and returns—the foundation of every point. Focus on deep, targeted serves to keep your opponent pinned back. Likewise, return with a plan, aiming for depth to limit their ability to approach the net. Pairing serves and returns with realistic movements, like rushing the kitchen after a return, ensures your practice mimics actual gameplay.

2. The Charmin Drill: Softness is key for third-shot drops, a crucial skill in pickleball. This drill has one player at the baseline practicing drops into the kitchen, aiming to force their partner to hit up on the ball. Repeating drops from various angles sharpens your precision and adaptability, preparing you for real-game scenarios.

3. Space Invaders: A mid-court drill that helps you control “no man’s land,” forcing your way toward the net with reset shots. Combine consistency with strategic advancement to dominate this tricky transition area. Once mastered, this drill teaches you to turn defensive scenarios into offensive opportunities.

4. Setups and 5. Tight Spaces: Dinking drills take center stage here. The Setups drill focuses on crosscourt dinking to create openings for attacks, while Tight Spaces limits dinks to down-the-line play, sharpening control and touch. Together, they build the foundation for offensive dinking that disrupts your opponent’s balance and sets up winning shots.

6. Lightning: The ultimate hand-speed drill, Lightning pushes you to react quickly in kitchen battles. Start collaboratively by aiming at your partner’s chest, but gradually increase intensity, focusing on hitting the ball down to gain the advantage. This drill mirrors fast-paced exchanges, helping you end points decisively.

Each drill offers unique insights and benefits, making them indispensable for players looking to elevate their game. Incorporate them into your routine, and you’ll see your skills—and confidence—soar on the court.