Master Your Pickleball Skills: 10 Must-Try Drills for All Players
Pickleball may seem to be a basic game that any racket player could easily play, but mastering the game needs consistent practice, smart strategy, and the right set of drills. Whether you’re a beginner learning the basics or an advanced player sharpening your competitive edge, drills are key to building muscle memory, improving reflexes, and boosting court awareness.
Here are 10 crucial pickleball drills curated for all skill levels—best for solo practice, doubles, or group sessions.
1. Dinking Drill
Skill Level: Beginner to Advanced
Why It Matters: Dinking is the mild shot game that dominates the non-volley zone. Mastering it enhances your control and builds up your offensive opportunities.
How to Do It:
By standing at the non-volley zone (kitchen) line across from a partner. Take turns hitting soft, controlled shots that land in the opponent’s kitchen. Focus on consistency, arc, and placement.
Tip: Try cross-court dinking to add variety and real-game angles.
2. Third Shot Drop Drill
Skill Level: Intermediate to Advanced
Why It Matters: Being a beginner this drill might look something out of the box. The third shot drop is a fundamental transition shot that helps control aggressive opponents and allows you to advance to the net.
How to Do It: From the baseline, practice hitting soft drops, make sure the ball lands in your opponent’s kitchen. Mostly you will need a partner at the kitchen line who returns the ball, or you may even use a automatic ball machine.
3. Wall Rally Drill (Solo)
Skill Level: Beginner to Intermediate
Why It Matters: Right drill for solo practice, this drill enhances hand-eye coordination, timing, and gaining control.
How to Do It: Basic approach to begin pickleball journey is wall practice. Stand a few feets away from a wall and constantly hit the ball against it and try to maintain the ball in air maintaining the rally. Focus much on forehand and backhand strokes. Good practice is to maintain rallies as long as possible.
Challenge: Alternate forehand and backhand shots every other hit.
4. Serve Consistency Drill
Skill Level: All Levels
Why It Matters: A perfect serve sets the pace of the game. Consistency and placement can help you place the ball in different positions of the court, which keeps your opponent guessing. Choosing the right pickleball paddle is very crucial in maintaining serve consistency.
How to Do It: Practice placing the ball in the target areas. Set up a target area in the diagonal service box. Practice 20–30 serves straight, focusing on target.
Pro Tip: Mix in deep serves and angle serves for variety.
5. Volley Reaction Drill
Skill Level: Intermediate to Advanced
Why It Matters: Quick reflex volleys are crucial during fast-paced exchanges at the net.
How to Do It: Stand at the kitchen line with a partner a few feet away. Have them hit quick volleys at your paddle to improve reaction time and paddle control.
Advanced Tip: Use a foam ball or speed up the pace to simulate intense rallies.
6. Footwork Shuffle Drill
Skill Level: Beginner to Intermediate
Why It Matters: Proper footwork ensures enhanced balance and sudden reaction to shots.
How to Do It: Place cones or markers in a zig-zag pattern across the court. Shuffle sideways, forward, and backward while keeping a low athletic stance. Hold your paddle in ready position the entire time.
Goal: Improving muscle memory for movement without crossing your feet.
7. Cross-Court Dink-to-Volley Drill
Skill Level: Intermediate
Why It Matters: Simulates real-game scenarios where a soft dink is answered with an aggressive volley. Check out our wide range of advanced pickleball paddles for playing aggressive volley.
How to Do It: One player stands at the kitchen line hitting soft cross-court dinks. The other returns volleys from just behind the kitchen. Alternate roles after 10 shots.
Focus: Timing and transitioning from soft to fast play.
8. Lob and Smash Drill
Skill Level: All Levels
Why It Matters: Practicing lobs and overhead smashes improves defensive and offensive play under pressure.
How to Do It: Have a partner lob the ball over your head while you practice your overhead smashes. Reverse roles after 10 repetitions.
Safety Tip: Always turn sideways and pivot instead of backpedaling to avoid injuries.
9. Kitchen Line Transition Drill
Skill Level: Intermediate to Advanced
Why It Matters: Getting from baseline to kitchen line safely is essential in doubles strategy.
How to Do It: Start at the baseline. Have a partner feed you balls as you gradually move forward, hitting controlled third shot drops or drives. Stop and reset if you hit a poor shot.
Pro Focus: Timing your advance only after executing an effective shot.
10. Skinny Singles Drill
Skill Level: All Levels
Why It Matters: Skinny singles narrows the court to half its width, emphasizing precision and stamina.
How to Do It: Play singles using only half of the court (either cross-court or straight). This drill improves accuracy, shot selection, and fitness.
Bonus: It copies many doubles rally scenarios and helps isolate weaknesses.
Final Thoughts
Drills aren’t just for beginners—they’re for players who want to improve intentionally. By regularly incorporating these 10 essential pickleball drills into your routine, you’ll see noticeable improvements in every part of your game: control, power, strategy, and confidence.
Remember, quality practice beats quantity. Focus on form, not just repetition. And most importantly, make it fun—after all, that’s what pickleball is all about.