Top Four Pickleball Drills Anyone Can Do
Playing games is fun, but if you want to get better at pickleball, drilling is the fastest and most effective way to improve. Practicing specific shots helps you build consistency, develop touch, and gain confidence on the court.
The good news is you don’t need complicated setups or advanced training tools to improve. With just a partner and a court, you can work on essential skills that translate directly into better gameplay. These pickleball drills are simple, effective, and perfect for players of any skill level.
Down the Link Dink Game
This drill is great for improving dink control, patience, and decision-making at the kitchen line. Start by grabbing a partner and positioning yourselves at the kitchen line directly across from each other. You’ll be playing on half of the court, meaning the ball must stay on the same side throughout the rally.
One player feeds the ball in with a dink. The return must also be a dink, but after that, anything goes. You can speed up the ball, lob, volley, dink, or hit any shot you like, just keep the ball on your half of the court.
A fun way to structure the drill is to play best two out of three games to five points, then switch sides. This drill helps players practice controlled dinking while also learning when and how to attack.
Two Tap Drill
Touch and control are essential in pickleball, especially at the kitchen line. The Two Tap Drill helps players learn how to soften the ball and maintain control during fast exchanges. Stand at the kitchen line directly across from your partner and begin volleying the ball back and forth. When the ball comes to you, tap it up to yourself once before hitting it back to your partner. The goal is to maintain a consistent rally while controlling the pace of the ball. This drill improves:
Soft hands
Ball control
Reaction time
Volley consistency
It’s simple, but it’s one of the most effective ways to develop touch.
Cross Court Drops
The drop shot is one of the most important shots in pickleball. A good drop allows players to transition from the baseline to the kitchen line and take control of the point. For this drill, have your partner stand at the kitchen line while you position yourself behind the baseline cross court from them. Hit drop shots to your partner, and have them return the ball deep toward your baseline. The key rule is do not move forward after your shot—stay behind the baseline and continue hitting drops. The goal is to build consistency. Try to hit 10–20 successful drop shots in a row, then switch sides with your partner. This drill helps players develop:
Drop shot accuracy
Soft touch from the baseline
Consistency under pressure
Serving From A Basket
Sometimes the simplest drills are the most effective. Grab a basket of balls and practice serving until the basket is empty. Serve all the balls from one side of the court, focusing on consistency and placement. Once the basket is empty, collect the balls and repeat the drill from the other side. This drill helps improve:
Serve consistency
Depth and placement
Confidence starting points
Why Pickleball Drills Help You Improve Faster
Spending even a few minutes drilling before playing games can make a noticeable difference in your performance. Practicing intentionally helps build muscle memory and improves the shots you rely on during competitive play.
Adding pickleball drills like these to your routine allows you to sharpen your fundamentals while developing better control and strategy on the court. The more often you practice these pickleball drills, the more confident and consistent your overall game will become.
