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Dirty dozen drills

Basic drills for improvement of pickleball play

Dirty Dozen Drills for Pickleball

Grab your paddle, pick up that pickleball and snag a partner.  It is often said that we play like we practice so if we don't practice you guess it--we may not play as well as we had hoped!
​Here are twelve simple drills geared at enhancing your skills at pickleball while insuring the games remain a "ton of fun!"

STRAIGHT ON DINKS
Both people stand at the NVZ and gently hit balls back and forth into the kitchen bending your knees and scooping the ball over the net to your opponent.
CROSS COURT BACKHAND DINKS
Individuals stand at opposite corners of the NVZ hitting cross court dink and volley shots to their opponent.
CROSS CHOURT FOREHAND DINKS
Repeat above but from opposite corners of the NVZ.
SKINNY SINGLES STRAIGHT ON
Individuals play a regular game but only on one half of the court. Service is always diagonal while the game is played on the court opposite from this serve ball—i.e., the receiving player.
SKINNY SINGLES FOREHAND--NVZ
Game is played between two individuals each starting at the NVZ but opposite court from their opponent. The game is played only cross court within the confines of the diagonal courts.
SKINNY SINGLES BACKHAND--NVZ
The game is played as above but individuals play on the opposite side of the court as from the previous game.
DROP SHOT—BACK COURT
An individual stands at the NVZ and hits balls to their opponent while they drop the shot into the kitchen. The individual hitting the ball stands in the back court.
DROP SHOT—MID COURT
An individual stands at the NVZ and hits balls to their opponent who is standing in midcourt--no man’s land! The individual at midcourt hits the ball into the NVZ.
ZING ZANG
Both people stand at the NVZ and as rapidly as comfortable hit the ball to the opposing player in the air. The objective is to provide your appointment with a very returnable shot, not attempting to beat the opponent. Another objective is to ensure that you hit the ball on the sweet spot of your paddle to ensure you have maximum control.
VOLLEY SHOTS ONE GOES-ONE STAYS
Individuals stand at the NVZ with one individual remaining stationary and the other rotating to the left and right while returning a volley shot.
VOLLEY SHOTS MOVING IN SYNC
Individuals stand at the NVZ while moving right and left in sync hitting volley shots at each other.
VOLLEY SHOTS MOVING IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS
Individuals stand at the NVZ in opposite corners while moving to their left and right respectively striking volley shots at their opponent who is moving in an opposite direction.
​

Want to see the drills in action--click on the arrow to the right and begin to see yourself performing all of these shots as drills and warmups!

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  • PPP HOME
    • PPP Perks
  • Places to Play
  • PICKLEBALL SCHEDULE
  • Drills & Skills & Strategy
    • Skills & Strategy
  • Tournaments & Clinics
    • ATP CLINIC 2023
    • 2022 PPP Tournaments