5 Drills that Actually Helped My Pickleball Game – Thanks to the Pickleball Driller
I’ve tried a lot of training tools, but the Pickleball Driller surprised me in the best way. It’s simple, portable, and gave me a clear visual target–something I didn’t realize I was missing until I started drilling with it. After testing it out, I found five drills that noticeably improved how I play, from better ball control to smarter placement. If you’re looking to fine-tune shots, this mightbe your new go-to.
1. Dinking: Win the Soft Game
With a partner, practice your dinks just below the blue strap, either cross-court or straight on. Your goal is to keep the ball low but push it deep toward their feet. Consistently hitting beneath the strap helps train low, controlled shots that are hard to attack. Once I started focusing here, my dinking game got a lot more confident.
2. Third Shot Drops: Build That Soft Touch
Using the Pickleball Diller, I worked on hitting soft topspin drops that just clear the strap and fall gently into the kitchen. Visualizing the ideal height helped me lock in the arc and pace of the shot. This drill alone made my third shot more reliable, and way harder to counter.
3. Serve Drills: Add Pace with Purpose
Serves are getting faster and flatter. I used the blue strap as a guide to hit lower, more aggressive serves. It helped me stay away from those high, loopy topspin shots and build a serve that’s quick, clean, and tough to return.
4. Deep Return of Serve: Set the Tone Early
As my partner served, I focused on hitting deep, topspin returns that cleared the blue strap and landed near the baseline. Whether forehand or backhand, this return set me up to take control of the rally. Bonus: this one’s a two-for-one, you both get quality reps in.
5. Third Shot Drives: Hit with Intent
With either a ball machine or partner feeding returns, I drilled low, aggressive third shot drives. If it clipped the strap? That meant I was close to ideal height. Most shots landed deep and fast, putting pressure on my opponent right away.
If you’re curious about the Pickleball Driller, you can check it out here – it’s been a surprisingly helpful tool for getting real reps in without overcomplicating things. Have fun drilling!