Pickleball Drills
You improve fastest by drilling the shots that decide points, not by playing more games. These are the highest-leverage drills, from soft-game control to hand speed — with solo options when you don’t have a partner.
By the VolleyForge team · Reviewed August 2026
Cross-court dinking
The single best drill in pickleball. With a partner, rally dinkscross-court — low over the net, landing in the kitchen — and try to keep 20 or more going. It trains the patience and touch that win at the line. Progress by moving each other side to side.
Third-shot drops
Feed yourself or have a partner return your serve, then hit a third shot dropthat lands soft in the kitchen so you can advance to the net. It’s the hardest shot to groove, which is exactly why drilling it pays off more than almost anything else.
Resets and blocks
Have a partner drive balls at you while you soften them back into the kitchen with a still paddle. Learning to reset a hard ball instead of panicking is what lets you survive firefights at the net and stay in the point.
Hand-speed at the kitchen
Stand at the line across from a partner and volley quick, controlled exchanges — punch, block, counter. This sharpens the fast reflexes doubles firefights demand, and it teaches you to keep the paddle up and in front.
Solo wall drills
No partner? A wall works. Dink and reset against it from about 7 feet back to build touch, then step back for drives and volleys. Wall reps build consistency and hand speed you can’t get any other way when you’re on your own.
Pickleball Strategy (start here)
The habits that actually raise your level — get to the net, master the soft game, and play smarter doubles.
How to dink
The soft game that wins points at the net — how to dink low, cross-court, and patiently, plus the mistakes to avoid.
The third shot drop
The most important shot in pickleball — why you hit it, how to execute it, and when to drive instead.
Doubles strategy
Get to the net together, hit to the middle, be patient — the positioning and shot selection that win doubles.
How to raise your DUPR
What actually moves your rating — play rated matches, challenge up, sharpen the soft game, and log results.
Quick tips
The handful of habits that raise your level fastest — get to the line, keep it deep, slow it down, and hit to the middle.