Pickleball is a game that is played with a lot of dexterity, quick movements, and most importantly, the ability to outsmart the opponent. For beginners, they always require some practice while for the others they may be interested in knowing how it feels to be on the court. But then again, what are the best drills for pickleball practice?
The following guide by GatorStrike will reveal some of the best drills you can use while playing this game from the beginner’s level.
Sharpen Your Basics
One must lay a good foundation to excel in pickleball. Here are a few drills to perfect your core mechanics:
Paddle Up
This seemingly simple drill is a treasure chest of material for beginners. Stand in front of the ball place your paddle over the ball and then flick the ball just upwards into the air, without any spin; just try to make it go straight up and down, or hit the ball at a fairly consistent height. This helps to improve hand-eye coordination and paddle control which are the basic aspects of mastering more sophisticated skills.
Forehand and Backhand Groundstrokes
It only takes a minute to feel comfortable with Paddle Up, now let’s progress to groundstrokes. Start at the baseline and take turns to do only forehands or backhands, attempting to go deep and straight down the court. GatorStrike has the best pickleball paddle for every player depending on the type of play you intend to make, the Precision Striker pickleball paddle is ideal for these basic hits.
Forehand Volley Drill
Approach the net, and work on soft, controlled forehand volleys. Begin with a partner serving you easy, soft eatable volleys, as the session progresses he/she gradually increases the difficulty of the feed. This drill favors your reflexes and net play which are very important if you want to be a force close to the net.
Intermediary Players Drills
The exercises that you conduct should change with your growing expertise as you try to sharpen your skills. Here are some drills to refine your strategy and technique:
The "Dink" Drill
The “dink” which is a soft controlled drop shot is a shot that intermediate players must learn. One player should stand behind the net, and the other should be on the opposite side of the court; the objective is to make the ball bounce low and remain within the court. This drill enhances touch, and control of the net and makes players think about how to handle the ball during a rally.
The "Drive and Volley" Drill
This drill focuses on the strong ground strokes together with proper manners of approaching the net. Starting from the basic position, swing as hard as you can towards your partner on the net. Your partner should return the ball to you so that you can then go through the process of the powerful drive and then follow up with the controlled volley.
Footwork Drills
The fundamental of a good pickleball game is how one can move their feet. Seek for activities that include side-to-side movements, forward and backward movements, and changes in direction. These drills enhance the quickness and reflexes hence enabling the players to move around the court in the most efficient way possible.
For all these drills, it is recommended that you get a good pickleball set from GatorStrike. For practice, our sets consist of strong paddles and brightly colored pickleballs to enhance proper performance.
Final Thoughts
What are the best drills for pickleball practice? - These drills mentioned above should be performed routinely with a proper pickleball paddle, and investing in one will improve one’s pickleball abilities – for instance, the GatorStrike Carbon pickleball paddle!
With dedication and the right practice drills, you'll be dominating the court in no time. Therefore, if you’re using GatorStrike pickleball equipment, it is time to level up your game!
