A few of our favourite Drills & Games. All levels of play
More to come…
Slinky Drill: Player 1, who stays at NVL, hits underhand shots to Player 2 who returns a soft Drop into the Kitchen, backing up after every Drop Shot to the baseline; Returning to the NVL using Drops into the Kitchen. Play point out. Then rotate roles.
This is a great drill for controlling Drop Shots and learning co-operative play for drilling with a partner. Two Thumbs Up.
Love the photo. It shows you can practise pickleball literally anywhere, including on half a lawn.
GAMES: 7-11; Dingles; 8-8-1
1. 7-11: a game where one person starts at the baseline, another starts at the NVZ. The person at the NVZ sends a co-operative serve to the baseline player. They can drive or drop and transition and play the point out from there. The person at the baseline only needs 7 points to win since they have a starting disadvantage. The person at the NVZ needs 11 points to win.
2. Modified 7-11: It starts the same in that one player starts at the baseline (on "offense") and the other starts at the net (on "defense"). But it is more like skinny singles where you only score on offense and you move positions when you score. If you lose the point on offense, then you switch to defense and your opponent switches to offense. First to 11 wins.
Improved Play: You have to switch positions (forehand, straight-ahead, backhands plus baseline and net) instead of staying in the same position for the entirety of the game.
3. 2nd Version 7-1: You play to 21. If the person on the baseline works their way up to the NVZ they get a point, and the actual point goes to either player if they win it. It encourages learning to work your way up and “earn” getting up instead of hammering away at drives or rushing too soon. Still gives the person starting back an advantage since it’s obviously more difficult.
4. Dingles: played with 4 players. There are two simultaneous cross court dink battles happening. As soon as one of the balls dies then dingles is called out and the remaining ball becomes live for all 4 players. A team must win the point of both balls to score a point.
It’s skinny singles rules, meaning only half the court is in play for each pair.
5. Modified Dingles: A close cousin to dingles is to simply play to 11 as normal but all players start at the NVZ (dink serve). The first two balls must be dinks and after that anything goes. Increase that number to practice more dinks (for example 5 dinks before anybody can attack).
6. 8-8-1. Doubles. Team A takes serve at the score 8-8-1. If they don't close by side out, the other team takes over and the score reverts to 8-8-1.
Both players stand at the kitchen. Volley back and forth, slowly, then speed up until someone one misses. Points are not scored since winning is not the objective. The objective is to hone volley skills and to enhance hand/eye coordination.
King’s Court: Play determined by the court captain; can be timed play, play to 11, or rally points. If you win, you and your partner move up one court towards the King's Court. If you lose, you and your partner move down one court. After moving to your next court, players do a rotation so that you play with a new partner.
I’d love to know your favourite Drills & Games. Email me: doug@playtowinpickleball.com.