Three training videos to improve your pickleball game.

Playing pickleball with friends is fun, but to improve your skills you often have to focus on drills that seem repetitive. However, if you focus on proper technique during practice, these movements will come naturally to you when you compete. Therefore, if you are currently playing at home, it is important that you do not neglect your skills. Instead, you should focus on refining your skills to emerge as a better player when you meet other players again.

The first video, featuring professional player Glen Peterson, is ideal for anyone who is short on space and looking for simple but effective methods to improve their game. In addition, we've included other videos from Pickleball Central that use ball machines to offer a wider range of skill improvement exercises. However, if you don't have the budget or space for a ball machine, you can ask a family member to throw pickleballs to you.

1. solo wall exercises

In this video, Glen shows how anyone can use a pickleball ball, paddle and wall to greatly improve consistency and accuracy. You'll also need some tape to mark your target. You can simply start by placing 10 shots in the same spot and expand to 100 shots next! These exercises are simple in theory, but hard to master. Work on both forehand and backhand strokes to become a more versatile player. Tight spaces in these drills can actually be beneficial, as they will improve your reaction time when playing at the kitchen zone.

2. Third Stroke Drive & Fifth Stroke Drop.

Pickleball champion Simone Jardim uses a tutorial machine to show how to incorporate a third-strike drive into the game, a technique that has a high success rate for getting to the non-volley zone in a controlled manner. The goal here is not to charge forward, but to methodically get closer to the kitchen line with each stroke. You keep your opponents in the back so you can get into a more favorable position. Simone recommends setting up targets for easier visual reference. You can use brightly colored objects in your house or work with tape, court lines or target rings.

3. block volleys

This is another exercise that looks simple, but requires a lot of training. Especially if you tend to tense up when you see approaching volleys. By adjusting your grip on your paddle and loosening your hands, you can take the power out of fast-played balls and position yourself for a more controlled return at the kitchen line. This is a great stroke to add to your repertoire to reduce the dominance of others on the court.