In pickleball, hitting hard can be fun, but if your shot sails long or smashes into the net, it’s just a lost point. The best players win by consistently placing the ball where their opponents aren’t, forcing errors, and controlling the court with precision.
If you’re ready to take your accuracy to the next level, it’s time to train with intention. The following drills are designed to help you target specific areas of the court, sharpen your placement, and develop the kind of control that leads to more wins.
1. Three, Five, Seven Drill
Goal: Build consistency, control, and accuracy while transitioning from the baseline to the Non-Volley Zone (NVZ).
How to Do It:
- Start at the baseline with your partner positioned at the Kitchen Line across from you.
- Your partner feeds you a “faux” return of serve. You hit a third shot drop or drive (the “three”).
- Instead of rushing forward, move slowly into the transition zone and hit a controlled fifth shot (the “five”).
- Continue easing forward and hit a seventh shot drop or drive (the “seven”).
- Finish by moving all the way to the NVZ, then play out the point.
- Return to the baseline and repeat.
Why It Works: This drill trains you to hit accurate, purposeful shots from every zone of the court, especially under pressure. It also improves footwork, shot selection, and patience—crucial skills for staying in control and winning more rallies as you work your way in.
2. Alternating Drops & Drives Drill
Goal: Improve footwork, shot variety, and control while switching between forehand/backhand drops and drives.
How to Do It:
- Stand on the middle line at or near the baseline with your partner directly across the net from you.
- Have your partner hit or toss a pickleball a few feet to your forehand side.
- Move your feet and hit a forehand drop, resetting to the middle line.
- Have your partner hit or toss a pickleball a few feet to your backhand side.
- Move your feet and hit a backhand drop, resetting to the middle line.
- Repeat this process to practice forehand drives and backhand drives, remembering to reset to the middle line between each shot. For example, alternate between a drop and a drive in this pattern:
- Ball to forehand → hit a drop
- Ball to backhand → hit a drop
- Ball to forehand → hit a drive
- Ball to backhand → hit a drive
- Continue this pattern, alternating shot type and side.
Add a Challenge: Try picking up the pace for a cardio boost, have your partner keep you guessing by hitting to your forehand and backhand in a random sequence, or shrink your target zone to boost precision under pressure.
Footwork Tip: Great placement starts from the ground up. Focus on getting into the right position early. Use small, quick steps to stay balanced and aligned as you prepare for your shot. Good footwork helps maintain control and accuracy, especially under pressure.
3. Pattern Dinking with Target Zones
Goal: Improve accuracy, control, and consistency with both straight-on and crosscourt dinks.
How to Do It:
- Set up at the Non-Volley Zone (NVZ) with you and your partner directly across from each other.
- Use only half of the court to start.
- Begin a dink rally following this pattern:
- You hit straight ahead, your partner hits crosscourt.
- You hit straight ahead again, your partner hits crosscourt again.
- Repeat the pattern consistently.
- After a few minutes, switch roles so you’re the one hitting crosscourt and your partner hits straight ahead.
Why It Works: This structured dink drill forces you to aim with intention, adjust your paddle angle, and develop muscle memory for precise dink placement. As you improve, increase the challenge by expanding to three-quarters of the court, or go full court for a cardio-friendly accuracy test. It’s a great way to train your eye, soft hands, and shot discipline all in one go.
4. Precision Targeting Drill
Goal: Improve your ability to aim at your opponent’s body, especially their paddle-side hip or feet, for hard-to-return shots.
How to Do It:
- Drill with a partner standing in the transition zone or at the NVZ.
- Use controlled drives or speed-ups aimed at specific target zones: their feet, paddle-side hip, or shoulder.
- Rotate roles every 10 shots.
Pro Tip: Try “going for the chicken wing.” This means targeting the shoulder or elbow on your opponent’s paddle side. It’s a tricky spot to defend because it jams them up, forcing awkward movements and often resulting in a weak return or a pop-up. Practicing this can give you a powerful edge in fast exchanges.
5. Line Hitting Accuracy Drill
Goal: Sharpen your ability to hit down the sideline or baseline without missing.
How to Do It:
- Use painter’s tape or chalk to mark small target zones along the sideline or baseline.
- From the baseline or mid-court, hit drives or topspin shots aimed just inside these lines.
- Focus on footwork and follow-through to avoid overhitting.
Pro Tip: Start at 50% pace to build accuracy first, then increase speed.
6. Soft Hands Kitchen Reset Drill
Goal: Practice softly resetting hard-hit balls into the NVZ with control and accuracy.
How to Do It:
- Stand at the Non-Volley Zone (Kitchen) line directly across from your partner.
- Begin by dinking back and forth to establish rhythm and soft touch.
- After a few dinks, your partner can shout a signal word such as “now!” or “fast” and hit a fastball aimed at your midsection (belly button height). Your goal is to absorb the pace and reset the ball into the kitchen with control.
- Resume dinking after the reset.
- After a few more dinks, switch roles. This time, you call out the signal word and fire a fastball. Repeat the reset and resume dinking.
Add a Challenge: Once resets become consistent, remove the verbal warning. Instead, learn to anticipate fastballs by reading body language and paddle cues. Look for a bigger backswing or a change in grip position.
Accuracy doesn’t happen by accident. It’s a skill that’s built with repetition, focus, and great footwork. Start slow, emphasize control, and gradually build speed once your placement improves. Whether you’re going for the corner, soft in the kitchen, or into your opponent’s body, these drills will help you hit your mark and take control of the court. Master your targets and pinpoint your shots to play smarter, more effective pickleball.
