Pickleball players just starting out often want to quickly get to the next level. The easiest way to improve in pickleball is by performing pickleball drills to master the fundamentals. The problem is there are so many types of drills that it can be difficult to figure out which ones you should focus on.

Luckily, pro pickleball coach Mark Price recently partnered with Pickleball Central to do a video series on pickleball tips for beginners and explains which top three drills beginners should focus on.

Who is Mark Price?

Mark Price has been playing pickleball since 2018 and has 25 years of teaching experience and professional sports coaching. Mark is a PPR-certified professional pickleball coach and is rated as a 5.0 player.

Mark hosts signature pickleball camps throughout the year aimed at helping players improve their pickleball game. Events are based in Rome, GA, but are periodically held in locations across Georgia State. If you’re in a larger group (16 - 24 people) Mark will travel to you for a 3-day camp, anywhere in the USA. For further information on his camps, visit markpricepickleball.com.

Drill #1: Lift Dink

The goal of this drill is to lift the ball just over the net with your pickleball paddle into the non-volley zone (NVZ).

How to Perform this Drill

Imagine you’re going to underhand toss a ball without flicking your wrist or using your elbows. You want a smooth action, primarily utilizing your shoulder to lift the ball. You want this feeling as you put the paddle in your hand and dink the ball over the net.

Have your playing partner stand opposite of you and just practice lift-dinking the ball to one another repeatedly. Of course, if you don’t have a playing partner, you can practice with a bucket of balls or against a wall.

Tips:

Aim to lift the ball about 6 to 8 inches over the net.
Grip pressure: grip the paddle with a 3 out of 10 pressure.
Swing speed is slow–a lift or a pushing motion.

Drill #2: Volley Dink

The goal of this drill is to practice volleying the ball–which is simply not allowing the ball to bounce before hitting it.

How to Perform this Drill

You want the same type of motion as the lift dink, but now, instead of hitting the ball after it bounces, you want to volley it back and forth over the net. You can do this with a partner or a wall. If you have a partner, have them toss the ball near your feet so that you can mimic playing conditions better.

Tips:

If you’re finding yourself hitting the ball too hard, think of it as not swinging the paddle but just touching it instead.
The swing is slightly smaller since the ball is already high and close to the top of the net when you hit it.
This drill helps if you’re a player who is uncomfortable at the NVZ or who finds themselves falling back a lot to take their shots.

Drill #3: Block Volleys

The final drill is called block volleys. In this defensive drill, you’ll focus on defending yourself against players who like to drive the ball at you.

How to Perform this Drill

Using your paddle like a shield, have your partner throw an underhanded ball at your chest with some speed. Your goal is not to swing into the ball but instead use your paddle to block the ball and push it slightly so that it falls over the net. This is often done with a backhand motion. You can think of it as though you are punching the ball back with your paddle.

Tips:

After the motion is down, have your partner drive the ball at you with their paddle.
Keep the paddle out in front of your chest to avoid getting jammed up.
The movement is small since the ball is moving so fast.
Start slow and gradually pick up the pace.

Mark Price Shows Proper Form for Beginner Drills

Final Thoughts

The next time you hit the pickleball court to practice, don’t forget to run some of these beginner drills. Proper technique of the fundamentals will allow you to easily master more advanced shot drops, third shots, and help you improve ball control.