7 Pickleball Drills for Beginners: A Simple Practice Plan

Playing games shows you which shots break down. Practice gives you a chance to work on those shots without waiting for them to appear in another rally. The most useful pickleball drills for beginners have a simple setup, one clear goal, and an easy way to tell whether the next set was better.

Start with the seven options below, then use the sample schedule to build a short session. The repetition counts and targets are suggested starting points, not official skill-rating tests. Make them easier or harder to match the players on court.

Choose a Drill for the Problem You Actually Have

Set Up Before You Start

Bring a paddle, a few balls of the same type, and a way to note your results. A basket is convenient but not necessary. Keep spare balls and equipment outside movement paths, and stop the drill whenever a loose ball rolls near a player's feet. Use only court-approved markers; never put a raised target where someone will step.

Begin with easy movement and gentle contacts before increasing the pace. For a separate preparation routine, see the WOWLLY warm-up and cool-down guide. During practice, agree that the first goal is a playable next ball, not beating your partner.

1. Paddle-and-Bounce Control

Setup: Stand on a clear, level surface with enough room for your paddle and a small step in each direction.

1. Tap the ball gently upward from the paddle face.
2. Let it bounce once on the ground.
3. Tap it upward again, aiming to keep the ball within easy reach.

Count: Try five controlled taps in a row, then build toward ten. If you keep chasing the ball, reduce the height rather than swinging harder.

Progress: Repeat with the other face of the paddle. This is a contact exercise, not a substitute for learning a groundstroke. It makes a useful first station while a partner is getting ready.

2. Gentle Wall Rally

Setup: Use a permitted practice wall without windows, obstacles, or people nearby. Choose a distance that allows an unhurried bounce between contacts.

1. Drop the ball, let it bounce, and hit a gentle shot toward a broad area of the wall.
2. Let the rebound bounce before hitting again.
3. Recover your paddle to a comfortable ready position after each shot.

Count: Record your longest controlled rally across three attempts. A rally ends when you have to rush or chase outside the clear practice space, even if you could still touch the ball.

Progress: Alternate forehand and backhand contacts at the same easy pace. A wall does not reproduce an opponent's shot or show where your ball would land beyond a net, so check those skills on court later.

3. Cooperative Dink Rally

Setup: Face a partner across the net, both just behind the non-volley-zone line. Begin straight ahead rather than aiming for a sharp angle.

1. Feed a soft ball into the opposite kitchen.
2. Let each ball bounce and send it back to a comfortable area for your partner.
3. Keep the rally cooperative. Avoid surprise speed-ups.

Count: Try a rally of six successful dinks between you. Restart calmly after a miss and compare your best rally with the previous set.

Progress: Move to a diagonal pattern once both players can keep the straight rally going. Change the direction first, not the direction and speed together.

4. Feed, Hit, and Recover

Setup: One partner feeds easy bouncing balls over the net while the hitter begins at a comfortable distance between the kitchen line and baseline. Choose a broad landing area away from the sidelines.

1. Feed five balls to the hitter's forehand, one at a time.
2. The hitter sends each ball toward the agreed area and returns to ready position.
3. Repeat on the backhand, then exchange roles.

Count: Track balls that land in the target area, not just balls that cross the net. Have the feeder wait until the hitter is ready for the next repetition.

Progress: Move farther back or mix forehand and backhand feeds. Keep the feed predictable until the contact is comfortable. The forehand guide and backhand guide cover stroke mechanics separately.

5. Serve, Return, and Third Ball

Setup: Use the appropriate diagonal service courts. The server begins behind the baseline; the receiver starts deep enough to handle the serve.

1. Serve into the correct diagonal service court.
2. The receiver lets the serve bounce and returns it with comfortable margin.
3. The server lets the return bounce, hits a controlled third ball, and ends the repetition.

Count: Track complete three-shot sequences out of ten attempts, including missed serves. Note which shot ended each unsuccessful attempt, then swap roles.

Progress: Add depth to the return before adding pace. Do not serve and rush forward to volley the return: the serve and return must each bounce before their respective first replies. See the USA Pickleball rules summary for the two-bounce rule.

For this drill, the third ball can be a comfortable groundstroke. A difficult drop is not required. When ready to work on that specific shot, use the third-shot drop guide.

6. Controlled Volley Feeds

Setup: The hitter stands clearly behind the kitchen line. The partner feeds gentle, reachable balls over the net, away from the hitter's face.

1. Meet the ball before it bounces using a short, controlled paddle movement.
2. Send it toward the feeder's agreed target area rather than trying to hit a winner.
3. Reset before the next feed and switch roles after a short set.

Count: Try five controlled returns from eight easy feeds. Keep feet off the kitchen line and avoid momentum carrying you into the kitchen after contact.

Progress: Alternate forehand and backhand feeds. Save fast exchanges for later; a rushed swing is not the goal. Review the volley guide if contact or balance is inconsistent.

7. Three-Shot Cooperative Start

Setup: Use a full court with two or four players. Agree to make the serve, return, and third shot cooperative. After the third shot lands in, continue the rally competitively.

Count: In a set of ten starts, count how often the rally reaches that competitive phase. This is a practice format, not a change to official scoring. Its purpose is to reveal whether the skills from your earlier drills hold together when players move and make decisions.

Progress: Remove the cooperative restriction and play normally. Notice whether your most frequent error is still the same one. That observation chooses the first drill for your next session.

A Suggested 30-Minute Partner Practice

You do not need to complete every drill each time. This sample uses six; substitute the wall drill when practicing alone. Allow more time or fewer repetitions if collecting balls interrupts the schedule.

Record just three things: the drill, your result, and one adjustment for next time. For example: three-shot sequence, 6/10 complete, next time use a larger return target. Do not treat a target count as a pass-or-fail judgment of your ability.

Keep Practice Manageable

A partner who feeds suitable balls and waits between repetitions is more useful than a partner who wins every practice exchange. If a drill keeps breaking down, shorten the distance, enlarge the target, or reduce the pace. Stop when discomfort appears rather than using a repetition target as a reason to continue.

Keep the equipment familiar while learning. A secure, comfortable grip and a paddle you can move without strain matter more than changing models between drills. The WOWLLY grip-size guide can help you review handle fit without turning practice into a shopping exercise.

For additional drill ideas, Paddletek's drill collection groups activities by shot type. USA Pickleball's recreational programs guide also uses a progression from close-range exchanges toward fuller-court play. The schedule above is a suggested arrangement, not a prescribed program from either source.

Frequently Asked Questions

What pickleball drills should beginners start with?

Start with simple ball control, cooperative dinks, and serve-and-return practice. Choose a small number of drills and track consistency before adding speed or smaller targets.

Can beginners practice pickleball alone?

Yes. Paddle-and-bounce control, gentle wall rallies, and serving on an available court are useful solo options. Wall practice helps repetition, but a real court is needed to judge net clearance and landing depth.

How long should a beginner pickleball practice session last?

A 20- to 30-minute session can be a practical starting point, including a warm-up and breaks as needed. Shorten the session when concentration or movement quality drops; the schedule is a suggestion, not a requirement.

When should a beginner make a drill harder?

Make a drill harder when the current version is repeatable across several sets. Change one variable at a time, such as distance, target size, or pace, and return to the easier version if control disappears.

Updated October 11, 2026.