Paddlespeed drill library
118 Pickleball Drills to Hit with More Power and Spin
Tired of practicing the same pickleball drills without seeing real improvement?
While most training programs rely on endless repetition, the Paddlespeed course takes a revolutionary approach.
You won't just learn the WHAT. You'll learn the WHY.
Paddlespeed teaches you the science behind creating more power, spin, and precision with less effort.
You won't just learn the WHAT. You'll learn the WHY.
Paddlespeed teaches you the science behind creating more power, spin, and precision with less effort.
The full course offer over 5 hours of unique video instruction, which includes 23 lessons and 118 drills.
The best part? You don’t need a court or partner. You can practice many of these pickleball drills at home.
Paddlespeed Fundamental Drills (The Four Principles)
The fundamentals of Paddlespeed can be broken down into four steps that can be applied to every volley and groundstroke in your pickleball game. They are:
Phase 1 of the Paddlespeed course focuses exclusively on these four steps, so you can fully grasp the concepts before moving on to applying them to your shots.
Here's a snippet of the Coil Lesson where you'll learn the first step of the technique.
- Coil
- Speedup
- Transfer
- Contact
Phase 1 of the Paddlespeed course focuses exclusively on these four steps, so you can fully grasp the concepts before moving on to applying them to your shots.
Here's a snippet of the Coil Lesson where you'll learn the first step of the technique.
Along with dedicated lessons for each fundamental step, you'll get access to all of these drills to help you practice the fundamentals first.
Coil Drills
The coil is the foundation of power generation in pickleball. These nine drills teach you how to store energy in your body by creating proper tension from the ground up.
Here's a free preview of the Basic Coil Drill:
Here's a free preview of the Basic Coil Drill:
- Basic Coil - Learn to properly rotate your shoulders, chest, and hips to create stored energy
- Show the X - Visualize an X on your chest and back, rotating to "show" it to your opponent
- Sit and Hit - Generate coil tension by simulating sitting in a chair during your backswing
- Coil and Hold - Develop the ability to maintain coil tension while waiting for the right moment to strike
- Move Sideways then Coil - Practice moving laterally before establishing proper coil position
- Partial Coil While Moving - Master the art of coiling as you move to the ball
- Forward then Coil - Learn to coil properly after approaching short balls
- Coil then Forward - Practice maintaining your coil while moving forward
- Coil then Move Diagonal - Develop coordination between coiling and diagonal movement
Speedup Drills
These drills helps you practice relaxing your arm for more acceleration as you speedup from the coil, noticing the “lag” that comes with a proper swing.
- Uncoil to Ankles - Practice initiating the uncoiling process from your ankles up
- Uncoil to Knees - Focus on proper knee engagement during the speed up phase
- Uncoil to Hips - Learn how hip rotation creates the foundation for paddle speed
- Uncoil to Shoulders - Master the transfer of energy from lower body to upper body
- Loosen the Arms - Develop relaxed arms to prevent energy loss during acceleration
- Rubber Swings - Practice swings with completely relaxed arms to feel proper energy flow
- Coil then Rubber Swing - Combine proper coiling with relaxed swing mechanics
- Feel the Lag - Experience how a relaxed arm naturally creates lag for maximum acceleration
- Touch the Pickleball - Practice positioning your hand to feel like you're "catching" the ball
Transfer Drills
The transfer is the critical moment when energy moves through your kinetic chain and into the pickleball paddle—much like the cracking of a whip.
- Elbow Hinge - Master the hinge action that creates final acceleration
- Feel the Wrist Hinge - Learn how wrist relaxation allows for proper energy transfer
- Stalk the Ball - Practice tracking the ball while maintaining proper body mechanics
- Touch and Explode - Develop the feeling of "catching" the ball before accelerating through it
- Butt to the Ball - Learn to position the butt of your paddle toward the ball before contact
- Wrist Rocket - Master the final acceleration that comes from proper wrist mechanics
- Finish Across - Practice proper follow-through to maximize energy transfer
Contact Drills
The contact phase determines how the energy you've generated affects the ball's speed, spin, and direction.
- Handspin the Globe - Visualize the ball as a globe to understand directional spin mechanics
- Paddlespin the Globe - Transfer the hand spinning concept to paddle technique
- Move and Drive - Practice generating drive shots while on the move
- Move and Crosscourt - Master the mechanics of crosscourt shots while moving
- Move and Dip - Learn to create dipping shots with proper spin application
- Target Practice - Develop precision with your newly acquired paddle speed techniques
Shot-Specific Pickleball Drills
After Phase 1 of the course comes Phase 2, where we focus the lessons and drills on 14 different pickleball shots. The lessons will teach you how to apply the Paddlespeed technique to your serve, volleys, and groundstrokes. And then, the drills will show you to how to master them by practicing at home or at the court.
Arm Volley Drills
These drills focus on generating paddle speed using just your arm, ideal for volleys where the ball is directly in front of you.
- Elephant Trunk - Develop the proper coiling motion with your arm only
- Wrist Snap - Master the wrist action that creates paddle speed without body rotation
- Elbow to Wrist Snap - Learn the sequential movement from elbow to wrist
- Shoulder to Elbow to Wrist Snap - Practice the full arm chain reaction for maximum volley speed
- Volley in Front - Apply arm volley techniques to balls directly in your strike zone
Body and Arm Volley Drills
When volleys require more power or reach, these drills teach you to combine body rotation with arm action.
- Shoulder Snap - Learn how subtle shoulder rotation adds power to volleys
- Hip Snap - Develop the connection between hip movement and volley power
- Full Snap - Combine all elements for maximum volley paddle speed
Shift the Core Volley Drills
These unique drills teach you to use your core to handle fast-paced exchanges and speed-ups.
- Back and Up - Learn to use your core to shift your center of gravity for quicker reactions
- Karate Stance - Develop the proper ready position for core-powered volleys
- Gunslingers - Practice rapid lateral core movement for handling fast exchanges
- Diagonal Gunslingers - Extend the gunslinger concept to diagonal movements
- Forward and Back - Master the quick reset needed in firefight volleys
- Forward and Back x 2 - Build endurance and consistency in core-shifting volleys
Below the Net Flick Volley Drills
These specialized drills help you handle balls that drop below the net with quick, controlled flick volleys that leverage the principles of generating more paddle speed.
- Wrist Twist - Develop the wrist motion needed for below-net balls
- Forearm Shiver - Learn to engage your forearm for additional control
- Forearm Elbow In - Master forehand mechanics with proper elbow positioning
- Backhand Elbow Out - Practice backhand technique with correct elbow placement
- Close the Face - Learn to adjust your paddle face for different types of below-net volleys
Overhead Shot Drills
Overhead shots require a unique set of mechanics that combine power with control. These drills help you practice applying the Paddlespeed method to your overhead shots.
- Back then Forward - Practice the proper preparation for overhead shots
- Catch the Ball - Visualize "catching" the ball at its highest point
- Heads Up - Maintain proper head position during overhead execution
- Swing Up - Learn the correct upward trajectory for controlled overheads
- Right Middle Left - Develop directional control with your overhead shots
Firefight Drills
Firefights—rapid exchanges at the kitchen line—require quick reactions and efficient paddle movement. There are six drills in the course to practice this critical part of your game.
- Ping Pong - Inspired by a drill from Zane Navratil, this drill has you practicing with a partner feeding you balls where you actually hit the ball down on your side of the net first. It's not an easy drill, but it'll teach you to close the face of your paddle, which helps win firefights.
- Core No Arms - With a partner, practice a firefight exchange without focusing at all on your arm. Learn to use your core for rapid paddle positioning. Practice volleying with your body, and letting your arm be like the second part of the nunchuck. You'll practice hitting and resetting.
- Seesaw - Focus on the dynamics of getting higher than your opponent in a firefight. Practice thinking about getting the ball down, and positioning yourself higher than your opponent.
- Reset - Master the critical skill of quickly returning to ready position after block volleying and resetting your position.
- Offspeed - Work on softening your hands and absorbing the speed of the ball while getting above the ball to hit the ball so it dips down. You're trying to crush the ball, you're using spin to get the ball down. Position and placement is more important than power.
- To the Death - Practice all of the firefight techniques together with a partner, playing a game to ten using only firefight shots
Passing Shot Drills
Passing shots allow you to hit past your opponents at the net. A well executed shot will require both precision and power. The course offers four drills to practice getting more speed and spin with these shots.
- Hit the Hole - In the context of a doubles match, practice finding the gap in the middle between your opponents on the other side
- Up the Line - In a doubles or singles context, have a partner feed you a ball with the goal of driving the ball right up the line, a foot and a half inside the lines. You can also practice this drill without a partner by mimicking where they would be.
- Right Cross - Your opponent is directly in the middle of the kitchen and feeds you the ball, while you practice hitting a drive across the court to beat them.
- Left Cross - Similar to the third drill in this group, this drill helps you practice cross-court drives on the backhand side.
Roll Drive Drills
The roll drive combines power with topspin for an aggressive shot that stays in the court.
- Over the Top Cross Doubles - Practice crosscourt roll drives in doubles positioning
- Over the Top Cross Singles - Adapt the crosscourt roll drive for singles play
- Down the Line Doubles - Master straight roll drives from doubles positioning
- Down the Line Singles - Develop straight roll drives for singles situations
Return Drills
The return of serve can set the tone for the entire point—these drills help you take control immediately.
- Coil and Plant - Learn to establish proper positioning before contact
- Run Around and Plant - Practice moving to hit returns from your stronger side
- Swipe Down the Line - Develop straight returns with proper paddle path
- Move and Swipe Crosscourt - Master crosscourt returns while on the move
- Topspin Down the Line - Add topspin to straight returns for added control
- Topspin Crosscourt - Learn to hit heavy topspin on crosscourt returns
- How High - Practice adjusting the height of your returns based on situation
- Plant and Slice - Develop underspin returns for variety
- Power Trip - Master the flat, powerful return when appropriate
Serve Drills
A strong serve sets up the entire point—these serve drills help you leverage your body’s momentum to hit better serves.
- Rubber Arms - Learn to serve with relaxed arms for maximum acceleration
- Butt Slap - Practice getting the butt of the paddle close to the ball for power
- Toss Elevator - Develop consistency with different toss heights
- Net Clearance - Master the ability to control your serve's height over the net
- Power Trip - Focus on generating maximum speed on your serve
- Spin Cycle - Learn to create heavy topspin serves that dive into the court
- Over the Fence - Understand how topspin allows for aggressive upward swings
Punch Volley Drills
The punch volley allows you to take time away from opponents with a firm, controlled shot.
- Wrist Snap - Master the wrist action needed for punch volleys
- Elbow Snap - Learn how elbow positioning affects punch volley direction
- Shoulder Snap - Develop subtle shoulder movement for added punch volley power
- Right and Left - Practice punch volleys on both forehand and backhand sides
Topspin Dink Drills
The topspin dink adds offensive potential to your short game with controlled aggression.
- Around the Globe - Visualize spinning a globe to understand proper paddle path
- Shovel - Learn the low-to-high motion that creates topspin
- Book on the Head - Develop proper posture for consistent dinking
- Adjust the Mix - Practice varying the amount of topspin based on situation
- Center and Wide - Master directional control with your topspin dinks
Scorpion Drills
The scorpion is a defensive position where you return your opponents speedup off the bounce by holding your paddle above your head.
- Seek and Find - Develop the ability to track and reach low, difficult balls
- Elevator - Learn the low-to-high path needed for the scorpion shot
- No Backswing - Practice generating power without traditional backswing
- Angle Finder - Master the ability to control direction on scorpion shots
Slice Crosscourt Dink Drills
The slice dink creates defensive opportunities and changes of pace in kitchen battles.
- Backhand Slide - Learn the proper paddle path for slice dinks
- Elbow Out - Develop correct elbow positioning for control
- Bite the Ball - Practice creating underspin that makes the ball "bite" or stop
- Follow the Ball - Master the follow-through needed for directional control
Slice Volley Drills
Adding a slice to your pickleball volley brings variety to your net game. These drills help you slice volley with controlled depth and spin.
- Elbow Out - Learn proper backhand slice volley mechanics
- Elbow In - Master forehand slice volley technique
- Show the Face - Practice revealing the paddle face early for maximum spin
- Angle Finder - Develop the ability to direct slice volleys precisely
Speedup Off the Bounce Drills
The ability to attack a ball immediately after the bounce is a key offensive weapon. Improving your reaction time here will be key.
- Kitchen Speedup - Practice attacking balls that bounce in the kitchen
- Out of the Air - Learn to identify and attack balls before they bounce
- Third Shot Speedup - Develop the ability to attack short third shots
Third Shot Drive Drills
While the drop is common, the third shot drive can be an effective offensive tool in the right situations
- Drive and Drop - Practice transitioning between aggressive drives and soft drops
- Midcourt Drive and Volley - Learn to attack from the middle of the court
- In the Gap - Develop the ability to find the space between opponents
- Flat Ball - Master the low, hard drive that gives opponents little time to react
- Heavy Top - Learn to add topspin for control on aggressive drives
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