20+Drills+and+10+Games+for+Better+Pickleball

20 Drills &
10 Games
to Play
Better
Pickleball

Mark Renneson, Third Shot Sports


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Table of Contents Decision Time: Drop or Drive? 2
Yo-Yo Volleys
Introduction 3 Serve, Return, Drop 21
Using This Guide 4 Serve, Return Drive 22
Glossary 5 3rd Shot Drop or Drive? 23
3rd Shot Lob 24
Drills 7 25
8 Games 26
Distance Master 9
Sharpshooter 10 Two Serve Points 28
Boost Your Forehand (or Backhand) 11 Black Hole Returns 29
Deep Returns Rule the Day 12 3rd Shot Surprise 30
Pick A Side 13 Under Pressure 31
Dynamic Dinking 14 Gotta Drop It 32
Paddle-Free Dinking 15 Smash & Play 33
Picture Perfect Dinking 16 The Unfair Game 34
Reflex Volleys 17 Shootout 35
Touch & Catch Volleys 18 Black Hole Volleys 36
Paddle-Free Volleys 19 Short & Low Dinking 37
Drop It Like It’s Hot 20
Lob Retriever Notes 38

Paddle-Free Smashing
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3

Introduction

This guide is the result of frequent requests. We’ve had people from all over the
world ask us to share some tips on good drills for improving your pickleball
game. Some of these requests came from people in our clinics, others came from
people who watched our YouTube videos. All of them came from people who want
to play better pickleball!

We used three criteria when selecting the drills and games included here:
• Is the activity useful? Does the drill or game actually help players to work on the skills for which it is designed?
• Is it realistic? How well do the activities simulate situations that actually occur during pickleball points?
• Is it meaningful? Do the drills and games focus on valuable skills that will have an impact on how well people play

pickleball?

If you are going to spend your time and effort training — and money on this guide — it was vital for us that the drills and
games met all three criteria. We think they do. And we hope you find them worthwhile enough to make a little extra
space in your pickleball bag.

Mark Renneson and the team at Third Shot Sports.

Visit us at thirdshotsports.com

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4

Using This Guide

We value simplicity and the descriptions and diagrams are pretty straightforward.
We have highlighted the most important information: drill name, skill practiced,
equipment needed, how to set-up the court, and a description of how the drill
works.

We have also provided tips to make each drill easier or harder (in general,
60%-70% success is ideal) so that they are accessible to almost everyone regardless
of level of play.

Finally, we have included suggestions about how to make the drill more fun as well as notes about things to keep in
mind.

With the games, there is also a section called Why Play This Game so that you and your training partners can tailor your
training session to your needs. The diagrams are to help you visualize how the court is set up and how the drill or game
unfolds. Here are the key symbols:

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5

Glossary

3/4 Court - About 6 feet inside the baseline
Backhand - A right-handed player’s left side. A left-handed player’s right side.
Baseline - The lines parallel to the net at either extreme end of the court.
Crosscourt - Diagonal direction across the court.
Dink - A slow, slightly arcing shot hit from near the net and intended to land in the opponent’s non-volley zone.

Drive - A fast, low shot.
Drop - A slow, slightly arcing shot hit from the backcourt which intended to land in the opponent’s non-volley zone.
Down the Line - Straight ahead (as opposed to crosscourt).
Feed - The first ball struck during a drill or game.
Forehand - A right-handed player’s right side. A left-handed player’s left side.

Lob - A slow, high-arcing ball that travels well above a player’s head.
Markers - Anything used to indicate a particular spot on the court.
NVZ - The non-volley zone. The space 7ft from the net in which a player cannot volley. Often called “the kitchen”.
Play Out the Point - Competitive (as opposed to co-operative) point play.
Sideline - The lines perpendicular to the net at either extreme end of the court.

Smash - A ball struck above your head. Typically hit fast.
Target Area - The space you want the ball to land.
Third Shot…- The third shot in a rally (i.e. serve, return, third shot).
Volley - Any shot (not including serve) that is struck before the ball bounces.


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Drills 
 6
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Drills are focused activities that are designed to give you lots of
repetitions on a specific skill. While games are quite open-ended, drills
are typically tightly controlled so that the skill(s) being developed get
the maximum amount of practice.

The drills ahead are focused on critical moments in pickleball: serving &
returning, volleying and smashing, dinking, and preparing for a third
shot (i.e. when your opponents return your serve).

While it may be tempting to ‘open-up’ the drills and play competitive
points, we recommend staying disciplined and dedicated to
developing your abilities. It will pay off!

The diagrams of each drill shows only two people working together,
often on half the court (sometimes called ‘skinny singles’ courts). In each
case, however, the drill could expand to include four people — either by
using two ‘skinny singles’ courts and two balls, or by four people
sharing a full court and one ball.

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Distance Master 7
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Skills Practiced: Controlling Distance of Serve.
Equipment: Two pylons or other markers. Multiple balls.
Game Situation: You are serving.
Set-Up: You are behind the baseline in a serving position. Pylons are
placed crosscourt in the serving area. Place one pylon ~5ft inside the
baseline and the other ~3ft outside of the NVZ.
Description: Choose a deep or short target (i.e. between the pylon and
baseline or pylon and NVZ) and see if you can make your serve land in
the target area.
To Increase Challenge: Make the target areas smaller.
To Decrease Challenge: Make the target areas larger.
Make It Fun: See how many consecutive serves you can hit to a
particular target. Then see if you can alternate targets without missing!
Notes: While a short serve may be a useful surprise to use on occasion,
the deep serve is likely the most important of the two. Hitting this serve
will make it harder for your opponents to get to the net as it will make
them hit the return from way back near the baseline.

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Sharpshooter 8
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Skills Practiced: Controlling Direction of Serve.
Equipment: Two pylons or other markers. Multiple balls.
Game Situation: You are serving.
Set-Up: You are behind the baseline in a serving position. Pylons are
placed crosscourt on the other baseline. Place one pylon ~3ft from the
sideline and the other ~3ft from the centreline.
Description: Choose a target (e.g. between the pylon and sideline or
pylon and centreline) and see if you can make your serve pass through
the target area after the bounce.
To Increase Challenge: Make the target areas narrower.
To Decrease Challenge: Make the target areas wider.
Make It Fun: See how many consecutive serves you can hit to a
particular target. Then see if you can alternate targets without missing!
Notes: 1) It is important to be able to hit to different targets from a
consistent serving position. Experiment to find a spot on the baseline
that works well for you. 2) If you have a training partner, have them catch
your serve after the bounce and send back a targeted serve of their
own!

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9

Boost Your Backhand (or Forehand) Partner

Skills Practiced: Returning Serve with a Weakness.
Equipment: A training partner or ball machine. Two pylons or markers.
Game Situation: You are returning serve.
Set-Up: Place the pylons on the baseline on both the left and right side
of your training partner’s court — midway between the sideline and
centre line.
Description: Stand near your baseline in a return of serve position. Have
your partner serve to your backhand (or forehand if it is weaker). Hit the
return and try to make it pass through the target areas — between the
pylon and sideline.
To Increase Challenge: Make the targets smaller. Make the serve faster.
To Decrease Challenge: Make the targets larger. Make the serve slower.
Make It Fun: Have a contest with your training partner. See if you can hit
10 returns through the target areas before you miss 10.
Notes: This drill is about improving a weakness. Resist the temptation to
move so you can hit your preferred shot (e.g. forehand). You’ll be
amazed at how much better your weaknesses can get if you give them a
chance!

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10

Deep Returns Rule the Day

Partner

Skills Practiced: Controlling Distance of Return.
Equipment: A training partner or ball machine. One pylon or marker.
Game Situation: You are returning serve.
Set-Up: You are at the baseline in a returning position. Place a pylon
~5ft inside the opposite baseline, in the centre of the court.
Description: Have your partner hit a serve to you and attempt to land
the ball deep in the court — beyond the pylon but inside the baseline.
To Increase Challenge: Make the target area smaller. Make the serve
faster or farther away from you.
To Decrease Challenge: Make the target area larger. Make the serve
slower or closer to you.
Make It Fun: Attempt to use both high/slow returns and low/fast ones to
land the ball deep in the court.
Notes: 1) A deep return is critical since it keeps the servers back and
means you will have more time to prepare for the next shot — likely a
volley from the NVZ. 2) Try using both your forehand and backhand to
hit good deep returns.

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11

Pick A Side

Skills Practiced: Controlling Direction of Return. Partner
Equipment: A training partner or ball machine. Two pylons or markers.
Game Situation: You are returning serve.
Set-Up: You are at the baseline in a returning position. Place a pylon
~5ft from each sideline on the other side of the net, near the baseline.
Description: Have your partner hit a serve to you and try to make your
return bounce through one of the two target areas — between the pylon
and sideline.
To Increase Challenge: Make the target areas smaller. Make the serve
faster or farther away from you.
To Decrease Challenge: Make the target areas larger. Make the serve
slower or closer to you.
Make It Fun: Earn a point each time you hit your target. Subtract a point
each time you miss. Try to get to +10 before you get to -10.
Notes: 1) Hitting to the side of the court (as opposed to the middle)
allows you to select which of your opponents must play the ball. This is
a great way to start the point with an advantage. 2) Practice hitting
forehand and backhand returns of serve.

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Dynamic Dinking 12
Partner
Skills Practiced: Sending and Receiving Dinks.
Equipment: A training partner or ball machine. Two flat markers or tape. thirdshotsports.com
Game Situation: You are at the NVZ. Your opponents are at their NVZ.
Set-Up: Place a marker or piece of tape approximately one paddle
length inside the each person’s NVZ.
Description: Engage in a dinking rally and try to land the ball between
the marker and the net.
To Increase Challenge: Have your partner make you move to receive
their dink.
To Decrease Challenge: Have your partner hit directly to you.
Make It Fun: Try to make your opponent hit outside of the target area
before you do.
Notes: Don’t be overly concerned with hitting your dinks low (two or
three ball heights over the net should be fine). If your shot lands short
enough in the court, your opponent will have to let the ball bounce and
will then have to hit a slow shot upwards. That’s great news for you!

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Paddle-Free Dinking 13
Partner
Skills Practiced: Reception Skills. Movement at the NVZ.
Equipment: A training partner or ball machine. thirdshotsports.com
Game Situation: You and your opponent are at the NVZ.
Set-Up: You and your partner are on opposite sides of the net (either
crosscourt or down the line), at the NVZ.
Description: Use half the kitchen only, have your partner toss the ball
underhand so that it lands in the kitchen, simulating a dink. Set up in a
well balanced position from which you could reply with a dink. Catch
the ball with two hands and then toss it back over the net.
To Increase Challenge: Have your partner throw fast or far away from
you.
To Decrease Challenge: Have your partner throw slow or close to you.
Make It Fun: Play out the point as you would a dinking rally. Win the
point if your opponent throws the ball out of bounds or drops the ball.
Notes: Make sure to recover behind the NVZ after you send the ball
back over the net. When done well, this drill can be incredibly dynamic
and exciting!

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Picture Perfect Dinking 14
Partner
Skills Practiced: Sending and Receiving Dinks.
Equipment: A training partner or ball machine. thirdshotsports.com
Game Situation: You and your opponent are at the NVZ.
Set-Up: Stand at your NVZ and have your training partner stand at theirs
(this could be crosscourt of down the line).
Description: Begin a dinking rally. Imagine that each time you make
contact with the ball your photo is taken. Try to set up consistently so if
the ‘pictures’ were compared, they would be identical.
To Increase Challenge: Have your partner send balls that make you
move.
To Decrease Challenge: Have your partner send balls directly to you.
Make It Fun: Take a video of yourself doing the drill. When you watch it,
pause the video each time you make contact with the ball. Compare the
different moments and check to see if you were ‘picture perfect’.
Notes: If you want to have a consistent set-up you better be ready to
move! Try to be light and athletic at all times.

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15

Reflex Volleys Partner

Skills Practiced: Receiving and Sending a Fast Ball from the NVZ.
Equipment: A training partner or ball machine.
Game Situation: You and your opponent are at the NVZ.
Set-Up: Stand at the NVZ on half the court. Have your training partner
stand at their NVZ (either crosscourt or down the line).
Description: Send volleys back and forth with your partner from the
kitchen line.
To Increase Challenge: Play low, straight volleys only. Have your partner
hit faster.
To Decrease Challenge: Play volleys with an arc. Have your partner hit
slower.
Make It Fun: See how many reflex volleys in a row you and your partner
can hit.
Notes: Good volleyers are light on their feet and ready to adjust to the
ball. Don’t fall into the trap of standing still!

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Touch & Catch Volleys 16
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Skills Practiced: Receiving a fast ball at the NVZ. Partner
Equipment: A training partner or ball machine.
Game Situation: You are at the NVZ. Your opponent is at the baseline
and is driving a fast and low ball at you.
Set-Up: Stand at the NVZ on half the court. Your training partner stands
at their baseline.
Description: Have your partner hit low, straight balls to you. Attempt to
absorb the speed of the ball enough that you can volley the ball and
then catch it with your non-paddle hand.
To Increase Challenge: Have your partner hit faster or stand closer.
To Decrease Challenge: Have your partner hit slower or toss
underhand.
Make It Fun: Have a contest with your training partner: each time you
successfully ‘touch & catch’, you win a point. Each time you don’t, they
win one. First to 15 wins!
Notes: This drill is ideal for people that have trouble taking speed off of
fast balls. By forcing you to hit extra soft, you’re training your body to
really absorb speed.

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Paddle-Free Volleys 17
Partner
Skills Practiced: Reception Skills. Movement at the NVZ.
Equipment: A training partner or ball machine. thirdshotsports.com
Game Situation: You and your opponent are both at the NVZ.
Set-Up: You and your partner are behind the NVZ, on opposite sides of
the net (either crosscourt or down the line).
Description: Using half the court only, have your partner toss the ball
underhand so that it arrives to you without a bounce. Attempt to set up
in a well balanced position from which you could reply with a volley.
Catch the ball with two hands and then toss it back over the net.
To Increase Challenge: Have your partner make their throws faster and/
or farther away from you.
To Decrease Challenge: Have your partner make their throws slower
and/or closer to you.
Make It Fun: Play out the point as you would a volley rally. Win the point
if your opponent throws the ball out of bounds or drops the ball.
Notes: Make sure to stay behind the NVZ when catching the ball. After
you send the ball back over the net, recover to the centre of your half of
the court as you would in a game.

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Drop It Like It’s Hot 18
Partner
Skills Practiced: Removing Speed from a Fast Shot at NVZ.
Equipment: A training partner or ball machine. thirdshotsports.com
Game Situation: You are at the NVZ. Your opponent is at their baseline
and has just hit a fast and low ball at you.
Set-Up: Stand at the NVZ on half the court — or full court if you are
training for singles play — with your training partner at their baseline.
Description: Have your partner send a drive to you and attempt to play
a soft volley that lands at least once in your partner’s NVZ.
To Increase Challenge: Try to get at least two bounces in the kitchen.
Have your partner hit faster.
To Decrease Challenge: Allow the ball to land past the kitchen. Have
your partner hit slower.
Make It Fun: Each bounce in the NVZ earns you a point. A bounce
beyond the NVZ or out of play subtracts a point from your score. See if
you can get to +20 before you get to -10.
Notes: 1) Playing this shot crosscourt will give you a larger target area.
2) Even though you are hitting slowly, make sure you are prepared to
move quickly to the ball!

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Lob Retriever 19
Partner
Skills Practiced: Receiving a Difficult Lob.
Equipment: A training partner or ball machine. thirdshotsports.com
Game Situation: You are at the NVZ when your opponent lobs the ball
high over your head.
Set-Up: Use half the court only — or full court if you are training for
singles play. You are at the NVZ. Your partner is across the net at 3/4
court.
Description: Have your partner send a lob over your head (this can be
with their hand or paddle). The lob should be deep and high so you
couldn’t play it out of the air (i.e. let the ball bounce before hitting it).
Chase the ball and attempt to play a soft shot that lands in the NVZ.
To Increase Challenge: Make the lob be farther away from you.
To Decrease Challenge: Make the lob be closer to you.
Make It Fun: Earn a point each time your shot lands in the kitchen.
Subtract a point if it doesn’t. Try get to +10 before you get to -10.
Notes: Try aiming your shot crosscourt — the target area is larger than
down the line.

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Paddle-Free Smashing 20
Partner
Skills Practiced: Reception Skills. Movement at the NVZ.
Equipment: A training partner or ball machine. thirdshotsports.com
Game Situation: You are at net.
Set-Up: You are behind your NVZ, your partner is on the opposite side
of the net near 3/4 court (either crosscourt or down the line).
Description: Use half the court only — or the whole court if you are
training for singles play. Have your partner toss the ball high over your
head (simulating a lob). Attempt to set up in a well-balanced position
from which you could hit a smash. Catch the ball above your head with
your non-paddle hand.
To Increase Challenge: Have your partner make the lobs deeper.
To Decrease Challenge: Have your partner make the lobs shorter.
Make It Fun: Earn1point if you are in a balanced hitting position and 1
point if you catch the ball above your head. Try to earn 20 points.
Notes: 1) If your partner is struggling to send the ball far enough, they
may use their paddle to send the lob. 2) When retrieving the lob, avoid
back-pedalling as this is a slower and less safe way to move. Try side-
shuffling instead.

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Decision Time: Drop or Drive? 21

Skills Practiced: Decision-Making when Receiving Dinks. Partner
Equipment: A training partner or ball machine. Multiple balls. fast
Game Situation: You are at the NVZ. Your opponent is at their NVZ.
Set-Up: Stand at your NVZ and have your training partner stand at theirs slow
(this could be crosscourt of down the line).
Description: Have your partner toss the ball underhand to you. If you thirdshotsports.com
are able to make contact with the ball above net level call out “drive”
and hit the ball low and fast. If you receive the ball at or below net level,
call out “drop” and play a soft shot in the kitchen.
To Increase Challenge: Have your partner send balls that are more
difficult to identify (i.e. barely above or below net level).
To Decrease Challenge: Have your partner send balls that are easier to
identify (i.e. clearly above or below net level).
Make It Fun: Have you training partner to try to trick you. See if you can
make the correct decision even with someone trying to mix you up.
Notes: Watch out for balls that start high but drop low by the time they
get to you. Remember, it is the ball’s height at contact that matters
most!

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22

Yo-Yo Volleys

Skills Practiced: Removing Speed from a Fast Shot at NVZ. Partner
Equipment: A training partner or ball machine. One pylon or marker.
Game Situation: You have approached the NVZ after a return of serve.
Set-Up: Stand at the NVZ on half the court — or full court if you are
training for singles play. Your partner at their baseline. Place the pylon
on your partner’s side at 3/4 court.
Description: With your training partner hitting low, fast shots at you,
attempt to land the ball gently in the kitchen with a drop volley and then
deep to the backcourt (beyond the pylon).
To Increase Challenge: Try to get at least two bounces in the kitchen.
Make the backcourt target area smaller. Have your partner hit faster.
To Decrease Challenge: Allow the volley to land just past the kitchen.
Make the backcourt target area larger. Have your partner hit slower.
Make It Fun: Earn a point if you land the ball in a target area. Each time
you miss the target, your partner earns a point. First to 10 wins!
Notes: When playing the deep volley, don’t be afraid to use a little
height to send the ball to the back of the court. Volleys don’t always
have to skim over the net!

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Serve, Return, Drop 23
Partner
Skills Practiced: Serving. Returning. Third Shot Drop. return
Equipment: A training partner and three pylons or markers. thirdshotsports.com
Game Situation: You are serving from the baseline. Your opponent is drop
returning serve from their baseline. serve
Set-Up: Spread out the three markers inside your partner's NVZ about
one paddle length from the line.
Description: Serve the ball to your partner and when they return it to
you, hit the ball so that it lands in the target area between the pylons
and net.
To Increase Challenge: Make the return more challenging.
To Decrease Challenge: Make the return easier.
Make It Fun: Award yourself 2 points for hitting the third shot drop in
the target area and subtract 1 point if you miss. Attempt to get to +15
before you get to -5.
Notes: 1) This drill is fantastic if you want to practice starting the point
effectively. It would be good to do it often! 2) Hitting the third shot drop
crosscourt will give you a better chance for success since the target area
is larger when you hit diagonally.

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Serve, Return, Drive 24
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Skills Practiced: Serving. Returning. Third Shot Drive. Partner
Equipment: A training partner. A height marker approx, 6 ft tall
(optional). This can be anything that can be stationary 3 feet above the return
net (e.g. a coatrack, a bench turned on its side, an adult human, etc.)
Game Situation: You are serving from the baseline. Your opponent is serve
returning serve from their baseline. drive
Set-Up: Place the marker (if you’re using it) at the net in the middle of
the court.
Description: Serve to your partner. When they return it to you, hit the
shot fast and low over the net (3ft or less above the net).
To Increase Challenge: Make the return more challenging.
To Decrease Challenge: Make the return easier.
Make It Fun: Award yourself 2 points for hitting the third shot drive in
the target area and subtract 1 point if you miss. Attempt to get to +15
before you get to -5.
Notes: Try to receive the return of serve as high as possible so you can
hit a level drive over the net. Letting it drop will force you to hit upwards
and will require a slower and less effective shot.

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3rd Shot Drop or Drive? serve 25

Skills Practiced: Third Shot Decision-Making. short &
Equipment: A training partner. A pylon or marker. high return
Game Situation: You are serving from the baseline. Your opponent is deep or
returning serve from their baseline. low return
Set-Up: Place the marker at 3/4 court on your side of the net. thirdshotsports.com
Description: Serve to your partner. When they return it to you, hit either
a drop or drive. This decision should be based on whether the return is
short (landing before the marker) and high (above net level) or not. If
short and high, call out “drive” and drive the ball. If low or deep, play a
drop in the NVZ.
To Increase Challenge: Make the return harder to identify.
To Decrease Challenge: Make the return easier to identify.
Make It Fun: Award yourself 1 point for making the correct decision and
a second point for a successful shot.
Notes: The sooner you can identify your choice, the more prepared you
will be to hit it. Try to call out “drop” or “drive” before the ball lands on
your side of the court.

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3rd Shot Lob lob 26
return Partner
Skills Practiced: Third Shot Lob. serve
Equipment: A training partner. Three pylons or markers. thirdshotsports.com
Game Situation: You are serving from the baseline. Your opponent has
approached the net.
Set-Up: Place the markers at 3/4 court on your partner’s side of the net.
Description: Serve to your partner. When they return it to you, hit a lob.
This ball should be high and deep, landing in the back of the court.
To Increase Challenge: Make the target smaller.
To Decrease Challenge: Make the target larger.
Make It Fun: Earn 1 point for landing the ball in the target area. Subtract
a point if you miss. Try to get to + 10 before you get to -10.
Notes: The lob can be a risky shot — hit too deep and it’s out, hit to short
and your opponent has an easy smash. While it is important to have the
lob as an option, use it selectively.

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Games 27
thirdshotsports.com
Modified games can be a fun way to mix up your pickleball routine and
work on a specific skill.
What follows are a variety of games that are based on realistic situations
found in pickleball points.
We’ve added a few twists and special rules to make the games focused
and designed to improve your pickleball.
While we’ve set up the games to include four people, they can easily be
played by two. In most cases, you can do this by following the same
rules and scoring, but by playing on just half the court (which is
sometimes called ‘skinny singles’).
And don’t forget that games are meant to be fun! So whether you’re
playing Shootout, Third Shot Surprise or The Unfair Game, remember to
keep it light and have a great time.
Enjoy!

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28

Two Serve Points First serve

How to Play: Play regular points but with one special rule: if the serving Second serve
team hits the serve out, they get a second chance.
Set-Up: None
Why Play This Game: Gaining an advantage with your serve is
important — but players often hesitate to attempt this because they
don’t want to miss their serve
With this game, since there is no penalty for missing your first serve, the
serving team is encouraged to ‘go for it’ with their first shot.
Scoring: Regular pickleball scoring.

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Black Hole Returns 29

How to Play: Play regular points but with one special rule: the return of Black
serve must always land deep in the court (not in the black hole). If the Hole
serve lands short, it is considered a fault.
Set-Up: Place pylons or markers at 3/4 court outside the sidelines.
Why Play This Game: A deep return is a critical shot as it forces the
servers to hit from the back of the court, giving you more time to
receive their ball. It also makes it easier for you to play a short ball on
your next shot since they are so far back.
Scoring: Regular pickleball scoring.

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30

3rd Shot Surprise

How to Play: One team starts behind the baseline and the other team
starts at their NVZ. The baseline team bounces the ball on the ground
and then hits either a drive, drop or lob. Play out the point.
Set-Up: None
Why Play This Game: When you are at the net after a return of serve,
your opponents will always hit a drop, drive or lob. This game removes
the serve and return aspect and lets you concentrate on handling the
third shot effectively.
Scoring: First to earn 7 points wins the game. After the game is over,
switch roles

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31

Under Pressure

How to Play: One team starts at the baseline (simulating serving) and
the other team starts at 3/4 court. A player from the team at 3/4 court
sends a ball to the opponents and with their partner, charge to the NVZ.
Play out the point.
Set-Up: None
Why Play This Game: When you are the serving team, you are under
pressure when your opponents charge the net. This game gives you a
chance to practice being under pressure.
Scoring: Either team can earn a point. First to earn 7 points wins the
game. After the game is over switch roles.

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Gotta Drop It return 32
drop
How to Play: Play regular points but with one special rule: the serving
team must attempt a third shot drop (i.e. no third shot lobs or drives).
Set-Up: None
Why Play This Game: A third shot drop prevents net players from
receiving the ball above net level where it is easy to hit an offensive
shot. This game forces players to attempt third shot drops rather than
relying on lobs or drives.
Scoring: Regular pickleball scoring.

serve

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33

Smash & Play

How to Play: One team stands at the NVZ and the other stands behind
their baseline. The baseline team must bounce the ball and hit a lob.
The net team retrieves the lob (preferably with a smash) and players
play to win — anything goes!
Set-Up: None.
Why Play This Game: Dealing with lobs is an important skill if you want
to be an effective player. This game gives players lots of opportunities
to do so.
Scoring: First to 10 wins.

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34

The Unfair Game

How to Play: Both teams are across the net from each other. One player
tosses the ball underhand high and deep over the heads of their
opponents. The receiving team must retrieve the lob (must hit after the
bounce) and then the teams play to win — anything goes.
Set-Up: None
Why Play This Game: It is important to get out of trouble if your
opponents hit a good lob. This game gives lots of opportunities to
practice doing so.
Scoring: Since the net team is starting from a disadvantage — that’s what
makes the game unfair — they only have to win 4 points to win the
game. The lobbing team must win 10 points. After the game is over,
change roles.

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35

Shootout

How to Play: All players start one step behind their NVZ. A player hits
the ball across the net so their opponent can play a volley.
Play out the point using volleys, dinks, drops, lobs or groundstrokes.
Anything goes! After each point, change feeder.
Set-Up: None
Why Play This Game: Sending and receiving fast shots at the net is
critical in pickleball. This game gives repeated opportunities to practice
these shots.
Scoring: First to 10 points wins.

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Black Hole Volleys 36

How to Play: One team stands behind the baseline. The other team Black
stands at the NVZ. A player at the baseline bounces the ball and plays a Hole
drive (i.e. a low, fast ball).
One of the net players hits the volley but must land the shot either very
short (in the NVZ) or very deep (past 3/4 court). If the volley lands in
one of the target areas, play out the point — anything goes!
If the ball doesn’t land in either target area, it is in the ‘black hole’ and is
considered out.
Set-Up: Place pylons or markers at 3/4 outside the sidelines.
Why Play This Game: Both deep volleys and short volleys can be highly
effective at putting your opponents in trouble. This game forces you to
avoid ‘nothing balls’ that land in the middle if the court.
Scoring: Play to 10 and then switch roles.

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37

Short & Low Dinking

How to Play: Teams are across the net from each other, each at their own
kitchen line. Toss the ball into play and then start a dinking rally. Lose the point
if you hit out of bounds or if you hit a ball that your opponent catches above
net level.
Set-Up: None.
Why Play This Game: This game forces you to pay attention to the depth and
height of your dinks. This is a critical skill for effective pickleball play.
Scoring: First to 10 wins.

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38

Notes

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