Solo Practice Drills | A Coach's Guide to Improving with Wall Drills and Training Regimens

よ

よしコーチ

Pickleball Lab 代表

2026年6月23日

読了約6分

3814字

Solo Practice Drills | A Coach's Guide to Improving with Wall Drills and Training Regimens

"I want to get better, but it's hard to find a partner every time." I understand. However, the players who improve quickly often make good use of their "solo time."

I'm Coach Yoshi. I played tennis for 15 years and discovered pickleball in 2026. Even during my tennis days, players who improved consistently practiced hitting against a wall and shadow swings. It's the same with pickleball. In this article, I've compiled practice routines that you can do without a partner, both on the court and at home.

Why solo practice is effective

While matches and rallies are fun, they are not suited for repetitive practice of specific movements. With solo practice, you can—

Repeat the same movement dozens of times (solidifying your form)
Focus on your weaknesses
Make as many mistakes as you want without worrying about your partner

I believe improvement largely depends on the "number of correct repetitions." Solo time is your chance to make a difference.

💡 Coach Yoshi's Tip I think "correct repetition" is more important than "doing a lot." Repeating incorrect forms can solidify bad habits. Start slowly and carefully, checking your form as you go.

On-court drills

Diagram showing three court drills: wall practice, target serve, and dink repetition

1. Wall Practice (Versatile Drill)

Hitting against a wall continuously is a classic and most effective solo practice.

Continuous Volley: Hit continuously without a bounce close to the wall (improves reaction and control)
Groundstroke: Step back a bit and hit after one bounce
Stick a target (tape, etc.) on the wall to practice control

Wall practice allows you to train volleys, groundstrokes, and reactions all at once. For net play techniques, also refer to Volley Basics.

2. Target Serve

Place cones or towels on the court where you want to aim, and repeatedly serve to them.

Level up by first focusing on consistency, then on aiming
Alternate between left and right service courts
For serving technique, see the Complete Serve Guide

3. Dink Repetition

From the kitchen line, repeatedly hit soft dinks towards a target.

Improve control to clear the net and land the ball in the kitchen
Use the form from 5 Basics of Dink Play

Developing Feel at Home

Even on days you can't go to the court, there's plenty you can do at home.

Paddle Ball Control (Juggling): Continuously bounce the ball on the paddle face. Develops touch and paddle control.
Shadow Swings: Check your dink, volley, and serve form in front of a mirror.
Footwork Drills: Stationary split steps, side-to-side shuffles (Footwork).

Even 10 minutes a day can make a difference if you keep it up.

Tips for Continuing

Decide on your routine beforehand (so you don't wonder "what should I do today?" every time)
Short sessions are fine. Make 10-15 minutes a habit.
Record yourself on video to identify areas for form improvement.
Pick one goal, like "Today I'm going to fix this."

For how to overcome plateaus, also read When You Feel Your Progress Has Stalled.

Summary

Solo practice allows for correct repetition of movements, leading to quicker improvement.
On court: Wall practice, target serves, dink repetitions
At home: Ball control with paddle, shadow swings, footwork drills
Make it a habit even for short periods and focus on one goal.

Even on days without a partner, your improvement doesn't have to stop. Consistent solo practice will surely pay off in matches.