If you’ve ever thought, “I wish I had a simple way to level up without needing a court or a partner,” then listen up—this one’s for you.
We asked Coach Marko Grgic (a Milwaukee-based pickleball pro with thousands of hours of private lessons under his belt) for a short, no-excuses drill you can do at home. Something practical. Repeatable. And powerful.
His answer? The 15-Minute Wall Drill.
It’s fast. It’s focused. And if you do it daily, it’ll tighten up your soft game and sharpen your reaction time in a matter of weeks.
Why This Drill Works
The best drills are the ones you can actually do—consistently. This wall drill:
- Improves your touch and consistency
- Teaches you to control contact points
- Builds muscle memory for resets and speedups
- Doesn’t require a court, partner, or even much space
Add this simple tip: Place two strips of tape on your wall—one at 35 inches from the floor to simulate the top of the net, and another at 45 inches to mark your max safe dink height. These visual targets will help you refine depth and accuracy instantly.
All you need? A paddle, a ball, and a wall. (Bonus points if your wall forgives the occasional miss.)
Watch Marko Demonstrate It
Want to see it in action? Check out Coach Marko’s demo here:
Part 1: The Forehand Dink
Setup: Stand about 7 feet from your wall—this simulates NVZ (kitchen) distance.
Tip: Position yourself slightly left of the ball (for right-handed players). You want that ideal contact in front of your hip, not jammed in close.
Execution: Use a smooth, forward motion—no wrist flicks or extra sauce. Push, don’t swing. Your goal is to get into rhythm, finding that reliable touch where the ball gently returns off the wall without popping up too high.
✅ Focus on:
- Soft hands.
- Stable base.
- Consistent paddle angle.
- Adjust your feet before every shot. Don’t stand and reach—move your feet to meet the ball in your ideal contact zone.
- Eyes should stay focused on the ball at the moment of contact—not the wall.
Part 2: The Backhand Dink
Setup: Now shift slightly so the ball stays near your left foot (again, for righties).
Execution: Use the same smooth motion, but on your backhand side. If the ball creeps over too far to your right, don’t chase—adjust your position, not your paddle angle.
✅ Focus on:
- Staying compact.
- Using your shoulder, not your wrist.
- Keeping the ball in your ideal backhand zone.
- Footwork matters. Keep moving to position, rather than leaning into awkward dinks.
- Eye focus: Keep your eyes on the contact point of your paddle, not the wall bounce.
Part 3: Dink → Speedup → Reset Sequence
Here’s where it gets spicy.
Drill Pattern:
- Hit two soft dinks
- Add a controlled speedup
- Immediately follow with a reset
This sequence mimics a real rally: you’re dinking, see an opening, attack, then have to absorb the counter with a soft block.
✅ Focus on:
- Keeping your paddle out front.
- Changing pace without changing form.
- Resetting with control, not panic.
- Keep your eyes focused on the paddle-ball connection throughout, especially during resets.
It’s the kind of drill that builds versatility—you’re learning to attack and recover, which is essential if you want to win hand battles or fast kitchen exchanges.
How to Structure the 15 Minutes
Here’s one way to time it out:
- 5 min forehand dinks
- 5 min backhand dinks
- 5 min dink–speedup–reset cycle
Want a challenge? Add 5 more minutes of alternating dinks and move laterally after each hit. You’ll sneak in some footwork training too.
Bonus Variation Tip: Increase difficulty by shortening your distance from the wall, or target lower contact points. The tighter the margin, the more precision you’ll need.
Your Wall Is Your New Drill Partner
This isn’t just a warm-up—it’s a full-on skill builder you can do every day, in your garage, basement, driveway, wherever. If you’re consistent, this 15-minute routine will improve your feel, reactions, and confidence around the kitchen.
And like Marko says: “You don’t need fancy to get better—just deliberate reps, every day.”
See you at the wall.
