To practice pickleball alone, focus on the skills you can’t drill in a game: serves into targets, footwork patterns, wall volleys and paddle touch. Bring 20 or more balls, set a target for every drill, and stop when you hit it, not when you get bored.
Practicing at home with just a wall? See our pickleball drills at home.
So, you want to practice pickleball, but there’s a small problem, there’s no one around. No partner. No opponent. Just you, your paddle, and an empty court.
Good news: solo practice isn’t just a backup plan. It’s actually one of the fastest ways to improve your game. You don’t have to deal with waiting for a court, unforced errors from partners, or getting into endless dinking wars when you really need to work on your serve. This is your time to drill what actually makes a difference.
But let’s be honest, standing around hitting the same shot over and over like a robot gets old fast. So, let’s talk about fun, effective, and slightly unconventional ways to practice alone that actually translate to better play.
1. The Serve Factory: Become a Nightmare to Returners
Third shot drops are better with a partner or a ball machine, because you need a real ball coming at you. Spend solo time on serves instead. They’re prime for solo work.
Why it matters: A great serve sets the tone for the entire point. If your serve is predictable or weak, you’re handing the ball to your opponent on a silver platter.
Drill: The Serve Gauntlet
- Grab 10-20 balls (seriously, don’t just use one, it’ll kill your rhythm).
- Set up a target zone in the back third of the service box.
- Mix it up:
- Power serve: Deep, flat, and fast.
- Topspin serve: Kick it up so opponents struggle with returns.
- Slice serve: Make the ball skid low and stay nasty.
- Bonus challenge: Try to hit the same target five times in a row before switching serves.
Game Changer: Keep your serves deep, the farther back you push your opponent, the weaker their return will be.
2. The Wall Rally: Your New Best Training Partner
Walls don’t miss. Walls don’t make excuses. Walls will give you instant feedback on your shots.
Drill: The Relentless Wall Challenge
Find a smooth, flat wall and mark a line 34 inches high (net height). Now, try these:
- Speed Dinking: Stand close and volley dinks back and forth as fast as possible.
- Goal: Keep it going for 50 hits.
- Power Drives: Step back and rip drives at the wall, focusing on consistency.
- Goal: 10 in a row, no mishits.
- Reaction Training: Stand 10 feet away, smash the ball, then try to react to your own return.
- This trains reflexes for those fast exchanges at the net.
Why it works:
- You get way more reps in less time.
- You’re training accuracy, footwork, and reaction speed all at once.
Watch our friend and coach, Will East, break down some awesome and super useful wall drills:
Want even more wall-drill tips? Here’s a 15-Minute Wall-Drill tutorial from Coach Marko 👇
3. Disguised Lobs: The Secret Weapon No One Sees Coming
Most people use lobs defensively. But a well-placed offensive lob from the kitchen is deadly, especially if it looks like a dink at the last second.
Drill: The Sneaky Lob Setup
- Stand at the kitchen line and dink normally.
- Every fourth or fifth dink, disguise a lob with topspin, use the same motion, but flick your wrist up at the last moment.
- Alternate between short dinks and surprise lobs, so an opponent would never know when you’re going to launch it.
Why it works: Most players only practice obvious, defensive lobs. This builds a skill no one sees coming.
4. Shadow Swinging: Look Crazy, Play Better
Ever see a pro golfer take practice swings before a shot? There’s a reason. Muscle memory is everything.
Drill: Shadow Swing Accuracy
- Stand on the baseline and go through your serve motion without hitting a ball, just focus on form.
- Move up to the kitchen line and shadow swing dinks and volleys.
- Close your eyes and try to feel the perfect movement (sounds weird, but trust me).
Why it works: It locks in perfect form so you don’t get sloppy when it counts.
5. The Agility Gauntlet: Get Faster Without Running in Circles
Most people “work on footwork” by randomly sprinting around. Instead, train real in-game movement.
Drill: The Pickleball Shuffle
- Set up cones or markers at:
- Baseline
- Transition zone (mid-court)
- Kitchen line
- Start at the baseline and move forward in game-like steps:
- Split-step at the kitchen.
- Shuffle back to the mid-court (like resetting a rally).
- Move side to side along the NVZ.
- Shuffle back again.
- Repeat 10 times.
Why it works: It mimics actual footwork in a game instead of just sprinting randomly.
6. The 10,000 Touch Challenge: Become a Paddle Wizard
Want better touch? The best players control the ball effortlessly, which means mastering small touches.
Drill: Paddle Juggling
- Bounce the ball on your paddle continuously.
- Try switching grips while keeping the ball bouncing.
- Add spin by angling your paddle slightly.
Why it works:
- Develops insane control (soft hands = fewer pop-ups).
- Trains grip adjustments without thinking.
Here are a few more fun paddle drills we tried, and absolutely loved:
A 30-Minute Solo Session
Short on time? Run this plan and write down one number from each block. Beat it next time.
- 5 minutes: shadow swings and footwork
- 10 minutes: serve targets (deep corners first, then the backhand side)
- 10 minutes: wall volleys and dinks
- 5 minutes: paddle juggling
The Real Key to Solo Practice
Solo practice is not about mindless reps, it’s about high-quality, game-specific training. The best way to make it stick?
1. Set a Challenge
- “I won’t leave the court until I land five deep topspin serves in a row.”
- “I’ll do 100 paddle juggles before I stop.”
- “I have to hit the wall 20 times in a row without breaking rhythm.”
2. Make It Competitive
- Time yourself, how many forehand volleys in 30 seconds?
- Track your progress, get 2% better every session.
3. Enjoy It!
Pickleball is meant to be fun. If your solo practice feels like a chore, you’re doing it wrong. Keep it engaging, keep it game-like, and watch how fast your skills improve.
Now, grab your paddle and go put in the work. When you finally get back into a real game, your opponents won’t know what hit them. 😉
Solo Practice FAQ
Can you practice pickleball by yourself?
Yes. Serves, footwork, wall volleys and paddle-touch drills all work alone. Save third shot drops and dink rallies for a partner or a ball machine.
What is the best solo pickleball drill?
Serve targets. Set a cone or tape zone in the back third of the service box and try to land five in a row before you switch serves.
Is a ball machine worth it for pickleball?
If you practice alone more than once a week, it lets you drill third shot drops, resets and volleys against a real incoming ball, which a wall can’t fully copy.
