Practicing simple, repetitive pickleball wall drills at home will improve your muscle memory and reaction times during a real pickleball match.
Set Up Your Garage or Basement for Wall Drills
Getting started with pickleball wall drills at home begins with identifying and setting up your practice area. All you need is a wall that’s at least six feet wide and three feet tall, with a floor space extending seven feet from the wall.
For the best results, choose a wall and flooring made of hard, solid materials to mimic the bounce you’d get on a court. Garages and basements with concrete floors are typically perfect for these drills.
Once you have an appropriate area selected, you will then need to start taping off your “court.” The idea here is to create lines that will emulate the lines of a pickleball court.
- One horizontal line taped at 36” in height along the wall running the width of a net. For these drills, you don’t need this line to run the entire 20’ width of the average pickleball. As long as you have between 6-8’ to work with, you should be good to go for wall drills.
- One horizontal Kitchen line, about 7’ from the wall.
- One horizontal line at 5’ from the wall. The area between this line and the non-volley zone line will be where you’ll be targeting most of your wall shots.
- One vertical line at the halfway point along your “net.” This will represent the pickleball court’s centerline.
Make sure to also read our article on how to build a DIY pickleball court.
11 Drills You Can Do With A Pickleball Practice Wall
Now that we have our practice space set up for wall drills, it’s time to get started. The following drills will cover a wide range of types of shots and body movements. Overall, your goal with these drills should be to hone each of these particular skills so that when you’re on the court, you have the confidence and ability to perform to your best potential!
All drill directions are from the perspective of a right-handed player. Left-handed player drills will work much the same, but all references to the right or left side of the court will be reversed.
1. Practice Your Serve
Practicing your serve at home can be tricky due to limited space. Instead of focusing on power, practice the motion at a slower speed. This helps you refine your serving technique before moving on to other wall drills.
2. Wall Dinks
For wall dinks, position yourself close to the imaginary kitchen line. Hit the ball with enough force to reach a target zone about 5 feet from the wall, representing your opponent’s court.
- Start with forehand swings, hitting the ball against the wall above the net line.
- Ensure the ball returns to the right side between the kitchen and target lines.
- Repeat until comfortable, then switch to backhand dinks, aiming for the left side.
Once you’re confident with both, alternate between forehand and backhand shots.
3. Two-Touch Dinks
Two-touch dinks add a twist to regular dinks. After the ball bounces in the target zone, gently tap it up and let it bounce again before making your next dink shot. This drill enhances control and helps develop a natural rhythm.
When you’re ready, try doing this without letting the ball hit the ground between dinks, adding urgency and improving accuracy.
4. Practice Hitting Above the Line
Simply hit the ball above the net line on the wall. This basic drill is crucial for ensuring you can consistently get the ball over the net. Your accuracy and power will improve with practice.
5. Drills with Small Targets
Once you’re comfortable with dinks, place small targets like cardboard boxes or plastic cups between the kitchen line and the target line. Aim to hit these targets to improve your shot accuracy.
6. Forehand Drop Shot Into a Shoe Box
The third shot drop is vital in pickleball. Practice by aiming for a small box set just above the net line on the wall. This helps perfect the angle and force needed for a well-placed drop shot. You can also practice backhand drops if preferred.
7. Switch to a Smaller Target
When you master the drop shot with the shoebox, switch to a smaller target like a plastic cup taped 2 inches above the net line. Aim for the cup to enhance your shooting precision.
8. Wall Volleys
Wall volley drills are about building confidence and maintaining high-paced rallies. Hit the ball repeatedly in the air off the wall, alternating between forehand and backhand shots. Start at the 5-foot line and gradually move back to the 7-foot non-volley zone line.
9. Two-Touch Volley Wall Drills
Similar to two-touch dinks, tap the ball into the air between volleys. This drill improves control and helps you understand how your paddle affects ball movement, allowing you to control the rally pace and rhythm better.
10. Overhead Smashes
Place a target high on the wall to simulate an opponent’s lob. Stand about 7-10 feet away, lightly toss the ball into the air, and practice smashing it against the wall, aiming for the target.
Focus on your footwork, positioning, and follow-through to ensure powerful and accurate smashes. This drill improves your ability to execute decisive shots.
11. Two-Ball Rally
Use two pickleballs for this drill. Stand about 5 feet from the wall and hit one ball against the wall. As it returns, hit the second ball, keeping both balls in play alternately.
This drill challenges your coordination, concentration, and ability to handle multiple shots at once.
How Much Drilling?
Practicing pickleball wall drills at home is a fantastic way to sharpen your skills and stay in the game, even when you can’t hit the court. Remember, consistency is key. Make sure to practice for an hour at least 2-3 times a week.
Here are a few extra tips to make your solo practice even more effective:
- Stay Consistent: Dedicate regular time to practice and stick to it.
- Mix It Up: Rotate through different drills to keep things interesting and well-rounded.
- Set Goals: Aim for specific targets or improvements each session.
- Track Progress: Keep a journal of your practice sessions to note improvements and areas needing more work.
- Stay Positive: Practice can be tough, but keep a positive attitude and enjoy the process of getting better.
Be sure to also check out the following articles and video demonstrations:
- Solo Speedup Drill to Dominate Advanced Play
- Hitting with Your Hips: A Key to Better Pickleball Shots
- Say Goodbye to Missed Drops & Dinks with This Technique
- Unlock Insane Power and Spin with This Wrist Lag Trick
Happy practicing, and see you on the court with sharper skills and greater confidence!
