Best Pickleball Drills to Improve Shot Consistency in 15 Minutes
One of the biggest separators between recreational players and strong, confident players is consistency. It’s not about who can hit the hardest — it’s about who can keep the ball in play, under control, and with purpose. You don’t need hours of training to sharpen up. With just 15 minutes and the right drill, you can help your game and feel more solid on the court. Drilling, in my opinion, is more important than playing.
Here are three simple, effective drills to lock in your consistency.
1. The Kitchen Dink Challenge
Consistency starts at the net. Dinking isn’t just about keeping it soft; it's about being precise under pressure. Keeping score is important here. It adds to the pressure, making the dinks unattackable.
How:
Both players are at the kitchen line. Cross-court only.
Start the rally with a soft bounce feed into the opponent’s kitchen.
Aim for the ball to hit between the net tape and roughly 6 inches above. Try to land the ball in the deep half of the kitchen.
First one to get to 11 wins. Switch sides and repeat.
2. Third-Shot Drop Reps
The third shot is where most points are won… or lost. Practicing this consistently builds confidence in a critical shot in pickleball.
How:
Stand at the baseline with a bucket of balls. Without pulling your arm back for momentum, position your opposite leg (the one across from your hitting arm) forward. Place the ball by your forward knee and hit it forward into the kitchen.
Do 10 clean in a row before moving on.
Progression: Bounce the ball in front of you, same lift, and finish.
3. Volley-to-Volley Quick Hands
Consistency under speed is just as important as consistency under control. This drill sharpens your reaction time and steadiness.
How:
Both players start one foot inside the kitchen line across from each other.
Start with gentle volleys, then gradually increase pace.
Keep the rally alive with short blocks and punch volleys, no big swings.
After a few minutes, step behind the line and repeat. You’ll feel extra time to react.
These simple drills can make a big impact on your skill development. Even as a professional player, I still do drills like these when I practice. They work. Make sure you are deliberate with each ball you hit. And don’t forget, always watch the ball make contact with the paddle. Keep drilling. You’ve got this.
About the Author: Gina Cilento is a top 10 Senior Pro and multi-APP medalist who splits her time between competing and coaching. She’s the co-founder of The Pickleball Lab, a pod player for the Denver Iconics in the National Pickleball League, and co-host of Keeping It Real with Gina & Neil. Off the court, Gina shares her passion through her apparel line, The Pick, and her work with Empower Pickleball.
