Pickleball is a sport played between two teams of 2 players each. The objective is to hit a ball into the opponent’s court using a paddle.
Pickleball was developed in the 1960s and in 1980, the US Pickleball Association was formed and has since grown to over 20,000 members worldwide.
Pickleball is a great game for fitness enthusiasts because it requires quick reflexes, agility, and speed. If you want to improve these skills, you should try playing pickleball regularly.
How Exactly Can You Improve Your Hand Speed For Pickleball?
Hand speed is one of the most important factors in picking up the game of pickleball. You don’t want to be slow and sloppy, but you don’t want to be too quick either.
The key to increasing your hand speed lies in proper hand placement and getting comfortable with your paddle position.
In terms of hand placement, there are three main areas that you’ll want to focus on:
- The middle finger
- The index finger
- The thumb
Grip Size
- You’ll want to use the same size grip every time you play.
- This is one of those things that people tend to do differently depending on what they’re feeling.
- For example, if you’re playing well, you might try a smaller grip.
- But if you’re struggling, you might stick with the standard size.
- And finally, there are some tricks you can use to make sure you don’t lose momentum while you’re getting ready to hit the ball.
- One of the most common ones is called “the windmill.”
Will Hand-Eye Coordination Drills Help?
Pickleball players are always looking for ways to improve their skills. And one way to do that is to work on specific drills.
Pickleball is a sport that requires great hand-eye coordination. As such, it helps to train your body to bounce a pickleball around like a tennis ball.
In fact, many players find that practicing with a pickleball is much easier than playing with a real one.
Here are some drills that help improve your coordination and prepare you for the upcoming season.
Juggling
The exercise called juggling involves hitting three balls simultaneously – one from each person.
Each player must follow the trajectory of the ball he/she is holding and make sure to return the ball to the same spot on the ground where it came from.
This skill is called “hand-eye coordination,” and it’s something that most of us already know how to do.
However, some people may find it difficult to juggle multiple objects at once. So, what exactly does it mean to juggle?
The term “juggle” refers to keeping track of several things at once. And while juggling is easier when done with just one object, it becomes much harder when you add another.
Here’s a quick example: If you’re juggling two balls and you drop one, you have to immediately stop juggling and go retrieve your dropped ball. Then you have to start over with both balls.
Now imagine trying to juggle five balls at once. You’d probably end up dropping one every few seconds.
Reflex Training Drills
Pickleball is a game played indoors with a paddle and a ball. It’s easy to learn and fun to play. If you want to improve your skills, pickleball can be a great way to do it.
However, there are some things you need to know about how to play pickleball well. Here are three tips for playing pickleball like a pro (see also ‘How Much Do Pro Pickleball Players Make?‘).
1. Don’t rush
When you start playing pickleball, you might find yourself rushing too much. This can lead to mistakes. Instead, take your time and focus on each shot.
2. Keep Your Eyes Open
You don’t want to miss anything. Make sure you keep your eyes open during every shot.
3. Use Your Brain
Think ahead of where the ball will go next. Your brain (see also ‘Is Pickleball Good For Your Brain?‘) can tell you in what direction the ball will bounce off the wall.
Triangle Drills
This drill starts off with you hitting the ball over the net and moving it to one side. Then, you hit it again, and move it further away.
Finally, you hit it once more, and move it even farther away. As always, make sure you land softly in between each shot. If you miss, don’t worry about it; just keep practicing.
Once you’ve mastered this drill, try adding some variety. Try jumping out of the way rather than stepping sideways. Or, you could add a twist to the drill by making the triangle bigger, like from 10 feet to 15 feet.
Drop And Returns Drills
Pickleball is a sport (see also ‘Is Pickleball An Olympic Sport?‘) where players hit balls over the net and into play. There are three shots per rally; one serve, one return, and one drop shot.
When it comes to the third shot drop, there are some rules that you should know about.
First, the ball cannot bounce off the court twice. Second, the ball must touch the ground once before hitting the court.
Third, the ball must land within 10 feet of the receiver. If the ball does not meet those requirements, it is considered out.
The most important rule regarding the third shot drop is that it is done only once during a rally.
This is because it is very difficult to make a second shot drop. In fact, it is almost impossible. So, why do we need to teach this skill?
Well, for starters, it helps improve accuracy and consistency. A player needs to become comfortable making a third-shot drop.
They also need to develop the ability to recognize when a third-shot drop opportunity is presented. Finally, it will help players understand how much power they need to use when returning the ball.
Why Should You Be Doing Pickleball Drills?
Drilling is an exercise that helps improve your game because it allows you to practice your skills without having to worry about making mistakes.
If you’re looking to improve your game, drilling is a great way to develop muscle memory and confidence.
You might think that practicing the same shot over and again won’t help you make progress. But research suggests otherwise.
A study published in the Journal of Sports Sciences found that players who practiced their serve repeatedly improved their accuracy by up to 15%.
Final Thoughts
If you’re serious about improving your hand speed, then you need to practice. Practice makes perfect!
And the best way to practice is by doing drills. These exercises will help you develop better hand-eye coordination and increase your overall pickleball skills.
