The Only Pickleball Practice Routine You’ll Ever Need
A Step-by-Step Instructional Guide with Ava Ignatowich
Introduction
Consistency, not complexity, is what separates good pickleball players from great ones. In this instructional guide, PPA Tour professional Ava Ignatowich walks through a complete, no-nonsense practice routine designed to sharpen fundamentals, simulate real match pressure, and build reliable muscle memory. Every drill in this progression has a purpose—and when done in order, it creates a full-court training session that covers touch, control, aggression, and decision-making.
What follows is a step-by-step tutorial, drawn directly from Ava’s own words and philosophy, complete with time codes, numbered drills, and topic headers, so you can structure your practices exactly like a pro.
Step-by-Step Pickleball Practice Routine
1. Straight-Ahead Dinking (0:08–0:31)
Why it comes first
Straight-ahead dinking is the hardest dink in pickleball—and that’s exactly why Ava starts here.
How to practice
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Dink directly over the highest part of the net
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Focus on patience and margin, not pace
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Avoid crosscourt bailouts
What it builds
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Cleaner crosscourt dinks
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Easier resets
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Greater control in dink patterns
2. Forehand Crosscourt Dinking (0:32–1:08)
Primary warm-up priority
This is the most important dink in Ava’s warm-up, especially since she plays primarily on the right side.
How to practice
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Keep dinks low over the net
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Move the ball: wide angles and inside-foot targets
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Stay here until it feels dialed in
3. Backhand Crosscourt (Left-Side) Dinking (1:09–1:41)
Recovering to the middle
This drill emphasizes court coverage and middle dominance.
How to practice
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Recover toward the middle after every dink
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Take balls out of the air when possible
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Practice backhand volleys to reduce reaction time
Skill focus
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Middle control
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Backhand stability
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Transition readiness
4. Straight-Ahead Drop Shots (1:43–2:32)
Mechanics, height, and touch
Drops are trained from the baseline with precision.
How to practice
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Lift the ball low-to-high
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Let the ball peak before crossing the net
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Prioritize height over pace
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Adjust height—not swing speed—when missing
5. Forehand Crosscourt Drops (2:44–3:22)
Margin and balance
Ava aims closer to the middle for consistency, especially in wind.
Key checkpoints
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Finish paddle on the same side of the body
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Contact slightly in front
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Shift weight forward through the shot
6. Backhand Crosscourt Drops (3:23–3:46)
Slice and topspin versatility
How to practice
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Alternate between slice and topspin drops
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Use topspin when balanced and attacking
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Use slice when stretched or handling low pace
7. Resets from the Transition Zone (3:49–4:36)
Absorbing pace under pressure
This drill simulates real match situations.
How to practice
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Partner feeds balls down at your feet
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Paddle drops toward the floor
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Think “block,” not “swing”
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Practice both off the bounce and out of the air
8. Hands & Reaction Training (4:37–5:08)
Daily essential
How to practice
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Compact swings
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Stable paddle face
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Ball struck out in front
Timing
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25–30 minutes max to avoid fatigue
9. Speed-Ups and Counters (5:09–5:55)
Game-realistic sequencing
How to practice
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Start with dink rallies
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Introduce a disguised speed-up
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Counter, then play out the hands battle
Technical focus
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Accelerate late on speed-ups
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Counter out in front and downward
10. Forehand Drives (5:56–6:24)
Power with control
How to practice
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Stay low
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Rotate through the shot
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Hit flatter when needed to preserve pace
11. Backhand Drives (6:25–7:05)
Compact and powerful
How to practice
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Shorten the backswing
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Generate power from legs and rotation
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Let the non-dominant hand lead
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Finish over the shoulder
Bonus: Two-handed backhands are encouraged.
12. Serves (7:06–7:20)
Target variety
Practice multiple serve types and locations to stay unpredictable.
13. Serve Returns (7:21–7:32)
Most overlooked, most costly
Key reminder
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Missed returns give away free points
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Slow down and prioritize consistency
14. Personalized End-of-Practice Drill (7:33–7:50)
Finish with intention
Choose one shot you need to improve and isolate it. No fancy drill required—just repetition with purpose.
In-Depth Summary
Ava Ignatowich’s practice routine is built on a simple truth: mastery comes from sequencing fundamentals correctly. By starting with the most demanding touch shots and gradually layering in movement, power, and aggression, this routine mirrors the flow of a real match. Each drill reinforces the next—straight-ahead dinks make drops easier, drops support resets, resets feed hands battles, and hands unlock confident speed-ups.
Equally important is Ava’s emphasis on margin, balance, and realism. Every drill simulates match conditions rather than cooperative feeding, ensuring skills translate under pressure. This is not a flashy routine—it’s a professional one. Follow it consistently, and improvement becomes inevitable.
Ava Ignatowich: Pickleball Journey Bio
Ava Ignatowich is a professional pickleball player competing on the PPA Tour, known for her calm presence, disciplined fundamentals, and technically sound all-court game. Emerging from a strong tennis background, Ava quickly transitioned into pickleball by embracing its strategic nuances rather than overpowering the sport with brute force.
Her rise through the professional ranks has been defined by intentional skill development, particularly in dinking, resets, and transition play—areas she considers non-negotiable for long-term success. Ava is especially respected for her right-side dominance, elite touch at the kitchen, and ability to absorb pace during hands battles.
Off the court, Ava has become a trusted voice for players seeking clarity in their training. Her instructional content emphasizes efficiency, injury prevention, and purposeful repetition—principles that mirror her own professional journey. Whether competing on tour or teaching the next generation of players, Ava Ignatowich represents a modern, thoughtful approach to pickleball excellence.
