Drills Pros Use To Get FAST Hands In Pickleball

 

 

Here is a list of the topics discussed in the video, with a summary for each: 10 Ball Hand Drill (0:17-0:47): This drill starts with a cooperative rally where players count to 10 before playing out the point. It helps develop consistent reps and trains players to react to unpredictable hands in real game situations. Variations include changing the number of cooperative balls or using a figure-eight pattern. Ball Toss Counters Drill (0:56-1:40): One player tosses the ball to their partner, who immediately speeds it up. The focus is on the receiving player countering the speed-up, training reaction time, paddle stability, and decision-making under pressure. It can be practiced both off the bounce and out of the air, with the latter forcing quicker and more compact counters. Hands Inside the Kitchen Drill (2:07-2:46): Players step one foot inside the kitchen line and engage in a back-and-forth hands rally. This close proximity reduces time and space, forcing shorter swings, improved balance, and reliance on reaction over big backswings. The goal is to stay relaxed and compact to maintain control and quickly reset after each contact. This drill can also be done against a wall if a partner is unavailable. Dink Game with Speedups Drill (2:47-3:30): This drill begins with dinking, and either player can speed up the ball at any time, leading into a normal rally. It's considered highly realistic as it forces players to read intent, recognize attackable balls, and be constantly ready for hand battles, training anticipation, reaction time, and recovery simultaneously. Wrist Exercises (3:33-4:17): The video concludes with a weekly wrist exercise routine to develop faster hands and improve grip strength. This includes: Wrist Curls (3:40): Done both palms up and palms down, 2-3 sets of 12-20 reps (or close to failure) with light weight, focusing on quick movements for explosiveness and speed.

Forearm Rotations (3:54): 2-3 sets of 15-20 reps to build control and endurance.

Wrist Roller (4:00): Using a cable machine to maintain constant tension on the forearms and build endurance, typically 2-3 sets.

Hangs (4:08): Finishing with a couple of 30-second hangs to directly improve grip strength, which affects paddle stability during fast hand exchanges.

 

  

New YouTube Feature "Ask" (Gemini) Here's a summary for each topic header from the video: Introduction to Solo Pickleball Practice (0:00-0:19) Kelly Goodnow explains that practicing pickleball alone can be either highly effective or a complete waste of time, depending on the approach. Many players unknowingly make mistakes that prevent their solo practice from translating into improved performance in real matches. She plans to break down five common mistakes and provide solutions. Mistake 1: Random Reps and Lack of Focus (0:22-1:16) The first major mistake is practicing with random repetitions without a clear objective. Simply hitting a ball against a wall without a specific goal (e.g., improving height, consistency, placement, or control) reinforces bad habits, fails to build consistency, and doesn't help under pressure. Every solo drill should target one specific area for improvement. For example, Kelly mentions a drill of hitting 50 backhand dinks in a row to improve consistency under pressure. She emphasizes that if you can't explain what you're working on in one sentence, your focus is too broad. Mistake 2: Practicing Too Fast (1:18-1:49) Practicing at full speed is counterproductive because speed hides mistakes and leads to sloppy mechanics, late contact, and lack of control in real "hands battles." Instead, players should start drills slowly (50-60% speed) to expose what needs work. Slowness helps reveal flaws that can then be addressed, making the practice more effective. Mistake 3: Only Hitting Hard Shots (1:56-2:27) If solo practice consists primarily of drives and hard shots, a player's game will suffer significantly at the kitchen line and in the reset zone. While some drives are fine, the video advises intentionally training soft shots, such as resets and dinks, to improve control and maintain rallies. Neglecting soft shots will cause a player's game to "crumble" in crucial areas of the court. Mistake 4: Not Moving Your Feet (2:32-2:56) Pickleball requires constant movement, including recovering and getting low for shots. A common mistake in solo practice is remaining stationary. If players only hit against a wall without incorporating footwork, this bad habit will transfer to actual games, potentially leading to worse results. The video demonstrates that movement should be an integral part of solo drills. Mistake 5: No Pressure/Goals (3:01-3:21) Players often struggle under pressure in real matches because solo practice typically lacks this element. To counter this, the video recommends setting specific goals for solo drills, such as hitting 50 shots in a row without a miss, and requiring a restart if the goal isn't met. These goals introduce pressure, making solo practice feel more like an actual match and better preparing players for competitive situations. Conclusion and Call to Action (3:23-3:39) Kelly concludes the video by thanking viewers and encouraging them to like, share, and subscribe for more pickleball tutorial videos. She commits to posting consistently for those interested in improving their game.