Pickleball Skill Building - Ground Strokes

Pickleball Skill Building

Ground Strokes

Ground strokes are shots that are taken further back in the court and where the ball has bounced in front of the hitting player.  When practicing ground strokes, it is best to work on trying to have long rallies and trying to place the ball deep and near the corner of the opponent's court. The ball should be hit firmly, but do not so hard that the practice partner can't return the ball. 

Drills for All Players

These drills are the easiest because you are hitting the ball back to where it came from and are doing so without being on the run. However, after doing all 4 drills you will have practiced forehands and backhands both cross court and down the line from both sides of the court. These drills can be done with two players as described, or you could do them with 4 players keeping two balls going in opposite cross court directions or opposite sidelines.

Drill 1 - Players practice hitting cross court balls to each other from the right side of their respective courts.

Drill 2 - Players practice hitting cross court balls to each other from the left side of their respective courts.

Drill 3 - Players practice hitting down the line on the right side of the court.

Drill 4 - Players practice hitting down the line on the left side of the court.

Drills for Advanced Players

These drills are much more difficult and are intended for advanced players who still move fairly well on the court. Each drill gives one of the players practice on hitting while running and the other player practice in changing the direction of the ball while standing still which is harder than returning the ball back in the direction it came from

Drill 5 – One player stands on the right hand side of his court and alternately hits the ball down the line, cross court, down the line, cross court, etc.  The other player will be running from side to side and hitting every ball right back to the initiating player.  The drill can be done from the left side as well, and also players will alternate positions.