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Serve and Return without a partner

Posted by Claudia Fontana on Feb 11 2015 at 04:00PM PST

WALL DRILL - Serve and Return

SET UP 

Open area 20'x 20' space  with a flat surfaced wall to hit against. Draw a line or tape a "net" line on the wall to simulate net height. Have several balls available to work with.

Description

Option 1 Forehand Return

Standing approximately 15'-20' away from a hard flat surfaced wall, underhand  serve the ball against the wall at regular speed.  Player will recover into ready position and return the ball with a forehand stroke back to the wall. Then STOP.

Option 2 Backhand Return

Standing approximately 15'-20' away from a hard flat surfaced wall, underhand  serve the ball against the wall at regular speed.  Player will recover into ready position and return the ball with a backhand stroke back to the wall. Then STOP.

Modifications 

Vary speed of serves to the wall.

Vary placement of serves to wall.   Left/Right/Center 

For smaller or less available space in your home use a High Density foam ball. Safety for all and reduce furniture damage. 

Finer Points

This pickleball drill is great when you don't have a hitting partner. Adding the return second shot after the serve is a great way to react and feel confident about serving at various speeds and receiving quick returns.  Service placement on the wall is important to be sure the returning  ball goes in the direction for the forehand or backhand side for drill practice. This gives the server good pratice on placing the ball on a specific spot of the wall for the forehand or backhand return. Reactions must be quick, to prepare for the next shot. Be in "Ready Position" for the return. Hips and feet square to net, paddle up, weight on balls of feet, relaxed shoulders and ready to react in any direction.

FOCUS 

Keep eyes on the ball, Set feet for stroke attack, Rotate hips to the "X Position", Contact ball with paddle at a point equal to the front foot placement, Stroke, and follow through with paddle arm and return to ready position. 

PROGRESSION of SKILL 

Beginners should start deeper so that reaction time from the wall to the next hit is at a slower pace.  Serve with consistancy to a specific spot. Using chalk or tape on the wall, is a good way to aim for a target. Hitting consistantly to a target 'spot' will improve your paddle control for winning serves and shots.

Advanced players can move closer to the wall for quicker response time.

Serve harder as you improve to make the drill more challenging.

Cautions 

DON'T move to an advanced level until you can consistantly REPEAT the drill with 80% accuracy or better. Moving to quickly to advanced levels will only be cause for more mistakes and less accurate placement. Uncontrolled skill practice only leads to uncontrolled play and less winning points.

Make your practice work FOR you not AGAINST you. 

 

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