Like any sport, pickleball is fairly easy to learn — but increasingly difficult to master.
It’s the sport everyone’s talking about online and millions are learning every year, making it the fastest growing sport in the United States today. It’s here, it’s fun and it isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.
But if you’re reading this, then you’re hungry to elevate your game beyond casual play.
You’ve learned the basics and gained some confidence, but you’re ready for the next step.
So, what’s that next step?
Practice.
To steal a line from Malcolm Gladwell’s Outliers: The Story of Success, “Practice isn’t the thing you do once you’re good. It’s the thing you do that makes you good.” And that’s exactly what it’ll take: practice.
But don’t worry. You won’t have to practice alone.
Mastering the Art of Partner Drills in Pickleball
While solo drills have their place, there's something so unique about focused partner drills.
It’s the type of practice you can’t replicate by yourself. And it’s the perfect way to bond with your friends and form good chemistry and rapport with players you play with often — ultimately translating to wins.
And let’s be honest: that’s what most of us want more than anything.
The beauty of partner drills is that they create focused repetition that casual play simply can't provide. They also offer immediate feedback from someone who's invested in your improvement (and vice versa).
With that said, let’s take a look at five of the most prominent partner drills for pickleball players today.
Skinny Singles
Of all the partner drills we could think of, none were more prominent than a game of “skinny singles.”
Skinny singles is essentially a modified version of singles pickleball where each player is restricted to using only half of the court. Instead of covering the entire 20-foot width, you're responsible for just 10 feet.
The smaller court leaves little room for error, which translates to greater accuracy and precision.
You can play it with both players starting across from each other or cross-court from each other, but we recommend mixing it up and introducing some variety to your training — you’ll be surprised at the effect!
The 7-11 Drill
The 7-11 drill is just as popular (and effective) as a game of “skinny singles.”
It’s a fun 1v1 game where Player A starts at the baseline and Player B starts in the non-volley zone (NVZ). Player B initiates with a serve and tries to keep the ball deep to avoid Player A from moving up.
Since Player A starts at a disadvantage, they only need 7 points to win. Player B needs 11 to win.
Player A can slowly transition towards the kitchen line with a mixture of drives and drops, but must be careful about their positioning as Player B attempts to maintain the advantage. Will you come out on top?!
The Slinky Drill
The “slinky” drill is a great way to improve transition play and positioning on the pickleball court.
It gets its playful name because the players move back and forth on the court — from the kitchen line to the baseline and back to the kitchen line — like a Slinky toy, creating a flowing pattern of movement.
Only one player moves back and forth at a time. The second player stays at the kitchen line.
Rather than practicing these court transitions in isolation, the “slinky” drill helps pickleball players develop familiarity and comfort with the continuous movements that happen naturally during actual gameplay.
Third Shot Drop
The “third shot drop” is one of the most important shots in pickleball. So, it’s worth practicing.
This drill specifically targets Player A’s ability to execute a soft, controlled shot from the baseline that clears the net but lands gently in Player B’s kitchen area — allowing Player A to move up to the net.
Player A also gets to practice their serve, while Player B earns an opportunity to practice their returns.
When executed properly, the third shot drop allows the serving team to transition from baseline play to the more advantageous kitchen play and control the net. And those that control the net often win the point.
Hit and Run Drill
The “hit and run” drill helps improve your serve, returns, conditioning and stamina — all in one drill!
Both players stand near the same sideline but on opposite sides of the net. Player A drives the ball down the sideline to Player B, who returns the shot diagonally to the opposite corner of Player A's court.
Player A must swiftly run along the baseline to retrieve the ball and return it to keep the point alive.
By repeatedly practicing these extreme court movements in a controlled setting, players develop both the confidence and capability to cover more court during game play — putting themselves in a position to win.
Lightning Loop: Taking Partner Drills to the Next Level
What would you say if we told you there was a way to take your partner drills to the next level?
If that excites you, then you’ll love what Lightning Loop has in store for you.
Lightning Loop is a revolutionary pickleball training aid that adds weight to your paddle. It attaches securely to the edge of your paddle — like a smartphone cover — and increases paddle weight by 50%.
It works like a weighted donut in baseball, but for your pickleball paddle.
Lightning Loop is designed to fit over any paddle, no matter the brand, and the added weight increases the moment of inertia between the arm, wrist, hand and paddle without altering the player’s grip or feel.
It’s already proving to be an effective tool for those who want to improve their game.
“It's not just about the strength; it's about how the added weight trains the muscle memory for faster, more agile movements,” says one of our verified customers. “My students are becoming more competitive.”
“My drives are stronger, and my reaction time at the net has improved dramatically,” another player said.
When combined with partner drills, Lightning Loop can help any player improve power, shot speed, control, stability, muscle memory, wrist strength, endurance, stamina, and reduced risk of injury or pain.
Get Started With Lightning Loop Today!
Are you looking to take your training to the next level? Do you and your practice partner find yourselves repeating the same basic rallies without seeing improvement? Are partner drills becoming a bit too easy?
If you answered “yes” to any of those questions, then you’ve come to the right place.
Welcome to Lightning Loop.
Partner drills are an excellent way to build rapport with other players and fine-tune your skills, but you can enhance those results by adding the revolutionary Lightning Loop to your daily or weekly training regimen.
We’re changing the game — and you can help change the game with us!
Whether you're working on your third shot drops, perfecting your footwork with the Hit and Run drill, or simulating game situations with Skinny Singles, the Lightning Loop will help you play your best pickleball.
