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How to focus during drilling

This is an excerpt from The Pickleball Drill Book by Suzee Anderson.

How to Focus During Drilling

Each drill will include both technical and tactical elements. Don’t try to master everything at once—concentrate on one or two technical aspects per session. As your comfort increases, layer in tactical goals that connect your skills to real match play. The five tactical aspects of the game are as follows:

1. Consistency: the ability to repeat a skill reliably under pressure
2. Accuracy: placing the ball with precision to exploit openings
3. Court positioning: maintaining balance and location advantage on every shot
4. Playing to your strengths: leveraging what you do best—whether that’s your hands, resets, or power game
5. Playing to your opponent’s weaknesses: recognizing and targeting their discomfort zones to apply strategic pressure

Some drills are strictly technical, while others bridge technique and tactics, helping you connect form to function—the how and why behind every shot.

Your Three-Step Recipe for a Complete Drilling Session

To get the most out of your practice, follow this structured progression:

1. Technique first: Start with a deliberate, technique-focused drill. Slow down, isolate the mechanics, and feel the movement.
2. Add tactics: Move into a cooperative drill that incorporates tactics such as placement or court awareness while maintaining the same technical quality.
3. Compete: End with a competitive drill that challenges you to hold your form and strategy under pressure. Keep this gameplay confined to the court space or situation you’ve been training.

This three-step process ensures every session develops both skill and application—so your drilling directly translates to better play.

More Excerpts From The Pickleball Drill Book

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