This pickleball drill provides players valuable practice dinking in various directions while building consistency and strategic decision-making.

Setup:

• Two players face each other, with each point played on half of the court.
• The sequence alternates between cross-court and straight-ahead play.

How to Play:

1. Starting the Rally:

• Either player begins the rally with a feed.
• The first four shots must land inside the kitchen (Non-Volley Zone).
• If an error occurs before four successful dinks, the sequence restarts.

2. Live Play:

• After the fourth dink lands in the kitchen, the point becomes live, and players can hit any shot to try and win.

3. Point Sequence:

Point 1: Play cross-court on half the court.
Point 2: Play straight ahead on half the court.
Point 3: Repeat cross-court play.
Point 4: Repeat straight-ahead play.

4. Repeat:

Continue the sequence for a few minutes to build rhythm and consistency.

Optional Variation:

Transition to a competitive format by playing a game to 11 points, following the same sequence.

Benefits:

• Enhances dinking precision and control.
• Improves adaptability by challenging players to dink effectively in different directions.
• Encourages a mix of patience and aggression as players transition from cooperative dinking to live play.

This drill is a versatile way to sharpen dinking skills and decision-making under varying conditions.