My Favorite Solo Pickleball Drills

As one of pickleball’s top pros, Zane Navratil has mastered the art of training even when there’s no one else around. For players looking to enhance pickleball performances without a partner, Zane offers valuable insights on solo drills, emphasizing that self-disciplined creativity can elevate any player’s skills.

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Zane’s go-to method for solo practice is simple but highly effective: wall drills. “There are actually a bunch of wall drills that I do on a semi-regular basis,” he says, noting that a good wall can substitute for a practice partner. One of Navratil's favorite drills involves alternating forehands and backhands, hitting the ball against the wall at various distances.

“Start close to the wall to work on quick hands and blocking. Then, back up and hit from farther away to develop more power in your shots,” Zane advises. The key, he stresses, is to always mix it up, challenging yourself to expand your pickleball playbook.

After perfecting alternating shots, Zane switches focus to backhands. Navratil encourages players to isolate specific skills. “Focus on all backhands in your next round,” he explains, laughing about the challenge. “Sometimes the wall wins!” But the beauty of wall drills, according to Zane, is their unpredictability and how they force players to be on their toes.

For more advanced players, Zane recommends a four-part sequence that simulates game scenarios: “A dink, a speed-up, a counter, and then a reset.” He emphasizes repetition— “dink, speed up, counter, reset”—as a way to develop muscle memory. It’s a drill that’s constantly evolving, helping players build both offense and defense.

Zane also points out that players like Christian Alshon have additional creative wall drills on social media that are worth checking out. “Christian’s got a bunch of wall drills on Instagram and YouTube, and sometimes, yes, he’s shirtless in those videos,” he jokes, highlighting the many ways players can find inspiration.

While the wall drills hone reactive skills, Zane uses the Lobster ball machine to fine-tune his strokes. His favorite drill involves setting the ball machine on the baseline and having it shoot directly down the line. “If I can hit the ball back at the machine in a straight line, it really helps with my timing and accuracy,” he says.