How to Practice Pickleball Alone: Solo Drills to Sharpen Your Game

Why Solo Practice Accelerates Improvement

Most players wait for a partner before stepping onto the court. That is a mistake. Solo practice sessions let you focus entirely on your own mechanics without worrying about keeping a rally going or accommodating someone else's skill level.

When you practice alone, you can repeat the same shot hundreds of times until muscle memory takes over. This type of focused repetition is how professional athletes build consistency. According to USA Pickleball, regular practice, including solo sessions, is one of the fastest paths to improving your game.

For Canadian players dealing with limited court access during winter months, solo drills also offer a practical solution. You can work on your game in a garage, basement, or indoor facility without needing to coordinate schedules with a partner.

Essential Equipment for Solo Sessions

You do not need much gear to practice alone, but having the right equipment makes your sessions more productive.

Must-have items:

• Your paddle (use your regular game paddle to build familiarity)
• 6-12 pickleballs (indoor balls work better for wall practice)
• A solid wall or rebounder
• Athletic shoes with good lateral support

Nice-to-have additions:

• A portable net for serve practice
• Cones or tape for marking targets
• A ball hopper for collecting strays

If you are practicing outdoors at a court, many facilities across Canada have walls specifically designed for practice. Browse our provincial listings to find courts with practice walls near you.

Wall Drills for Ball Control and Consistency

Wall drills are the foundation of solo pickleball practice. A solid wall gives you instant feedback and forces you to react quickly, building both control and reflexes.

Basic Forehand/Backhand Rally

1. Stand about 8-10 feet from the wall
2. Hit a forehand shot against the wall at a comfortable pace
3. Let the ball bounce once before hitting your next shot
4. Continue for 30-50 rallies, then switch to backhand
5. Once comfortable, alternate forehand and backhand

Target Practice Drill

1. Mark a 2-foot square on the wall with tape at net height (34 inches at center, 36 inches at sidelines)
2. Stand at the non-volley zone distance (about 7 feet)
3. Try to hit the target 10 times in a row
4. Move back to 14 feet and repeat for mid-court practice

Speed Control Drill

1. Hit the ball softly so it barely reaches the wall
2. Gradually increase power over 10 shots
3. Return to soft shots and repeat the cycle
4. This teaches you to vary pace, an essential skill for dinking and resets

Serve Practice Techniques

Your serve is the one shot you have complete control over. Spend time perfecting it and you will start every point with confidence.

Consistent Toss Drill

1. Practice your toss without hitting the ball
2. Release the ball at the same height and location 20 times
3. The ball should drop to the same spot each time
4. A consistent toss leads to a consistent serve

Target Zone Serving

1. Place targets in different areas of the service box (cones, towels, or water bottles work well)
2. Serve 10 balls aiming for the deep corners
3. Serve 10 balls aiming for the center
4. Track your accuracy percentage

Power and Placement Progression

1. Start with 10 serves focusing only on getting the ball in
2. Next 10 serves, aim for a specific zone
3. Final 10 serves, add power while maintaining placement
4. This builds the skill of adding pace without sacrificing accuracy

According to Pickleball Canada, the serve must be made underhand with the paddle contacting the ball below waist level. Practice the correct form during solo sessions so it becomes automatic.

Dinking Drills Without a Partner

The dink is the most important shot in competitive pickleball, and you can absolutely practice it alone.

Wall Dink Rally

1. Stand 7 feet from the wall (simulating the kitchen line)
2. Hit soft, controlled shots that barely clear the "net" line on the wall
3. Focus on keeping the ball low and using minimal backswing
4. Try to sustain a rally of 30+ dinks

Cross-Court Dink Simulation

1. Mark two spots on the wall about 4 feet apart
2. Alternate hitting to each spot
3. This practices the lateral movement required for cross-court dinking
4. Keep your paddle up and ready between shots

Dink-to-Reset Transition

1. Start with soft dinks against the wall
2. Intentionally hit one shot harder
3. Practice resetting the faster return back to a soft dink
4. This teaches you to handle pace changes at the kitchen

Footwork and Shadow Swing Exercises

Good footwork separates average players from skilled ones. These drills require no ball at all.

Split Step Drill

1. Start at the baseline in ready position
2. Shuffle forward to the kitchen line
3. Perform a split step (a small hop that gets both feet on the ground simultaneously)
4. Shadow swing a volley
5. Return to baseline and repeat 10 times

Lateral Movement Sequence

1. Stand at the kitchen line
2. Shuffle three steps to your right, shadow swing
3. Shuffle six steps to your left, shadow swing
4. Shuffle back to center
5. Repeat for 2 minutes without stopping

Transition Zone Practice

1. Start at the baseline
2. Move forward as if approaching the net after a good return
3. Stop at different points and practice split-stepping
4. Work on reading when to stop versus when to keep moving

These footwork drills are especially valuable during Canadian winters when outdoor court time is limited. You can do them in any space with enough room to move.

Creating Your Weekly Practice Routine

Consistency matters more than duration. A structured weekly schedule helps you improve faster than occasional marathon sessions.

Sample Weekly Plan:

Monday: Wall Drills (20 minutes)

• 5 minutes forehand rallies
• 5 minutes backhand rallies
• 10 minutes alternating and target practice

Wednesday: Serve and Dink Focus (25 minutes)

• 10 minutes serve practice with targets
• 10 minutes wall dinking
• 5 minutes dink-to-reset transitions

Friday: Footwork and Full Practice (30 minutes)

• 10 minutes footwork drills
• 10 minutes wall drills at game speed
• 10 minutes serve practice

Weekend: Play Matches

• Apply what you practiced during the week
• Notice which skills have improved
• Identify areas needing more solo work

Adjust this schedule based on your goals. If your serve needs the most work, add serve practice to each session. If footwork is your weakness, increase those drills.

Building Confidence Through Independent Practice

Solo practice is not a substitute for playing games, but it is a powerful supplement. The hours you spend alone with a wall and a paddle build the foundation that makes you a better partner and competitor.

Start with just 15 minutes of focused practice a few times per week. Track your progress by counting consecutive wall rallies or serve accuracy percentages. Small improvements compound over time.

When you are ready to test your improved skills, find a court near you. Explore our listings across Canada to locate facilities with practice walls, ball machines, or open play sessions where you can put your solo work into action.

The best players never stop working on fundamentals. Pick one drill from this guide, head to the wall, and start building the skills that will show up in your next game.