In pickleball coaching, one of the most effective ways to help players improve isn’t a complicated drill or a long explanation—it’s simply to make practice look and feel more like the real game. When your drills reflect the actual situations players face in matches, their learning sticks, their decisions improve, and their skills transfer more easily.
Why Game-Like Practice Works
When players train in isolated or unrealistic situations, they might improve their mechanics—but struggle to apply those skills when the game is on the line. By practicing in game-like settings, players learn when to use a shot, how to respond under pressure, and how to make smarter choices in real time.
Here’s what happens when you make your drills more game-like:
Better Decision-Making – Players get reps in realistic situations where they have to choose the right shot, not just repeat the same one.
Improved Focus – Game-like scenarios naturally raise intensity and engagement, which keeps players alert and learning.
Stronger Transfer to Matches – Skills learned in context are more likely to show up in actual gameplay.
How to Make Drills More Game-Like
You don’t have to scrap your whole lesson plan to be more realistic. Small changes can go a long way.
Start with the Situation
Instead of saying, “Let’s work on volleys,” frame it like this: “You’re at the net, your opponents are attacking—what do you do?”
Now you’re working on volleys, decision-making in context and understanding the why.
Use Constraints to Shape Behaviour
Game-like drills can still have structure. Add a rule like:
“You can only score if you hit a third-shot drop and then win the point.”
“The point starts with a serve and return. You have to finish with a dink.”
This keeps it tactical, but grounded in real play.
Always Keep a Target in Mind
Even in a drill, players should know why they’re doing what they’re doing. If they are trying to hit a third shot, explain why it is important to keep it low. For example, “By keeping your third shot low, it neutralizes your opponents from attacking high balls and causes them to hit upwards, potentially creating a pop up for you to attack.” Now, players can drill hitting low third with a target height and they understand why hitting a low third shot can help them in a game. That clarity helps translate to game situations.
Final Thoughts
Technical practice has its place—but if you want your players to succeed in real matches, you have to give them chances to learn in real match-like situations. The best coaching blends skill development with context and decision-making.
Next time you plan a lesson, ask yourself: “Does this feel like a game?” If not, tweak it until it does. Keep it game-like, and you’ll keep your players learning.