Fast Pickleball Warm-Up Drills for Ball Control and Touch

If I haven’t played in a week, I usually need a bit of rallying to feel comfortable again. Jumping straight into a game feels rough.

I used to spend most of my warm-up dinking, but that alone doesn’t quite get me ready anymore. The game is getting much faster now.

What’s been working for me is a quick dink warm-up, followed by fast volleys back and forth at the kitchen line. It gives me more touches in less time, and the quick exchanges force me to stay focused. This gets my hands and eyes working together so hitting feels more natural.

After that, we take turns hitting drives while the other blocks. Once we’ve done a bit of both, I feel ready to play.

If I’m on my own, I’ll hit volleys or drives against a wall, which helps me get a good feel for the ball as well.

The biggest key for me is staying relaxed. I try not to overthink each shot during the warm-up; I just keep hitting, pay attention to the ball coming off the paddle, and let my body settle into a rhythm.

What part of your warm-up helps the most?