STOP DRILLING!!
If you are drilling – hit the pause button for a minute. Drilling is an awesome (the best really) way to improve the mechanics of your game. Having trouble with your third shot? Drill. Service yips? Drill.
But wait a minute, didn’t you say to stop drilling?
I did. But not forever. Just for a minute.
Here’s why: drilling is an awesome (the best really) way to improve the mechanics of your game. BUT – only if you are using the correct mechanics when you drill.
Think about it. The whole point of drilling is repetition – you develop muscle memory through repetition. Drilling = Muscle memory = consistency = confidence = better results.
Here’s the rub. Too often players are drilling using the wrong mechanics. If you are doing this, then you should STOP.
Not only will you not improve, you are memorizing bad stroke mechanics, making things worse. You are better off going to a movie or enjoying a good book than drilling incorrectly.
Want to drill (and you should if you want to improve)? Then:
- before you start drilling, make sure you have a clear understanding of the technique you are working on improving and
- as you drill, make sure to stop occasionally to check your technique (either with your drilling partner or video of your stroke).
You can hit the play button and resume (or take up) drilling as part of your game improvement regimen. Just make sure you are drilling correctly.
CJ Johnson
Hey there — I’m a professional three-sport athlete and coach who has spent my entire adult life earning a living from playing and coaching sports. Since I started coaching more than three decades ago, one thing has remained the same: My commitment to see students not as they are but as what they can become and to move heaven and earth to help them realize their untapped potential. You should know that when it comes to helping pickleball players over 50 live their best lives on and off the courts, I'm an expert. Good pickleball is not just technique; it's the mind and body working holistically. That's why I'm also a personal trainer and weight management specialist. When I’m chillin', you'll find me watching Star Trek with my husband John and our two fur babies, Shirley and Ralph. (Yes, Happy Days)