Reasons you’re Not Getting Better at Pickleball—Even Though You Play Every Day

Let’s be honest for a second. You’ve been showing up to open play, hitting that same third shot, jogging through the same warm-up, and high-fiving your way into another 90 minutes of pickleball... but deep down, something’s bothering you.

You’re playing all the time—but you’re not really getting better.

The same bad habits keep showing up like that one guy who never rotates off the court.

Here’s the cold, hard truth:

Playing games doesn’t automatically make you better.

Drilling does.

Rec play is fun, social, and keeps the wheels turning. But if your goal is real improvement? You need to stop mistaking repetition for progress.

Let’s break it down.

Reasons you’re Not Getting Better at Pickleball 📸Benoit vicent

The Rec Play Trap: Lots of Time, Not a Lot of Progress

Most rec games feel productive—but if you look closely, they’re not.

In a typical 75-minute open play session, you might get 100–150 purposeful shots at best. That’s if rallies are decent, partners aren’t poaching everything, and you’re not chasing balls half the time or waiting on court rotation.

And how many of those shots are actually helping you improve your weak spots? Probably not many. You’re reacting, not refining. You’re surviving, not sharpening.

Now compare that to a focused 75-minute drill session.

✅ 600–800 targeted touches

✅ Zero waiting for courts

✅ No dead time between points

✅ Full attention on one skill at a time

That’s 5 to 8 times more reps than in a typical rec session. And those reps are where muscle memory is built, where confidence is forged, and where “leveling up” actually happens.

Want to Improve? Here’s the Formula That Works

Drilling isn’t optional if you want to get better. It’s the secret sauce that separates the players who plateau from the ones who progress.

A smart drilling routine doesn’t need to be long or boring—it needs to be intentional, structured, and sweaty. Think of it as your weekly appointment with improvement.

Here’s a sample 75-minute drill session that’ll make you sharper, smoother, and way more dangerous on the court:

🔁 The 75-Minute Pickleball Upgrade Plan

🔸 20 Minutes – Dinking Drills

Cross-court and straight-on dinks. Work on soft hands, controlled depth, footwork, and off-speed shots. Add variety: try low dinks, deep dinks, and angled ones.

👉 Goal: Build consistency at the net and control the rhythm.

🔸 20 Minutes – Third Shot Drops & Drives

Alternate between drop shots and drive shots from the baseline and transition zone. Focus on foot positioning and paddle control under pressure.

👉 Goal: Become a transition zone ninja, not a pop-up machine.

🔸 15 Minutes – NVZ Volleys & Blocks

Have your partner feed you fastballs. Practice quick hands, deflections, paddle angles, and directional blocking. Add movement to simulate pressure.

👉 Goal: Win hands battles and neutralize slammers.

🔸 10 Minutes – Serve & Return Practice

Forget power for now—aim for consistency, spin, and deep placement. Mix in serves to different spots. Return deep, with intention.

👉 Goal: Set up the point from the start.

🔸 5 Minutes – Mental Cooldown

Sit down. Close your eyes. Visualize the skills you worked on, the shots that felt clean, and where you want to improve next time.

👉 Goal: Reinforce your progress mentally before heading home.

Drill Smarter, Not Just Harder

Pickleball improvement isn’t about logging more hours. It’s about putting purpose behind those hours. Consistency beats volume every single time.

And let’s be real—if you drilled just 2–3 times a week with this kind of focus, your game would jump levels fast. You’d stop floating that backhand. You’d nail your third shot more often. And you’d stop panicking in the transition zone because you’ve been there before—on your own time, with your own reps.

Rec Play is the Test. Drilling is the Homework.

You wouldn’t expect to ace a math test without doing the problems first, right?

Same with pickleball. Game play is your chance to test what you’ve drilled. It’s where skills become instincts. But only if you’ve put in the work first.

So the next time you walk off the court wondering why your game still feels stuck, ask yourself:

Did I actually train today… or just play around?

The court rewards those who respect the process.

Drill with purpose. Sweat with focus. And watch how fast your game changes.