Using a baseball tee on a pickleball court might look out of place, but it is actually one of the most effective tools for mastering specific contact points and mechanics. By providing a stationary ball, the tee allows you to simulate high-pressure game scenarios in a controlled environment.
Here are the four best pickleball drills you can perform using a baseball tee to level up your game.
1. The backhand flick
The backhand flick is an essential tool for aggressive play at the kitchen line. Using a tee helps you identify your comfortable contact point and teaches you how far you can reach before you should retreat into a dink.
- The Mechanics: Avoid using too much wrist; keep it relatively neutral with a small flick at the end.
- The "J" Stroke: Bring the paddle back toward your knee and swing in a "J" motion to create forward momentum and lift.
- The Drill: Place the ball on the tee at the kitchen line. Practice flicking the ball toward your partner’s shoulders — either the "chicken wing" (paddle side) or the opposite shoulder — to initiate a hands battle.
2. Forehand speed-up (out of the air)
This drill simulates a floating ball in the middle of the court that requires a quick jab step to attack.
- Directional Strategy: Remember that speeding up in a straight line usually results in the ball coming back in a straight line. Speeding up at an angle creates a "triangle" return path.
- The Drill: Stand slightly to one side as if you just finished a dink. Take a quick jab step toward the tee, speed the ball up, and immediately prepare for the counter-attack from your opponent.
3. The drive and crash
In transition, you often encounter balls that sit up as you move forward. This drill teaches you to use your momentum to attack and "crash" the net for a put-away.
- Compact Swings: As you get closer to the net, shorten your backswing and follow-through. A compact motion ensures you are balanced and ready for the next ball.
- Footwork: Focus on your split step. After driving the ball off the tee, gather your feet so you are on balance to "clean up" any pop-ups your opponent sends back.
4. Lob retrieval
Retrieving a lob is one of the hardest scenarios to practice because it is difficult to feed consistently. The tee allows you to practice the drop shot needed to get back into the point.
- The Goal: While you could try to "full send" a winner, the highest percentage play is to hit a drop shot into the kitchen to give yourself time to recover your position.
- The Drill: Start at the kitchen line with a partner, pretending to dink. Have your partner shout "Go, go!" as a signal to turn and run back to the tee. Get low, drop the ball off the tee into the kitchen, and move back up to the line to play out the point.
Why use a baseball tee for pickleball drills?
The primary advantage of these drills is consistency. Instead of relying on a partner to feed you the perfect ball, the tee provides a "game-like scenario in a much more controlled environment."