FREE IPTPA Drilling Progressions for Skill Development Questions and Answers

Question 1

When teaching a beginner the dink, what is the most effective initial drilling step?

Accepted Answer

Have the student drop the ball to themselves and practice hitting it into the kitchen.

Answer

Start a cooperative cross-court dinking rally immediately.

Answer

Feed balls from the transition zone for the student to dink back.

Answer

Play a dink-only game to 7 points.

Question 2

A student has mastered the basic mechanics of a third shot drop from a stationary feed. What is the next logical progression?

Accepted Answer

Have them start at the baseline, move forward to hit the drop, and continue to the NVZ line.

Answer

Practice hitting third shot lobs instead.

Answer

Add a target in the kitchen for them to aim at.

Answer

Have them practice the shot with a heavier paddle.

Question 3

An intermediate player has inconsistent volleys at the net, often popping the ball up. What is a good initial drill to improve their control?

Accepted Answer

Have them stand very close to the net (3-4 feet) and practice cooperative 'mini-volleys' with a partner.

Answer

Have them stand at the transition zone and volley hard-hit balls.

Answer

Start a rapid-fire volley drill where you feed balls left and right.

Answer

Play a full game focusing only on hitting winning volley put-aways.

Question 4

What is the primary pedagogical goal of using a drilling progression in a pickleball lesson?

Accepted Answer

To introduce skills in a logical sequence, building from simple to complex to ensure a high rate of success.

Answer

To make the lesson last for the full scheduled hour.

Answer

To physically exhaust the student so they feel they got a good workout.

Answer

To quickly identify the student's single biggest weakness.

Question 5

After a player can consistently serve deep into the court, what is the next strategic progression for serve development?

Accepted Answer

Practicing hitting serves to specific targets, like the opponent's backhand.

Answer

Working on adding maximum topspin to every serve.

Answer

Attempting to hit the serve as hard as possible every time.

Answer

Learning an illegal spin serve for recreational play.

Question 6

For an advanced player (4.0+) working on attacking high dinks, what is the most appropriate drilling progression?

Accepted Answer

1) Coach feeds attackable high dinks, 2) Coach mixes in low dinks and high dinks, 3) Player engages in a cooperative dink rally and attacks any high ball.

Answer

1) Hit overheads from the baseline, 2) Play a dink game, 3) Play a full match.

Answer

1) Play a game where every ball must be attacked, 2) Practice dinking for 10 minutes, 3) Hit drop shots from the baseline.

Answer

1) Volley practice at the net, 2) Serve and return practice, 3) Play a game focusing on the third shot drop.