As paddle technology continues to improve, drives, speedups, and volleys are getting faster and faster. Besides investing in a high-quality pair of protective eyewear, there are some other things you can do to keep up.

Here are some easy pickleball drills to help you develop faster hands.

Step 1: Volley Inside the Kitchen

You and your drilling partner should stand across from each other about a foot or two inside the kitchen. Slowly hit volleys back and forth using only your forehand for each. This part of the drill should be cooperative, meaning you’re not trying to hit winners or body bag anyone. Try to pick up the pace as you get into a rhythm, but the goal is to keep the rally going as long as possible.

Step 2: Switch to Backhand

Switch to your backhand after you’ve successfully sustained a few forehand rallies. Like the forehand, you want this to be cooperative and focus on sustaining rallies.

Step 3: Repeat Behind the Kitchen Line

After a few rallies, you and your partner step back behind the kitchen line, hitting forehand and backhand volleys back and forth. These should feel significantly slower after being so close in the previous steps. This is still cooperative, but you should be comfortable adding a bit more pace.

Step 4: Volley Cross-Court While Shifting

Stand on opposite kitchen corners and volley crosscourt to take this drill to the next level. Both of you should move laterally across the kitchen line, switching from forehand to backhand as needed.