Hey,

Last week was the APP Newport Beach Open, and honestly… it felt like a breakthrough for me, especially in mixed doubles.

I partnered with Nicole Eugenio, and we took fourth place, beating the #1 seed along the way. Nicole was so awesome all day. Great energy. A calm demeanor and a HUGE 3rd shot drive that set us up multiple times throughout the day.

I’ve been working really hard on my strength and explosiveness over the last few months, and in this tournament, I let loose and went all in on using my athleticism to create havoc.

And it worked.

I’ll include both the quarterfinals and the semifinals below if you want to watch. I definitely overplayed some moments, but I think the ROI of my movement throughout the two matches was positive.

Enjoy!

Quarterfinals - Win vs #1 seed

Semifinals Match

The Only 6 Pickleball Drills You’ll Ever Need

Drilling to improve your pickleball game is a lot of work.

But that doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be fun! With these six drills - the only six drills you’ll ever need - it can be!

Check out the video or read the recap below to figure out what drills you should focus on.

🚪 1. Openers
Serving and returning are the essential openers of every point, setting the tone for what follows. Deep serves keep opponents back, while deep returns give you more control.

• Actions:

  • Aim for deep targets on serves and returns.

  • After returning, move toward the kitchen line to mimic game movement.

🧻 2. Charmin Drill
This drill is all about mastering the third shot drop, a key softening shot that allows a smooth approach to the net.

• Actions:

  • Practice drop shots from various positions to simulate game scenarios.

  • Aim to land each drop in the kitchen, forcing an upward return from your opponent.

👾 3. Space Invaders
This drill teaches you to transition from midcourt (or “no man’s land”) to the kitchen line through controlled “reset shots” that help you progress forward.

• Actions:

  • Start with a few reset shots, moving forward each time they’re successful.

  • Play to a set score for added competition and progress toward the net.

🏐 4. Setups
Crosscourt dinking sets up opportunities for attacking. By moving your opponent around, you can create an off-balance situation.

• Actions:

  • Dink crosscourt with precision, aiming at your opponent’s feet to disrupt their stance.

  • Treat each dink as a potential setup

🎯 5. Tight Spaces
This drill focuses on up-the-line dinking, working within a narrower space to improve control and touch. While crosscourt dinks give you more room for error, up-the-line dinks demand precision.

• Actions:

  • Dink up the line, avoiding crosscourt shots to practice controlled, gentle touches.

  • Turn it into a game: play to a set score and allow attacks, lobs, and hand battles to build speed and reaction time.

⚡️ 6. Lightning
This quick-hands drill sharpens your reaction time at the net. By practicing rapid exchanges at the kitchen line, you can develop faster reflexes for game situations.

• Actions:

  • Start by rallying at each other’s chest, then aim for downward shots to make your opponent hit up.

  • Focus on ending exchanges by aiming low to “win” the rally, building both hand-eye coordination and finishing instincts.

🕺 Bonus Drill: Skinny Singles
This one-on-one drill combines all skills practiced in the previous drills. Skinny singles challenge you on both offense and defense, forcing you to use precise placements and quick movements.

• Actions:

  • Play within half the court, practicing all strokes as you would in a real match.

  • Focus on deep, controlled shots and accurate returns, testing your readiness for game situations.

Add these drills to your weekly routine, and you’ll be shocked at how much you’ll improve.

A Proud ThatPickleballSchool Moment

Beyond our own success, there’s nothing better as a teacher than watching the people you coach crush it on the court.

That’s exactly what happened last week in Newport.

Tyler (who you see in all my videos and is an instructor for TPS) had an epic run to a silver medal after making one small change that made a HUGE difference.

Congrats to Tyler and Alex (who I told you about in THIS newsletter)!

-Kyle