Best Pickleball Drills to Elevate your Level in 2024

Pickleball is more than just a rapidly growing sport; it’s a fusion of strategy, agility, and precision. To excel on the pickleball court, structured drilling sessions are imperative. Whether you’re a novice eager to grasp the basics or an advanced player striving for precision, practicing the right drills can significantly enhance your gameplay. This article delves into a variety of pickleball drills designed for different skill levels. We will explore drills for beginners to advanced players, drills for specific skills, solo practice drills, and even partner drills. Each section offers a detailed breakdown to ensure you get the most out of your practice. Let’s step onto the court and enhance our pickleball prowess!

Pickleball Drills for Beginners

Basic Ball Control Drill

Imagine yourself dancing with the paddle; the ball is your partner, and you must move together in harmonic coordination. The Basic Ball Control Drill is pivotal for beginners, as it lays the foundation for refined pickleball skills. In this drill, you focus primarily on keeping the ball on your paddle, which enhances your hand-eye coordination and control over the ball. Using the following steps, you can effectively master this drill:

Selfie Ball Bounce: Start with the paddle held horizontally in front of you. Bounce the ball against the paddle repeatedly, alternating between forehand and backhand bounces. Your goal is to maintain a consistent rhythm, varying the height and speed of your bounces.
Wall Ball Drills: Find a solid wall and draw a target area approximately 91 centimeters high. Stand a few feet back and hit the ball against the wall, aiming at the target zone. Allow the ball to bounce once before returning it. This drill helps in honing your shot trajectory and improving your accuracy.
Tip to Grip Drill: Drop the ball onto the center of your paddle, allowing it to bounce a few times while keeping control. This teaches tactile feedback and provides a sense of the paddle’s different hitting zones.
Dinking in the Kitchen: Stand at the non-volley zone (NVZ), or “kitchen,” and practice gentle dinks with a partner. The aim is to keep the ball low and precise, just clearing the net.
Bounce and Hit Drill: Engage in a rally where you allow the ball to bounce once before each return. The focus is on consistency and control.

The metaphorical dance between you and the ball in these drills enhances coordination, bolsters confidence, and builds foundational skills crucial for moving on to more complex techniques.

Dinking Practice for New Players

Dinking is to pickleball what a delicate brushstroke is to painting it requires finesse, control, and precision. Dinking, particularly for beginners, is about mastering the soft shots that land in your opponent’s non-volley zone. Here’s a dive into effective dinking drills to elevate your skills:

Cross-Court Dinking Drill: Stand at the NVZ line diagonally opposite your partner. Start a rally focusing on soft shots that land within the kitchen. This drill aims to improve coordination and shot accuracy. As you progress, vary your shot placement and angles to adapt under pressure.
Solo Dinking Drill Against the Wall: Position yourself facing a wall at the kitchen line. Hit the ball softly, allowing a single bounce before returning it with a gentle touch. Aim for consistency and maintaining a low ball trajectory. This repetitive solo practice builds muscle memory and control.
Dinking in the Kitchen (with a Partner): Station yourselves on either side of the kitchen line and exchange soft dinks. Keep the ball low and just over the net. This drill encourages precision and helps in understanding your opponent’s movements and responses, adjusting your shots accordingly.

These drills invoke a meditation-like focus, requiring calm adaptability, much like a chess player making calculated moves. They underscore the importance of soft gameplay, honing accuracy, and fostering reflexive improvements all indispensable in actual match play.

Serve and Return Fundamentals

Consider the serve and return fundamentals as a player’s battle cry and shield on the pickleball battlefield. Mastering these elements early on sets the stage for a strong game foundation. Key drills to improve these instrumental skills include:

Deep Return Drill: Begin with Player A serving to Player B. Player B focuses on returning the serve deep into Player A’s court, ideally targeting the back corners. Switch roles after a set of repetitions. This not only improves return accuracy but also builds a tactical advantage by pushing opponents further back.
Serve and Return Consistency Drill: Player A serves the ball to Player B consistently for about 10 consecutive serves. Player B’s goal is to return each serve into the designated serving area, focusing on precision and accuracy. Roles can be reversed after a set is complete.
Targeted Serving Drill: Place targets like cones or hula hoops on the opposite court. Player A serves aiming to hit these targets using varied techniques, such as power serves, soft serves, and slices. This enhances service diversity and strategic placement during games.

These drills are akin to sharpening a warrior’s sword a blend of precision, power, and control is essential to hold ground in the game’s opening plays. Regular practice fosters a solid serve and return strategy, forming a resilient cornerstone for competitive play.

Intermediate Drills

Cross-Court Dinking Exercises

Navigating the court with cross-court dinking drills is like orchestrating a symphony. Each shot must be purposeful, controlled, and harmoniously executed. Intermediate players can refine these skills through the following effective exercises:

Cross-Court Dinking: Position yourselves diagonally across the non-volley zone. Engage in a rally where each dink must precisely land in the opponent’s kitchen, emphasizing ball control and strategic aiming.
Half-Court Dinking Drill: Use only half of the court for this drill, making soft shot exchanges over the net. This tightens your focus on hand-eye coordination and placement accuracy.
Figure 8 Dinks: Standing opposite each other at the NVZ, alternate between cross-court and straight-away dinks. This requires focusing on different angles and enhances control.
Up-Down the Line Dinking Drill: Both players stand on the same side of the court, maintaining a rally along the sideline. This emphasizes accurate ball control, enhancing consistency and stability.

Employing these drills is akin to a violinist perfecting their scales every nuanced change in direction and angle elevates skill precision, creating a more versatile and tactical gameplay approach.

Triangle Dinks for Precision

The Triangle Dinks drill is like refining a sculptor’s touch each stroke or shot contributes to the intricacy of the final work. For intermediate players aiming to enhance precision and strategic placement, this drill is ideal.

Setup: Place three markers forming a triangle on the opponent’s side.
Execution: Stand at the NVZ line. Start a rally, strategically aiming for each marker sequentially left, middle, then right. This repetitive pattern builds control and shot accuracy.
Backhand and Forehand Focus: Alternate between backhand and forehand shots to each target. This not only reinforces versatility but also improves muscle memory for both hitting styles.

Through this drill, players practice methodical shot selection and placement, akin to an artist adding detailed touches to a masterpiece. It nurtures a precise gameplay mindset, critical under match conditions.

Speed and Agility with Hit and Run

Speed and agility drills are the heartbeat of a pickleball player’s agility training. The Hit and Run exercise channels these elements, enhancing footwork, stamina, and shot accuracy.

Start Position: Begin at the baseline of the court.
Execution: Hit the ball straight down the sideline to your partner standing at the baseline. As the return comes to the opposite corner, sprint across the court and repeat the shot.
Continuous Motion: Maintain this back-and-forth motion, focusing on speed, accurate ball placement, and stamina.

This drill embodies a symphony in motion each sprint, swing, and return harmonize to build a rhythm of agility and precision. Regular practice of this drill is pivotal for mastering swift transitions from defensive to offensive positions seamlessly.

Advanced Drills

Third Shot Drop Mastery

Perfecting the third shot drop in pickleball is akin to a chess master contemplating the perfect move. It requires precision, control, and strategic foresight. Advanced players can utilize the following drills to enhance this critical skill:

Toss and Target Drill: Start by underhand tossing the ball over the net without the paddle. Focus on the trajectory so that it lands gently in the kitchen. Increase the distance gradually to refine the power needed.
Wall Rebounds: Stand 4.5 meters away from a wall, and practice hitting the ball just over a 86-centimeter high line drawn on the wall, simulating the net. Focus on a soft touch and accurate placement, ensuring the ball rebounds, maintaining consistency.
Step-Back Drill: Start at the kitchen line, executing a perfect third shot drop. With each successful attempt, move two steps back, maintaining your technique despite the increasing distance.
Peer Feeding Drill: Partner with someone positioned at the kitchen line to feed deep balls into your court. Aim for soft third shot drops at their feet, simulating in-game scenarios.
Moving Forward Drill: Starting at the baseline, practice the third shot drop and immediately advance to the kitchen line. This reinforces the follow-up action needed post-drop shot.
Height Variation Drill: Focus on increasing the shot’s height to make it difficult for opponents to attack. Practice within the previously outlined drills for added difficulty.

Just as a chess master envisions moves ahead, mastering these drills ensures players execute third shot drops with strategic foresight and precision, turning the tables in competitive play.

Reflex Training for Competitive Players

Reflex drills are the heartbeat of competitive play, where every millisecond counts. Advanced pickleball players can elevate their reflexes through drills that simulate game speed and unpredictability:

Eye-Foot Coordination Drills: Enhance your ability to track and respond by having a partner toss balls in varied directions, requiring quick foot movement to hit it back accurately.
Reaction Ball Exercises: Utilize a reaction ball with unpredictable bounces. Throw it against a wall and catch the rebounding ball. This enhances hand-eye coordination and quick reflexes.
Agility and Plyometric Drills: Engage in ladder drills or cone setups to improve foot speed and lateral quickness. Plyometric exercises like box jumps and skater hops build explosive power and swift directional changes.
Anticipation Drills: Focus on reading your opponent’s body language and shot tendencies to predict ball direction. Observational skills in these drills help prepare for real-match conditions.

These drills fine-tune a player’s reflexes and anticipation, creating a hyper-aware, agile player ready to respond swiftly and accurately in competitive matches.

Advanced Volley Drills

Volley mastery is the hallmark of an advanced pickleball player, symbolizing control and tactical prowess. Advanced players can sharpen their volley skills through the following targeted drills:

Wall Volley Drill: Stand close to a wall and hit fast volleys continuously. The rapid rebound requires swift hand movements and precision, enhancing reflexes and accuracy.
Partner Volley Drill: Practice varied volleys (forehand, backhand) with a partner, maintaining quick exchanges. Focus on timing and coordination to respond to incoming volleys effectively.
Offensive-Defensive Volley Drill: One player practices aggressive volleys while the other focuses on effective returns, building robust volley strategies for both offense and defense.
Split Step and Volley Drill: Incorporate a split step before volleying. This improves readiness and reaction efficiency, crucial during high-intensity volleys.
Target Practice Drill: Set up designated targets on the court for volley practice, emphasizing precision and shot placement over power.

Through consistent practice of these drills, players refine their volleying capabilities, culminating in superior control and strategic dominance on the court.

Drills for Specific Skills

Serve and Volley Techniques

Combining serve and volley drills are vital for overall skill enhancement. These drills foster seamless transitions between serving and volleying, essential for maintaining an offensive edge:

Serve and Volley Drill: Practice serving and immediately moving to the net for a volley. This develops quick movement and maintaining an offensive stance post-serve.
Quick Feed Volleys: One player stands at the NVZ line while the other feeds balls towards the player’s chest. The NVZ player blocks volleys back, improving reaction times and hand-eye coordination.
“You-Go-I-Go” Volleys: One player remains stationary while the other moves towards the sideline, practicing cross-court volleys, enhancing shot selection based on position.
Serve and Return: Practice serves and immediately prepare for the return, emphasizing quick reflexes and readiness post-serve.
Wall Volley Drill: Near-wall volleys enhance consistency and control, focusing on quick footwork and maintaining an athletic stance.

Engaging in these drills links the serve and volley techniques seamlessly, ensuring readiness for offensive play transitions.

Ground Stroke Enhancement Drills

Enhancing ground strokes requires meticulous attention to technique, precision, and consistency. Utilize these comprehensive drills to refine your ground strokes:

Target Practice Drills: Position targets on the court and practice ground strokes aiming at these targets for improved precision and control.
Shadow Swings: Without the ball, practice swing mechanics focusing on grip, stance, and follow-through, solidifying muscle memory for ground strokes.
Wall Rally Drills: Hit against a wall, maintaining consistency and rhythm. Vary shots in height and angle to enhance versatile ground strokes.
Cross-Court Drills: Partner up and engage in cross-court rallies, focusing on footwork, balance, and reliable stroke execution.
Alternate Depth Drill: Practice alternating shots between deep baseline and short kitchen area, enhancing control over shot placement and depth.

Incorporating these drills fosters a robust ground stroke game, crucial for competitive success.

Overhead Smash Practices

Mastering overhead smashes is essential for powerful returns and offensive dominance. These drills target accuracy, power, and positioning:

Lob and Smash Drill: Partner lobs the ball for you to practice the overhead smash. Emphasis on footwork to position correctly and hit with power.
Drop Step Drill: Practice backward drop steps for proper foot positioning when responding to overhead lobs, ensuring balance and control.
Targeted Smash Drill: Aim for set targets during smashes, honing precision and shot placement.
Footwork Ladder Drill: Use agility ladders to enhance foot speed and quick positioning, crucial for executing overhead smashes.
Under Pressure Drill: Partner feeds fast-paced shots while you practice overhead smashes, simulating game conditions and performing under pressure.

Regular practice of these drills guarantees formidable overhead smash capabilities, empowering players with offensive edge during matches.

Solo Practice Drills

Wall Dink Drill for Solo Training

Solo practice drills like wall dinks are invaluable for improving ball control, precision, and touch. Here’s a detailed guide to effective wall dink training:

Basic Dink Drills: Stand approximately 2 meters from a wall. Hit soft forehand and backhand dinks aimed at a low target area, focusing on keeping the ball low and consistent.
Target Dinks: Create a target area on the wall, aiming to land dinks within this area, refining accuracy and control.
Alternating Dinks: Alternate between forehand and backhand dinks during practice, enhancing versatility.
Dink Shot Variations with Movement: Incorporate lateral movements post-dink execution, improving footwork and shot precision.
Dinks with Speed Drills: Increase shot completion rate within set timeframes, simulating match pressure and improving focus.

These pickleball wall drills foster unrivaled precision and consistency in dinking, providing a solid foundation for enhanced in-game performance.

Selfie Ball Bounce for Coordination

The Selfie Ball Bounce drill is perfect for honing hand-eye coordination and paddle control, significant for solo players working on their finesse:

Setup: Hold the paddle horizontally with the hitting surface up.
Execution: Bounce the ball off the ground, hitting it with the paddle back up. Alternate paddling between forehand and backhand to increase difficulty.
Variations:
- Basic: Use the paddle’s top side for easier control.
- Advanced: Use the paddle’s bottom side, increasing speed and testing coordination.

Concentration and smooth execution are crucial in this drill, much like playing a solo on a violin each note (or bounce) needs deliberate, controlled precision.

Using Pickleball Machines for Skill Development

Pickleball machines offer consistent feeding and varied shots, simulating real game conditions:

Purpose: Practice serves, groundstrokes, volleys, and shots efficiently without a partner.
Drill Implementation:
- Serve Drills: Simulate serves from varied angles to practice returns.
- Groundstroke Drills: Focus on forehand and backhand shots for footwork and shot placement.
- Dinking Practice: Feed soft shots for dinking, essential for net play precision.

These machines act like a steadfast training partner, relentlessly challenging your skills and honing your technique for game-readiness.

Partner Drills

Backhand-Forehand Dink Exchanges

Effective partner drills, such as backhand-forehand dink exchanges, enhance control, precision, and in-game collaboration:

Alternating Forehand and Backhand Dinks: Partners alternate between forehand and backhand shots, promoting seamless shot variation and control.
Dinking in the Kitchen: Engage in soft dinks opposite each other at the NVZ, focusing on accuracy and touch.
Cross-Court Dinking: Position diagonally at the NVZ, exchanging cross-court dinks, adding play difficulty and realism.
Half-Court Dinking: Use half of the court, maintaining controlled dinks. This emphasizes soft touch and rally maintenance without full-court pressure.

These drills foster skill development and teamwork, elevating dinking techniques essential for competitive play.

Fast Hands Volley Drill

The Fast Hands Volley Drill focuses on refining reflexes, hand speed, and volley technique. It’s essential for improving quick reactions and volley control.

Setup and Execution: Players stand opposite inside the NVZ. Start with forehand volleys, gradually increasing pace and distance. Transition to backhand volleys, maintaining control.
Benefits:
- Improved Reflexes: Rapid volleys enhance reaction times.
- Enhanced Control: Maintain a continuous rally, perfecting paddle control and timing.

Group Drills for Team Play

Group drills nurture team chemistry and skill development, beneficial for cohesive play:

Partner Challenge: Engage in interchanging volley practice, targeting court spots for accuracy and coordination.
Randomized Volley Drill: Players feed random volleys, simulating unpredictability and enhancing adaptability.
Continuous Volley Game: Maintain sustained volleys, focusing on coordination and reflexes.

These partner and group drills drive skill proficiency and strategic team play, enriching competitive performance.

Drill Variation

Theme-Based Practice Sessions

Theme-based practice sessions incorporate variations focusing on specific skills. Examples include:

Soft Game Shots Drill: Groupdrills focused on soft shots, primarily dinks. Situated at the NVZ, players take turns performing soft shots, ensuring the ball remains within this area. The objective is to refine precision and control, crucial for effective soft game tactics. Any player failing to maintain the ball within the NVZ rotates positions, introducing an element of competition and skill enhancement.
Crazy 8 Drill: This drill improves the ability to hit specific court locations based on situational cues. Players practice hitting straight shots and cross-court strokes, focusing on quick adaptations to various target spots. This involves alternating hitting patterns that foster rapid decision-making under in-game pressures. Shayne Stackhouse, a renowned pickleball coach, highly recommends this drill in his training videos due to its effectiveness in improving situational awareness and shot versatility.
Dink Variations: Drills focusing on different dinking techniques, such as straight dinks, cross-court dinks, and backhand dinks, are essential. Practicing these variations helps players maintain control over the ball while focusing on precision. For example, initiating a straight-ahead dink rally from the kitchen line urges players to aim their shots accurately, promoting a sharp eye for detail and dinking finesse.
Volley Wars: Teams compete to keep a continuous volley, prohibiting ground contact. This drill encourages quick reflexes, hand-eye coordination, and excellent team communication. It brings out competitive spirit while emphasizing skill development and cooperation.
Target Games: These drills enhance serving and return accuracy, using court targets for specific aiming practice. Players aim their serves and returns at these targets, improving shot consistency and strategic placement. Setting up varied targets encourages players to diversify their shots, making it an engaging way to develop precision skills.
Game Strategy Drills: Situational drills simulate real-match scenarios where players must execute tactics such as specific formations or court coverages. For instance, practicing defensive lobbing or offensive smashing in designated situations helps players understand and implement strategic responses during matches.
Agility Ladders and Movement Drills: Incorporating exercises like ladder drills and linear or lateral sprints enhances footwork and on-court speed. For instance, players might incorporate ladder work into their practice to improve agility, allowing for swift and balanced movements during intense rallies.

These detailed theme-based practice sessions not only increase a player’s technical prowess but also deepen their understanding of when and how to apply different techniques during gameplay. It’s like having a versatile toolkit, where each tool is honed and ready for specific in-game scenarios.

Incorporating Games into Drills

Incorporating games into drills transforms routine practice sessions into engaging and competitive training exercises, enhancing skill development through interactive play. Here are some effective methods and variations:

Competitive Scenarios:
- Volley Wars: Divide players into teams for continuous volley matches. The losing team on an error gains motivation to improve, fostering quick reflexes and team communication.
- Mini-Matches: Regularly play short matches mimicking actual game conditions, focusing on specific skills like volleying or serving. This simulates real-time pressure and competition.
Timed Challenges:
- Establish a timed environment where players compete to complete the most successful strokes or volleys in a set period, enhancing their ability to perform under pressure.
- For example, set a 60-second timer where players compete to see who can correctly execute the highest number of dinks or returns, fostering a sense of urgency and focused practice.
Point System:
- Implement a points system in drills where players score for successful shots or mini-game wins. For instance, assign points for each accurate serve that hits a target area. This motivates players to continuously improve accuracy and shot efficiency.
Team-Based Drills:
- Organizing team-based formats encourages cooperation and coordination among players. For example, a Court Coverage Drill where partners or teams must navigate designated areas to complete volleys or dinks emphasizes collaborative strategy.

Adapting these drills makes practice sessions enjoyable, increasing player engagement while enhancing competitive edge.

See more: Pickleball Strategy – Best Ways To Win the Game

Adapting Drills for Different Skill Levels

When structuring your drills, it’s crucial to cater to the varying skill levels present. Here’s how to tailor drills effectively:

Skill-Based Grouping:
- Beginner Level: Focus on fundamental skills like basic serves, dinks, and returns. Utilize simple drills such as the Serve and Return Drill to build a strong technical foundation.
- Intermediate Level: Introduce complexity with drills like Dink Wars or Triangle Dinks to enhance tactical play.
- Advanced Level: Employ intense drills like the Lob-to-Smash exercise for mastering quick transitions and advanced shot execution.
Varying Drill Intensity:
- Adjust the intensity of drills to suit the group’s proficiency. Beginners might focus on slower, controlled practices, while advanced players engage in high-intensity scenarios mimicking real-match conditions.
Progression Drills:
- Develop drills from basic to advanced, ensuring players master foundational techniques before moving to challenging scenarios. For instance, beginning with basic dinks and gradually introducing cross-court dinking variations as players progress enhances learning.
Flexible Roles:
- Allow role-switching within drills. Advanced players mentoring beginners can reinforce their skills while aiding others, encouraging a collaborative learning environment.
Incorporate Target Practices:
- Utilizing targets on the court helps all skill levels focus on precision and accuracy in their shots, making practices both enjoyable and effective.

By diversifying and adapting these drills, players of varying skill levels can develop more efficiently, fostering an inclusive and productive training environment.

Tips for Effective Drilling

Structuring a Drilling Session

To maximize the benefits of your practice, structuring your drilling session is crucial. Here are some tips to ensure your practice is effective and purposeful:

Set Specific Goals: Define clear, achievable objectives for each session. Whether it’s improving serve accuracy, refining footwork, or learning strategic plays, having a focus provides direction and purpose.
Warm-Up Properly: Spend 5-10 minutes on a warm-up to prepare your body for physical activity. This could include light jogging, dynamic stretching, and basic paddle movements. Adequate warm-up prevents injuries and enhances performance during drills.
Incorporate a Range of Drills: Mix different drills to tackle various aspects of your game. Focus on different strokes, footwork, and tactics to ensure holistic development. This variety keeps the session engaging and covers more skills comprehensively.
Focus on Technique: During drills, prioritize proper technique over speed or power. Observe your footwork, stance, paddle position, and follow-through to build good habits. Consider recording your practice or getting feedback from a more advanced player.
Use Game-Like Scenarios: Incorporate conditioned games or match simulations in your practice. These scenarios mimic real-game pressure and help reinforce skills learned during drills.
Gradual Complexity: Start with simpler drills and gradually progress to more complex exercises. This helps build confidence and allows for skill adaptability under varying conditions.
Track Progress: Maintain a performance record. Document successful attempts, noted improvements, and areas needing more focus. Reflecting on your practice enhances self-awareness and goal-setting for future sessions.
Cool Down: Conclude each session with a proper cool-down. Engage in light activity and static stretches to aid recovery and maintain flexibility.
Review and Adjust: Post-practice, evaluate what worked well and what could improve. Adjust subsequent sessions based on these reflections for continuous improvement.

Implementing a well-structured drilling session enhances skill development, making practice more effective and enjoyable.

See more: How to play pickleball: The rules and scoring EXPLAINED

Importance of Warm-Up and Cool Down

Warm-up and cool down routines are vital in preparing and recovering from training:

Enhances Performance: Warming up increases blood flow to muscles, improving flexibility and joint mobility. Routine dynamic warm-ups like high knees, arm circles, and leg swings prepare the body for the rigors of pickleball.
Reduces Injury Risk: Proper warm-ups prepare muscles and joints, minimizing the risk of pulls or strains from sudden physical activity. Regular warm-up habits are crucial for both casual players and serious competitors.
Aids Recovery: Cooling down post-play with light activities helps transition the body back to resting states, reducing soreness and aiding muscle recovery. Static stretches held for 30-45 seconds post-play effectively promote relaxation and recovery.
Mental Preparation: Warm-ups also mentally prepare players by focusing on upcoming challenges and reducing pre-play anxiety.

Feedback and Adjustment During Practice

Effective drills often incorporate a feedback mechanism. Here are some ways to smoothly integrate feedback and adjustments:

Observation: Coaches or more advanced players should observe sessions closely, providing immediate constructive feedback to correct technique or reinforce positive habits.
Self-Assessment: Encourage players to reflect on their performance regularly. Self-evaluation empowers players to recognize their strengths and areas needing improvement.
Set Clear Goals: Establish specific, measurable goals per session, assessing the progress to identify strengths and gaps. Evaluating these goals post-practice guides future training directions.
Collaborative Feedback: Peer feedback fosters a supportive learning environment. Teammates providing insights help gain diverse perspectives, promoting mutual learning and improvement.
Regular Evaluations: Conduct periodic skills assessments to guide tailored training based on individual player needs, promoting well-rounded development.

Incorporating structured warm-up routines, diverse drills, and constructive feedback into your pickleball practice elevates effectiveness and enjoyment, leading to superior on-court performance.