Although live hitting drills are more common in pickleball, it can be useful to incorporate hand feeds or feeds delivered with a paddle to achieve lesson objectives.

The ability to deliver consistent and accurate feeds of various types is a critical skill that every coach should possess. Well-placed feeds allow players to focus on clean contact, proper technique, movement, and strategy without being disrupted by poorly delivered balls. Effective feeding can make the difference between a productive session and one that falls short of its goals.

Coaches should prioritize safety during feeding drills by maintaining awareness of loose balls and player spacing. While rhythm and consistency are key, pausing a drill to address safety concerns is always appropriate.

To improve feeding, coaches should:

• Use a continental grip for control, ease, and to apply appropriate spin.
• Transfer the ball directly from the hand to the paddle. Bouncing the ball to initiate a feed should be avoided.
• Keep the ball basket positioned for quick and easy access, typically beside the coach’s non-dominant hand. Ensure the basket does not create a safety hazard.
• Develop a smooth rhythm to minimize downtime and enhance a student’s success through consistent timing.
• Adjust positioning to deliver feeds from the most appropriate angle to have the desired effect. Introduce variety as needed.
• Toss underhand when using hand feeds. Underhand feeds provide a precise, soft delivery that increases success for the student.
• Deliver feeds at a trajectory that allows success and aligns with lesson objectives. Pickleballs move relatively slowly through the air and have a low but consistent bounce height. Depth, height, and speed may need to be consciously adjusted, particularly if a coach is accustomed to feeding tennis balls, which move faster through the air and have a substantially higher bounce.

Quality feeding is an essential part of both group and private lessons. Coaches should integrate feeding regularly as a tool to reinforce lesson objectives and maximize student development.