How to Drill: Practice Like a Pickleball Pro | Ben Johns

How top pros, Ben and Collin Johns practice daily, for 1-2 hours at a time, to continue to play their best and improve all aspects of their pickleball game.
Timestamps:
0:00 Intro
0:05 Dinking Rallies
2:01 BEN Mid-Court Defense
2:55 BEN Third Shot Drops & Drives Doubles Style
5:30 BEN Third Shot Drops & Drives Singles Style
7:00 COLLIN Third Shot Drops & Drives Doubles Style
7:08 COLLIN Mid-Court Defense
7:17 BEN Fourth Shot Offense Practice
8:09 Fast Volleys
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Music credit:
uppbeat.io/t/bosnow/street-kn...
License code: ACO4XHU9DMPQHPHN

[@melisamelisa8929]

Thanks for sharing these drills Ben! Practicing with my Oliver-Sport pickleball paddle has made such a difference in my gameplay. Can't recommend it enough!

[@ECLOVELY]

This video will single handedly improve people across the nation. I could have thought of some better camera angles for high level players. I filmed some unique angles the other day that really helped you understand ball shape etc. But this is great stuff. Always wanting to see more of Ben on social, but I want him to protect his grind of course. He’s a pro player, not a content creator. Thankful for this

[@nataliea149]

Hey Ben! Just wanna say thank you so much for sharing your stuff on KZbin and Instagram. Really appreciate the content you put out, it is top notch. All the best and keep on killin' it! 😎🤟🔥

[@joshuapassorelli5246]

This is what I have been waiting for!

[@carrietakushi2485]

I enjoy drilling and changing it up! TY.

[@fire.pickleball]

Great drill! Those quick 1 hoppers from the transition zone are a thing of beauty…doc holiday!

[@joe1071]

Ben gets all the love. Collin’s a great player!

[@LeoVasquez]

This is my new drilling routine. Thanks for sharing. Glad you and your brother made the move to Austin. I love my hometown and pickleball is growing so fast around town.

[@thomasbarbey9316]

Soon they will all move to Austin.... Wow! Our local Vegas hero A.J.Koller made the move last year and joined his cousin Thomas Wilson... It's more centrally located to go to the East and the West for tournaments.

[@kathleenmontavon8630]

Isn't the humidity unbearable?!

[@Dan-yh7ve]

I ruptured my right Achilles tendon playing my second day. I felt a lot better playing the second day too. Despite the shitty circumstance, Pickleball is awesome and I will play again after rehabilitation.

[@Dan-yh7ve]

@@PeakTrainingProgram not quite, but close. I believe my right foot was a bit forward to begin. Upon lunging diagonally for the ball, I recall shifting my weight (improperly) as I stepped forward with my left, and then somewhat to my right foot that was back. Its a bit hazy, but im almost positive that in this split stance where now my left leg was forawrd and right was back, i shifted my weight poorly to the right in an unbalanced manner while attempting to not miss the ball. With my weight shifting onto my right leg, and knee slightly over toes, it gave out. I must mention that I am in a sense, in great shape. I was running between 6-12 miles regularly, can do between 50-100 pushups, 25 pullups nonstop, flexible and graceful for my kind of make up, and I have deadlifted up to 455 in the recent past, along with many other strengths. I definitely allow recovery. I'm stronger than the average man. But i may have had certain vitamin and nutrient deficiencies due to long term fasting and only eating about 1.5 - 2 large meals a day for a while. I was hydrated for sure. Also I am 30 years old with no previous tendon issues. Having played 3 hours the night before, this was my first time playing the sport, but it was much fun and i felt great. That next day, i was a tiny bit sore in different places but nothing significant at all compared to the usual. We started a quick warm up that soon turned into a game. In hindsight, it was not a sufficient warm up at all. In my noob experience, i was probably doing way to big and explosive movements (from the day before) on the day off the rupture, before I was ready. Where my body had not recoverd yet and was absolutley not accustomed to. Im in good shape but not properly conditioned to avoid injury in playing this new sport. One more thing to add is that after completing a Memorial Day 10k race, I had then been mostly inactive for about two weeks prior, i had not ran or did anything close to 3 hours in length with my lower body. Then the injury happened on June 11th. You can get hurt even if mostly healthy, but in my neglect of the added factors, I overlooked this weakness. So upon using a poor technique of pickleball movement, my leg could not sustain that demand. Live and learn, I have learned A LOT lmao! The game is so fun and rather easy, it can easliy become dangerous.

[@Gwillis7]

This is why all those that are weekend warriors and in that 30-45yo age group need to do eccentric Achilles stretches, look it up, they can help save you (us) the Achilles ruptures

[@justindg21]

Dang it hope you're back to playing.

[@goodgamepickleball7112]

Great content. Thanks for sharing.

[@danielduck2114]

Well done video, very personal and I loved the music.

[@Guy_Washburn]

Awesome insights!

[@daliadumond5043]

Loved you johns brother amazing pro🏓🏓🏓

[@twitchcaelas]

You inspire me bro, whenever I see you play it makes me wanna improve and get out there to the courts!

[@ItsTimeToConquer]

Thank you.

[@peachcityshankar1174]

Love you Ben You Rock Man 👌

[@Mewlolz]

Awesome stuff! Also, can we get more gourmet sandwich recipes 🤩

[@aikanshchouhan4844]

All time GOAT !!! 🙌🙌

[@user-be5qg7mr1s]

of what? dinking

[@cristovaoabegao4874]

Ben's face when Collin tagged him xD

[@anupshah9779]

you make it seem so simple 😃

[@mra2424]

Love the pistol to shotgun anology.

[@josec4790]

Thank you for sharing this with us. You have inspired so many people of all ages. Very similar as Tiger Woods did with golf. What grip are you using?

[@Mrpickleballgirl]

That made me happy 😊

[@samprinter7960]

Can we get a video of your physical workout routine. Im really interested in exercises to increase power and agility

[@excellent1713]

He kind of showed his workout routine in a recent video with Will Tennyson .

[@pickleballreviews]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/npmlg2aQm7qIiMk

[@jumbo6498]

And sleeping routine?

[@BenJohns_pb]

Have posted some workout stuff before, some on Instagram, might do some more YT content on it too

[@ritabee9247]

Love you Ben..I think you're the best,Have a question where did you get your shorts they look very comfortable love to get a pair🙂

[@MrFreshnica]

Lets go!

[@zeruth467]

Pumped

[@jerrodschonfeld3159]

@BenJohns What grip do you typically use for forehand? Eastern?

[@linsu2854]

Please have more drilling videos. Thanks. One suggestion, instead of focusing on featuring Ben, focus on the court (including Collin), so that we know how two people partner on these drills.

[@SlamMasterPickleball]

Drill with the Slam Master Pro Pickleball practice/training/drill paddle.

[@bethechange4726]

Ah,, Wow!! Impressive !!

[@karenk5472]

Is that beautiful court in his backyard? I love all the trees around it. Looks peaceful.

[@CurtisSimpson]

Notice all the chairs by the court. You think people like to come over and watch some matches there!

[@smartmoneyminds2530]

I love how he messes up the first 2 dinks. Shows he's a real human being

[@kathleenmontavon8630]

But I'm also amazed how he can talk, and joke, through all that high speed volleying at the end!

[@marycontrary52]

Agree - I can relate! Then he smokes the court --

[@PPLtour]

nice video

[@bonniebrickley6544]

Are you adding new drills like lobs/overheads

[@SharperEdge-Ralph]

Would be good to discuss your grip pressure when dropping for drills . Or your two handed backhand (how to)

[@BenJohns_pb]

Will do some more “how to” videos in the future :)

[@ToroB347]

Ben what are your favorite shoes to wear for pickleball? I've seen so many different answers all over the internet

[@sdrew2]

Great session…now time for one of those signature “Gourmet Sandwiches” 🥪 #trufflemayo for the win! Ben’s secret sauce! 😂 Thanks for the content!

[@patrickmcpatrick]

Great drills. Do you also practice overheads? I really appreciate talent, especially doing the repetitive drills! Collin is talented and he gets to practice with his younger, very talented brother. Thank you, this was fun to watch!👍👍

[@BenJohns_pb]

Not much, but I’d say practice them if you struggle with them

[@lucyli1742]

@Ben Johns , can you please upload a version without music? I still want to hear the pickleball sounds.

[@user-jd2fi7jw2k]

I would like some instrucion in your paddles angle

[@minisurfbanana]

How much was the court to install!

[@tommyshin277]

Hey Ben! Are yuou still using a continental grip most of the time?

[@BenJohns_pb]

For almost everything, yes

[@Wanbon1]

Quality guy, with the confidence of showing missing the odd shot ..

[@AlphaTennisinPittsburgh]

Pickleball is America's fastest-growing sport and we like it #Pickleball

[@richarddavis5763]

I noticed you use both a two-handed and one-handed backhand seemingly on the same sort of baseline shot. Top spin vs slice?

[@kevinespina3289]

how do you decide if you are going to do a 1 hand back hand volley vs 2 handed back hand volley?

[@BenJohns_pb]

For volleys typically I will attack with one hand. I will also counter attacks coming at my body with one hand. In faster volleys where I need additional hand speed or support (like on a stretch volley) I’ll go to two.

[@1973superdad]

where is this? i often see that house in the background. Nice drills, I already do many of them, confirms i need to do more drilling less playing...

[@lancehale8748]

It's a private residence in Austin. Ive played there and its fantastic.

[@1973superdad]

@@lancehale8748 looks like a sweet setup. Thanks for the reply

[@bryanyee7]

In playing the volleying section at 1/4 speed, it looks like you are rolling the volleys and putting topspin on both the forehand and backhand volleys. Is this accurate?

[@BenJohns_pb]

Yessir!

[@motomuso]

Hi Ben. Wow, you guys are quick! Why has Pickleball outgrown paddle tennis by such an astronomical margin? Also, will the ball respond to aggressive English similar to how a tennis ball will curve, drop, or stop short with backspin? I haven't played paddle tennis in years and now pickleball has piqued my curiosity.

[@seanvonfelden8462]

Yes on English. Why people don't use it is beyond me. Me and my buddy are the only ones that do where we play and nail the corners and lines with wicked English that goes away from players for winners. Maybe we're seen as jerks in the Pickleball world. I don't know.

[@manalopen2023]

@@seanvonfelden8462 depends on the level of play in the community ive been to courts that dont know how to spin the ball at all to courts where people roping the ball every which way they can. @motomuso youll see this reach a wider audience as carbon fiber surfaces are becoming more standard and applying more spin. Theres paddles that generate 2100 rpm now

[@manalopen2023]

I think its because in a way its like futbol vs football- in this case you can set up a net anywhere with a hard surface and play. Pickleball nets and paddles are cheap and the sport itself is accessible to most people at any skill level with a very fast learning curve to get a good rally going.

[@bo6354]

what griptape do you use Ben?!😮

[@Mr.Martini549]

kzbin.infooDWx3fC29NY?feature=share

[@griffinsmith3991]

What are best drills for fast hands/net speed ups?

[@BenJohns_pb]

Volley the volley. Can also do it where you have a pattern such that you both know where each other are aiming. Also just do speed ups + counter type drills.

[@bleuShoErn]

⁠​⁠@@BenJohns_pboutstanding drill video… my favorite! A fun variation on the volley, for hands at the net, is moving laterally back and forth across the court in front of the nvz line.

[@pickleballreviews]

Very nice..🤙 which ball do you usually drill with? 🤔 thanks guys 😀

[@chrispaulsen5746]

Dura 40. That’s the ball they use on the PPA

[@patrickhahn4253]

Pickleball

[@MikeSerota]

I have a question for Benjamin Johns. Sorry if it's seems silly to ask this but does he reply to comments himself?

[@shauncobbs6155]

Great video, the moral of the story is get you a good partner to practice with.......

[@JamesVestal-dz5qm]

Nice music

[@bbagley9727]

Off topic but wondering why Perseus has the traditional squared-off shape, as opposed to the rounded top of the Hyperion. What are the benefits?

[@chrislin2774]

The benefits depends on the eye of the beholder. It depends on you as a player. I personally dont think it makes much difference other than appearance.

[@bart1476]

You have more hitting area on a squared off paddle. Take a 16.5 rounded off and a 16.5 squared off and put them on top of each other. Pretty obvious.

[@bbagley9727]

⁠​⁠​⁠​⁠​⁠@@bart1476yes but those corners aren’t really useful, it’s dead space. Unless they help to enlarge the sweet spot.

[@chipsun2504]

the neighbors must go crazy everyday

[@neilmm]

Thanks Ben. I'd really appreciate a short answer to this! Or if any viewers know please chime in. Do you use a continental grip at the net predominately? I'm assuming some minor grip switching happens when there's time but in the situation where there may be a speed up and you don't know yet if you're going to take it as a forehand or backhand, do you stay continental? I'm sure many would love a vid on which grips you use for which shots and positions. My current plan is: continental is my default and I move slightly but not completely towards eastern forehand and eastern backhand when I have the time to make rolling and topspin more comfortable, but I'm wondering if I should simplify and stay in continental more often for simplicity, but then I second guess that and say, if I have the time, why not make a slight adjustment?

[@tylercoffey7589]

I would love a video on Ben's grip as well!

[@arielmizrahi6359]

@@tylercoffey7589check his channel. He’s already posted one

[@BenJohns_pb]

I did do a video going over this a bit. But short answer, yes, predominantly continental

[@cristovaoabegao4874]

No lead tape?

[@tmclbnk]

Someone beat me to woah! 😂

[@jnnx]

Why was my comment that I posted during the live premiere deleted?

[@giffy5775]

Just wondering why you never go left hand on some of those dinks that go real wide to your left. Also wondering where Collin gets those nice sports shirts.

[@plannedtuna8293]

Literally why would you lol. Just lunging with your non-dominant leg and hitting a backhand is going to use your full reach and produce a much more stable shot than if you try to do an improvised hand-switch shot

[@BenJohns_pb]

Honestly because I just mess around sometimes. In serious matches I would very rarely do that, if ever. Can only think of 1-2 times it happened.

[@jacemorris5946]

Can we get a workout routine???

[@BenJohns_pb]

I’ve shown bits and pieces but I will do some more in depth workouts soon :) Thank you!

[@jkp5000]

Good video, thanks. Background music was a little repetitive.

[@cindyc1186]

So many of the shots filmed do NOT show the racquet, just Ben Johns's face. I'd really love to see how he's holding the racquet and more of his arms down shots.

[@BenJohns_pb]

Will do more like that in the future

[@hermitcrypto2787]

I feel like these “pros” are totally beatable.. i’m gonna get to work.

[@bdavidgrice]

I have a great nutritional supplement In liquid form that increases my endurance and shortens my recovery during and after playing in the Florida heat. Keeps me mentally sharp as well, very important for a 73 year old!

[@user-jc6pr5el5g]

I'm confused, I thought this court was Zane's backyard??

[@bh.rippleeffect]

What that photo? Ben looks like he's 14yrs. old lol.😂😂😂

[@pianomusic4church471]

cameral angle ruined the video. can't see much

[@his7ory]

Yeah I don't have anybody good enough to return the ball for me to continue drilling 😂

[@sonsoftheedelweiss72]

The athletic ability needed in pickle ball is incredible. Much more than tennis .

[@patrickhahn4253]

Youre smoking crack

[@kewei4147]

Grandma you forgot your pills again!

[@sonsoftheedelweiss72]

@@kewei4147 you know I’m kidding right..

[@Prince_Gordon]

I’ve finally found my little niche in the sports world over here with my nerdy middle-aged white buddies with bad knees.

[@Kueb123]

I'm sorry, but can we get more wide shots of the drill and less focus/zoom-in on Ben.

[@Jingoor]

Background music is off and loud in your otherwise awesome videos. Please take a note.

[@longtimelo]

Yes, very irritating.

[@gg80108]

How do these guys get away with all that noise in a residential area? Unbelievable. Not in my neighborhood!

[@Mr.Martini549]

Was thinking the same thing.

[@marianettekauahikaua7987]

Family compound

[@danhoen4129]

Relax ladies, that's just a ball in his pocket.

[@Charles-lz2tz]

total dorks. this is a sport now that is unbelievable. well i guess it would be fair to compare this to bowling, ping pong and badminton which most dont really consider a real sport more of a half sport. in tennis it takes so many gifts to make it as a professional. pickleball you can make it if you commit and have some althletic ability. i mean i do think one day pickleball could be considered a real sport but until a large number of people train professionally with teams etc then it will have extremely talented and athletic participants. I believe that federer nadal murray sinner alcaraz zverev dimitriov rublev etc could play for 1 year and would dominate. In tennis it take 10 years to build a pro. jack sock who quit tennis at 250 in the world is now number 10 in pickleball. put your head around that. Sock was number 8 in tennis at 25. when he quit to he was 200 or worse and now in his 30 s dominating pickleball after 1 year. its a real joke if you think about the facts.

[@Catchingdinks]

None of yall are gonna turn into ben 😂 but if i take it serious i could be a problem watch out

[@theBookofJacob]

How to become a pickleball pro: step 1 - play pickleball

[@Charles-lz2tz]

guys like collin johns and mcguffin and arnold never made it in tennis and each is now high ranked in pickleball. navartil also could not beat win against better players in the jrs would not make it on a top college team yet he made it in pickleball with half the effort. So my advise to so so tennis players is quit tennis because more than lickly you wont make it . take up pickleball and in two years with really hard work you have a chance at a pro carrer hitting a plastic wiffle ball lol. but for now lets admit that the nadals federers and reynaldos alcaraz etc. are true althetic specimens. And pickleball players are the retjects at table 9 from the movie wedding singer.

[@ImAHusband809]

Pickleball is an everyman sport you dont need to be an athlete to have fun. Tennis is more physically challenging and thus not as fun.

[@lgnovo1]

Ben is now a blonde?

[@s3ntin3l60]

The heck is pickleball?

[@flpickleballpractice]

The best player in the game lets you peek behind the curtain and you trolls talk about his hair and ask other ridiculous questions?

[@judyfletcher2595]

Music is very distracting and not even very good

[@Purplemineral]

Agree

[@compaqcq45]

Who invented this? why the name pickle ball😒

[@Flumazenil]

How about can the annoying music?

[@bhanx23]

Agreed! Same thing over and over. Seems like people need to add random music to every video these days.

[@UpliftEq]

All of you old people dont be hating, music is cool and perfectly matches the video.

[@corymurray]

boomer detected

[@Gwillis7]

It’s pretty much my go-to song

[@longtimelo]

@@corymurray LOL, boomers objectively the best music of all time.

[@j.kimodejon3004]

Appreciate the lesson(s), however, please stop with the annoying background music.

[@danielparedes8399]

The video will be very good without the music

[@mikekerr9508]

Can anything in the world be more boring? Has to be in the top 5

[@shipwreck8847]

Ben Johns got a really bad haircut. Especially the sides. He looks like he’s losing his hair.

[@bart1476]

Maybe he is. You know 85% percent of men experience male pattern baldness. Who cares except you?

[@LifeIsGoodThankYouGod]

Dinking is for loser, You hit to ball at kitchen, like dropped shot.

[@AlphaTennisinPittsburgh]

Pickleball is America's fastest-growing sport and we like it #Pickleball