Exactly How To Practice Pickleball Resets (Drill Breakdown)
The reset is the shot that separates players who survive at the kitchen line from players who thrive there. If you keep getting attacked and can't slow the point down, your reset needs work—and this drill will get you there.
Based on the breakdown from Briones Pickleball, here's exactly how to practice pickleball resets the right way.
Why Resets Matter
When your opponent attacks, you have two choices: try to counter (low percentage) or reset the ball softly into the kitchen (high percentage). The reset takes pace off the ball, forces your opponents to hit up, and buys you time to recover position.
It's the most underrated defensive skill in pickleball.
The Practice Setup
What you need:
- A partner
- A bucket of balls
- Half the court (kitchen line to baseline)
The drill:
- Your partner feeds you an attacking drive or speed-up from the transition zone.
- Your job is to reset the ball softly into the opponent's kitchen.
- Reset 10 balls in a row. Count how many land in the kitchen.
- Switch roles.
Key Technique Points
Stay low. The reset starts with your legs, not your paddle. Bend your knees and get your paddle below the ball.
Soft hands. The paddle shouldn't swing—it should absorb. Think of catching the ball, not hitting it.
Aim for the kitchen, not the net. Target the middle of the non-volley zone. Short is better than long.
Recover after every reset. The reset only works if you're balanced and ready for the next ball.
Watch the Full Breakdown
See the drill in action from Briones Pickleball:
🎥 Exactly How To Practice Pickleball Resets
Briones Pickleball creates instructional content to help players improve their technique and win more points.
