✏️ Update: October 18, 2024

It’s a fact, pickleball is easy to learn. Getting super good at it is another matter. Pickleball training aids are a great way to improve your skills and take your game to the next level. Whether you are a novice or a seasoned player, the right training aids can significantly boost your skills and on-court performance. Unlike pickleball ball machines that cost hundreds of dollars, the pickleball training aids covered in this post are more affordable and tailored to players of all levels. From simple targeting tools that help with accuracy to training aids that emphasize stroke refinement and consistency, this curated selection is targeted at beginner and intermediate-level pickleball players.

So, here are ten pickleball training aids and innovative tools that can potentially improve your game and maximize your on-court performance.

Disclosure: Racquet Social participates in Amazon’s affiliate advertising program and may earn a small commission from qualifying purchases, at no additional cost to you. The prices, ratings, and availability of products included in this post are subject to change.

A11N Pickleball Automatic Launcher

Concept: Pickleball training aid for beginners, intermediate players, and seniors.

If you are relatively new to pickleball or struggling to find a hitting partner, you may want to give the A11N Pickleball Launcher a try. Priced hundreds of dollars below the high-end pickleball ball machines, the A11N Pickleball Launcher offers capabilities that go beyond other products in its price range.

At around 7 lbs, the A11N Pickleball Launcher is lightweight and portable. Its flexible powering options include D batteries, an AC adapter, or a portable power bank, making it suitable for outdoor and indoor courts. Here are the key specifications of the A11N Pickleball Launcher:

• Ball Capacity: Holds 19 pickleballs
• Launch Frequency: Launches a ball every 4 seconds
• Power Source: D batteries, AC adapter, or portable power bank (minimum 2.6A)
• Spin: Adjustable for both left and right spin
• Launch Speed: 38-45 KPH (24-28 MPH)
• Launch Angle: Adjustable from 1ft to 8ft in height
• Launch Distance: Adjustable from 17ft to 33ft
• Auto-Swing Function: Yes, for simulating different shot types
• Weight: 3.22 kg (7.1 lbs)

While advanced players may find the 19-ball capacity and 4-second launch frequency of this machine limiting, there’s no denying it provides value for money. It may also make sense to invest in a pickleball caddy to collect the balls after every cycle.

Gamma Pickleball Caddy

Concept: Collect and store pickleball balls

The Gamma Sports Ball Hopper Pickleball 50 is a helpful accessory for pickleball players. While not a training aid itself, it streamlines practice sessions by simplifying ball collection. With a 50-ball capacity, it minimizes interruptions and maximizes playing time. The hopper’s durable construction, featuring carbon steel wires and reinforced side welds, ensures long-lasting performance. Its unique hexagonal shape and floating wire design facilitate easy ball retrieval. When not in use for collecting balls, the handles fold down, transforming the hopper into a convenient ball feeder. An attached lid keeps balls secure during transport.

TopspinPro Pickleball Training Aid

Concept: Improve topspin and racquet swing technique.

Developed initially for tennis players to practice hitting topspin, the TopspinPro has been repurposed for pickleball. The topspin is not a natural shot for pickleball players who do not have a tennis background. The TopspinPro is designed to help players develop and improve their topspin and paddle swing techniques. It features a screen panel and an attached ball to help users practice the much-touted windshield wiper motion needed for heavy topspin.

Pickleball Eye Coach

Concept: Develop stroke consistency and rhythm.

Another tool that has its origins as a tennis training aid, Billie Jean King’s Pickleball Eye Coach is a solo training device that focuses on improving essential skills such as keeping the head still, guiding the eyes’ focus, and teaching ball-striking rhythm. This training aid is aimed at helping players develop topspin strokes and consistency, making it beneficial for players looking to enhance their overall game. Check out the Pickleball Eye Coach if you are a beginner looking to learn the correct playing technique or an intermediate player aiming to elevate your game.

Dink Pad

Concept: Enhance solo practice dinks, volleys, and accuracy.

The Dink Pad by Enhance Pickleball is a popular tool for solo practice, allowing players to work on their dinks, volleys, and accuracy without needing a practice partner. Its simple yet effective design, featuring a 3-foot wide and 4-foot tall pad with adhesive backing, helps you transform any smooth wall into a pickleball training aid. The included catalog of drills provides players with endless opportunities to improve their game and train muscle memory. If you are not excited about jumping on the treadmill in your basement, the Dink Pad may work as a pickleball training aid and fitness solution.

The Dink Master is the portable version of this training aid. You can find other manufacturers who make dink pads here.

Brand	Product	Features	Price
	Dink Pad By Enhance		$Check PriceAmazon.ca

Pop-up targets for pickleball

Concept: Develop shot accuracy.

Pop-up targets are another tennis training aid that can be used to develop shot accuracy in pickleball. These targets are designed to be easily attached to tennis or pickleball nets and used during practice sessions, allowing players to focus on hitting specific areas of the court with precision. Each target measures 30″ x 36″ and is made of impact-resistant nylon and a durable metal frame, providing players with various aiming points to enhance their shot placement skills. You can check out On Court Off Court’s pop-up targets here.

Pickleball Ball Machines

Pickleball ball machines can be incredibly useful training tools for intermediate and advanced players. However, they come at a significant cost. While it is not a substitute for working with a human coach, pickleball ball machines help you improve your game on your own. These machines allow you to practice on your schedule, reinforcing the techniques and strategies you’ve learned from your coach or through personal playing experience.

Evaluating your individual needs and preferences is imperative before delving into the pickleball ball machine brands and models. Your investment should be based on your skills, budget, and situation. Here’s a Guide to the Top Six Pickleball Ball Machine Brands.

Kill-Shot Pro

This one is new!

The Kill-Shot Pro pickleball training system is a unique tool that leverages technology to enhance your performance. Its smart paddle features integrated sensors, providing audio and visual feedback to analyze your shots in real time. This system is designed to improve two critical aspects of the game: hand-eye coordination and sweet-spot accuracy. With built-in data storage, effortlessly track your progress with a simple series of taps on the paddle. The Kill-Shot Pro’s specifications (weight: 9.2oz; length: 15-1/2”; thickness: 10mm; handle: 4-1/4″) match those of heavier performance paddles, ensuring easy adaptability into game situations. Unlike smart tennis racquets, the Kill-Shot Pro does not currently offer an external app for the training system.

Brand	Product	Features	Price
	Kill-Shot Pro Pickleball Training System	Gives players real-time audio, visual, and statistical feedback Fully integrated product – sensors, LEDs, and controller  Statistics are stored to help you track your progress.	Check Price

Gamma Flexible Disc Cones

Concept: Court markers for targeted dinks, shots, and training drills.

Court markers are great for honing targeted shots such as cross-court dinks, drives, and serves. Also used for agility training, these colorful and flexible cones are made of non-slip rubberized material. They are light and flexible and can be used on indoor or outdoor courts, making them a practical and multi-functional training aid for coaches and players across different sports. You can pick up Gamma Disc Cones here.

Pickleball Lead tape

Concept: Tweak the weight distribution of your paddle.

Lead tape can be used to tweak a pickleball paddle’s weight distribution and balance, allowing players to customize their equipment to suit their playing style and needs. Sold by pickleball paddle manufacturers and sports accessory stores, the lead tape strips are precision cut and feature a high-strength adhesive to ensure they stay intact during play. Players can enhance power, stability, and control by adding lead tape to specific areas of the paddle, ultimately tailoring the paddle to their playing style. Lead tape is legal for tournament play and is a common practice among professional and advanced-level players to fine-tune their equipment. You can choose the lead tape of your liking here.

Training aids are no substitute for in-person coaching sessions from qualified trainers. Pickleball training aids help you augment the learnings you receive from coaches and experienced peers. Repetition is vital to improving your playing technique and enhancing accuracy and consistency. These training aids are substantially less expensive than pickleball ball machines and help you practice independently and repeat stroke routines to improve specific areas of your game.

If you do decide to get one, enjoy your training!

Please share your experiences in the comments below, if you have used any of these pickleball training aids. Also, are there other training aids we missed? Let us know.