How to Find a Pickleball Drill Partner at Your Level

You want to fix your third-shot drop. At open play you might hit five of them in an hour, each one in the middle of a point you're trying to win. What you need is fifty in a row, with someone feeding you the ball and doing the same for their own weak shot.

That someone is hard to find. Most players at the courts want to play games, not stand at the kitchen line hitting the same shot. The ones who do want to drill also need to be close to your level, and free at the same hours you are. Here's how to find them.

1. Tag yourself as looking for a drill partner

Open Me → Edit profile → Tags. Under Partner Seeking, pick Looking for Drill Partner, then tap the check mark at the top to save.

The tag shows on your profile and on your card on the map, and it stays there until you take it off. You don't have to post anything for other players to find you, so it keeps working on the days you don't open the app.

Want lessons from someone more experienced instead? That's a different tag: Looking for Coach. A drill partner is someone around your level who wants the same reps you do.

2. Say what level you're after, and when you play

Two more rows in Edit profile answer the first two questions anyone will ask you:

• Partner level: the DUPR range you'd like a partner to be in, set separately for doubles and singles. Your profile then reads, for example, "Looking for partners: Doubles 3.0–4.0".
• When you usually play: tap the times of the week you're usually free. Each day is split into six blocks, from Early (6–9 AM) to Night (9 PM to midnight).

Both show under Play preferences on your profile, so a player who finds you can tell at a glance whether you'd suit each other.

3. Search for drill partners near you

On the map, tap Players on the right-hand bar, then the filter icon next to the search bar. Under Tags (Optional), choose Looking for Drill Partner. Then narrow the list:

• DUPR: set a range close to your own rating, and switch between doubles and singles ratings. Drills work best when both of you can keep the ball in play for a long rally.
• Verified DUPR only: turn it on to see only players whose rating comes from their official DUPR record, checked by our team.
• Distance: how far you're willing to drive for a regular practice.

The list shows everyone nearby who wears the tag, not just the people posting a game right now.

4. Check that your schedules line up

Tap a player to open their profile. Under Play preferences you'll see the level of partner they're looking for and the times they usually play. If they're free on weekday mornings and you can only make it after work, keep looking. If your times overlap, you've found a candidate.

5. Send a specific invitation

Tap Chat on their profile. A clear plan gets a faster yes than "want to hit sometime?". Say what you want to work on, when, and where:

Hi! I'm working on third-shot drops and resets. Want to drill for an hour on Saturday morning at Central Park? Happy to feed you whatever you're working on too.

Once you've agreed, create a Session at your court and have them join it. The time and place are then set, and you both get a reminder before it starts.

6. Plan what you'll drill

Turning up without a plan usually ends in a casual game after ten minutes. Pick two or three drills, give each a fixed number of reps, and switch roles so each player gets the same practice. Our guide to pickleball drills to do with a partner has seven to choose from and a one-hour session plan.