Pickleball is primarily a doubles sport, but training with four people is not always the fastest way to progress technically. This is where skinny singles comes into play. This variant, played on half a court, has become the favorite exercise for competitive players.

Surgical Precision Work

By playing on half the width of the court, you considerably reduce the possible angles. This constraint forces the player into extreme precision. Every ball must be placed with care to stay within the narrow limits of the playing area. It is the ideal exercise for mastering the dink and trajectory control, as the slightest mistake in touch immediately turns into a point for the opponent.

Improving Cardio and Placement

Unlike traditional singles, which requires covering the entire surface, skinny singles allows you to focus on footwork specific to doubles. The intensity remains high, but movements are shorter and more explosive. You learn to systematically move back toward the non-volley zone, which strengthens your reflexes and endurance specific to fast-paced play at the net.

Mastering the Diagonal and the Line

Skinny singles is practiced in two configurations: face-to-face or diagonally. Playing diagonally exactly reproduces the cross-court situations found in doubles. This allows you to work on consistency for cross-court shots, which are the safest and most used in matches. By regularly changing sides, you learn to vary your attack and defense angles naturally.

A Perfect Transition to Doubles

The greatest advantage of skinny singles is its ability to simulate doubles exchanges while hitting twice as many balls. This is a precious time-saver for automating technical moves like the third shot drop. By regularly practicing this variant, you develop technical confidence that will immediately translate into better court vision during your next four-player games.

Conclusion

Skinny singles is not just a fun game when there are only two of you on the court. It is a true technical exercise that allows you to correct your weaknesses and refine your touch. Integrating it into your pickleball training sessions can only do you good!