Leigh Waters’ Secret Sauce: 3 Drills That Build Champions
Leigh Waters isn’t your typical pickleball coach.
While many pros are out there dropping tips in YouTube videos and strategy-packed podcast interviews, Waters stays mostly quiet, guarding the strategies that helped her daughter, Anna Leigh Waters, become the World No. 1 in pickleball.
So when Leigh Waters talks, the pickleball world listens.
On a recent episode of the Talk Pickle To Me podcast, Waters finally let the curtain slip, sharing three key drills she uses with Anna Leigh and other top talents like Christian Alshon. These aren’t flashy. They aren’t fun. But they are game changers.
Let’s break them down:
1. Consistency Drills – “Super Boring,” Super Necessary
“You have to do the consistency drills, which are super boring,” Waters admitted.
But boring is exactly the point.
Waters puts her players through the wringer with 100-rep dinking drills, hitting from every direction with their own ball. The goal? To build mental pressure and discipline. Not just dinking endlessly—but dinking with a purpose, to a specific target, under simulated match stress.
“You really have to be able to do those monotonous types of drills,” she added. “It’s more about being able to make consecutive balls to a target under a little bit of pressure.”
🟢 Takeaway: If you’re not building consistency, you’re building bad habits. Embrace the boring.
2. Develop Your Weapon – Because Dinks Alone Won’t Win
Waters was clear: consistency alone isn’t enough.
You need a weapon—something that makes your opponent fear you.
Whether it’s a nasty speed-up, a bulletproof third shot drop, or a lightning-fast counter, your weapon is what gives you the edge when rallies get tight.
“Your defense can be off the charts, but if you don’t have a weapon, you can’t win,” Waters said. “Find your weapon, develop it, and make sure you’re constantly working on it.”
And once you’ve got it? Keep sharpening it.
🟢 Takeaway: A weaponless game is a losing game. Discover yours and own it.
3. Fast Hands – The New Non-Negotiable
Pickleball is getting faster.
Gone are the days where you could rely on finesse alone. Today, quick reflexes and fast hands are essential—even at the amateur level.
Waters suggests doing wall drills, like Alshon, or drilling with a partner who can fire off speed-ups and counters. The goal is to train your hands to react instantly.
“If you have slow hands, whether you’re an amateur or a pro, you’re not going to win a game,” she said. “Back in the day, 100% you could get away with it. Now, you can’t.”
🟢 Takeaway: Speed wins. Train those hands like your game depends on it—because it does.
Final Thoughts – Take It from a Champion Builder
Leigh Waters has helped mold one of the greatest players in pickleball history. Her tips aren’t just fluff—they’re forged in the fires of elite competition.
So if you’re looking to level up your game, take it from the top:
- Drill for consistency under pressure.
- Discover and develop your unique weapon.
- Build faster hands to keep up with the modern pace of play.
Train like a champion, and who knows—you might just play like one too.
Ready to get started?
Grab a paddle, hit the court, and embrace the grind. Because as Leigh Waters has shown us: greatness comes from doing the boring work better than anyone else.
