Liz Truluck is a top women’s singles player on the PPA Tour who also coaches at her local facility.

Between competing at a high level and working with amateurs, she’s built a strong list of go-to advice for players looking to improve. One of her favorites is the Figure 8 Drill.

“This is a great drill for singles,” said Truluck. “One person stands at the baseline and they repeatedly hit their drives down the line, and the other person stands on the other side of the court and they hit everything cross-court. I think it really helps with movement and changing directions.”

Truluck emphasizes the importance of building a well-rounded game, recommending players spend time practicing resets, speed-ups, and counters.

For developing quicker hands, she turns to a simple but effective wall drill.

“Stand pretty close to the wall and just hit against the wall, practicing going from forehand to backhand,” explained Truluck. “That’ll help so much.”

When facing hard hitters, Truluck suggests taking a more controlled and strategic approach rather than matching power.

“A lot of bangers don’t really like when you slow it down, so slow down the ball and pace and try to get to the kitchen,” she mentioned. “Don’t be intimidated by them. Be patient, and don’t change your style to fit theirs. Make them play your game.”

Since she began coaching a few months ago, Truluck has noticed a recurring issue among amateur players.

“I see a lot of amateurs set up a point really well,” she noted. “But then they get a high ball and they try to overhit it or they go for too much.”

Her advice is to stay composed and avoid rushing the finish. Truluck encourages players to slow down, remain patient, and not let excitement after a strong setup lead to unforced errors.

Before pickleball, Truluck coached tennis.

“For a while, I was playing part-time pickleball, starting to play pro, and now I’m getting back into coaching, but now it’s with pickleball. There’s an indoor facility in Charlotte called Peak Time Pickleball and I’m coaching there,” she explained. “Eric Roddy is another resident pro there, too, so it’s fun to teaching there alongside him and the other coaches.” 

Coaching pickleball has actually given Truluck a new perspective on her own game.

“I’ve only been coaching pickleball for a few months, but it’s making me more analytical about the game without even having to play because I’m trying to solve my student’s problems,” she shared. “I’m not going to lie, I honestly hated coaching at first because I have a hard time thinking on the spot. But coaching is helping me be quicker with recognizing things and being able to communicate that during my lessons. The students I’ve been working with are so passionate, and it’s so nice that they all want to get better and it makes it so much more fun.” 

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