Train Like a Pirate to Sharpen Your Kitchen Line Reflexes 

You see the ball coming. You even start moving. But your hands still don’t get there in time. 

It’s one of the most frustrating feelings in pickleball — and most players assume it’s just part of getting older.  

But here’s what’s actually happening: reaction time isn’t a muscle problem. It lives in your brain. Specifically in the pathways that connect what your eyes see to what your hands do. 

And those pathways can be trained. In fact, there’s a drill — one borrowed from a completely different sport — that targets this exact problem. It takes less than two minutes. You don’t need a court. And the first time you try it, you’ll feel slightly ridiculous. 

But it works. 

The Drill That Fooled Our Brains Into Getting Faster 

Here’s what you do. Grab a reaction ball — a six-sided rubber ball that bounces unpredictably — and stand a few feet from a solid wall. Then toss the ball underhand against the wall and catch it after it bounces. 

But while you’re doing this, put an eye patch over one eye. Yes, an eye patch. Like a pirate. 

Here’s why the eye patch is important. When you take away one source of information, your brain scrambles to fill the gap using everything else it has available. 

Think of it like driving in heavy fog. You can’t see far ahead, so suddenly you’re paying closer attention to road sounds, the feel of the steering wheel, the painted lines at the edge. Your other senses sharpen because they have to pick up the slack. 

Same thing happens with the eye patch. Your brain normally leans heavily on both eyes working together to track a ball. Cover one, and it can’t coast anymore. It starts recruiting your inner ear (which handles balance and spatial orientation), your body’s sense of where it is in space, and your ability to anticipate based on pattern recognition — where is this ball probably going? 

Over time, this triggers neuroplasticity — your brain rewires its visual-motor pathways to respond faster. And here’s the part that surprised us most: when you remove the patch and play with full vision, the speed upgrade stays. Your brain doesn’t need the restriction anymore. It just reacts at the new level. 

Start this drill close to the wall and throw slowly. Build up your speed and distance over a few sessions. Switch eyes. Keep each set to one or two minutes. 

Why a Regular Ball Won’t Cut It 

A regular tennis ball is too predictable. The six-sided reaction ball bounces in directions you can’t anticipate. It’s the same ball used by handball players, cricket fielders, and lacrosse athletes to train faster reflexes under chaotic conditions. 

Do this two to three times a week, off-court. Within a few weeks, players using this drill report faster hands, better depth perception, and steadier footwork — especially late in a session when fatigue usually takes its toll. 

You can find reaction balls at most major online retailers — Amazon, Walmart, Dick’s Sporting Goods online — usually under $10. It’s one of the cheapest performance upgrades you can make. 

One More Thing Worth Knowing 

Training your visual-motor pathways is one piece. Supporting eye health is another. 

Advanced Vision Formula includes lutein, bilberry extract, and ginkgo biloba — ingredients shown to support blood flow to the eyes and protect the retina from oxidative stress. Better eye health means the signals your brain is learning to process faster are coming in cleaner. 

Fit Pickler Readers: Use any link in this article for an exclusive discount. Your savings apply automatically at checkout, and there’s a 90-day money-back guarantee if it’s not right for you. 

Try This Before Your Next Session 

• Reaction ball (under $10 online) + eye patch 
• Toss underhand against a wall, one eye covered, 1-2 min sets 
• Alternate eyes, increase speed and distance gradually 
• 2-3 times per week, off-court 
  
  Your hands aren’t slow. They’re just waiting for the right challenge.  

Give it to them — and see what happens the next time a ball comes screaming at the net.