The serve and the return of serve
How to hit a reliable deep serve, why the return should be deep and slow rather than hard, and how to get to the kitchen line after you return. Includes targets and two drills.
What the serve is for
In pickleball the serve is not the weapon it is in tennis. Because the return must bounce, and the serving team must let the third shot bounce too, the receiving team usually gets to the net first. That means the serve's job is mostly to start the point without giving anything away and to push the returner back.
A good recreational serve has three qualities:
- It goes in. A missed serve gives up your turn for nothing.
- It is deep. A serve landing in the back third of the service court keeps the returner behind the baseline and slows their trip to the kitchen.
- It has some variety. Changing depth, speed and side keeps returners from settling in.
How to hit a reliable serve
- Stand behind the baseline, sideways or slightly open to your target.
- Hold the paddle low with a relaxed grip, around 4 on a 1 to 10 tension scale.
- Drop or hold the ball out in front, away from your body.
- Swing low to high, like a pendulum, with the paddle head below your wrist at contact for a legal volley serve, or let the ball bounce first for a drop serve.
- Follow through toward your target and hold your finish.
Aim for a spot 2 to 3 feet inside the baseline. You have a big margin: it is better to land a serve 4 feet short of the baseline than to miss long.
Serve targets
| Target | Why |
|---|---|
| Deep middle | Safest; reduces angles for the returner |
| Deep to the backhand | Most players return weaker off the backhand |
| Deep to the corner | Pulls the returner wide, opening the court |
| Short and soft (rarely) | Surprise only; easy to attack if overused |
What the return is for
The return is the second shot of the rally. Its main job is to give your team time to reach the kitchen line, because the team at the net usually controls the point. That leads to a simple rule: return deep and high, not hard and low.
A high, deep return that lands near the baseline:
- Gives you time to walk forward and establish a ready position at the kitchen.
- Forces the serving team to hit their third shot from far back, which is harder.
- Is much less likely to go into the net.
A hard, low return comes back faster and leaves you caught in the transition zone.
Returning step by step
- Stand a step or two behind the baseline, ready for a deep serve.
- Let the ball bounce, then swing smoothly with a long follow-through.
- Aim deep, ideally to the middle or to the server's backhand.
- Move forward immediately after contact, splitting your feet as your opponent hits the third shot.
Your return is not finished until you are standing at the kitchen line. Walk in behind every return.
Drills
- Target serves. Place a towel 3 feet inside the baseline in each service court. Serve 20 balls to each side and count how many land behind the towel.
- Return and approach. A partner serves. You return deep and move forward, stopping in a split step when your partner hits the next ball. Repeat 20 times, then switch.
Common mistakes
- Trying to ace every serve and missing too many.
- Returning short or hard, then standing still at the baseline.
- Forgetting the score call before serving.
