Many coaches believe that the serve is the most important skill in the game of pickleball. It is critical that players be taught proper techniques because more games at the beginner level are lost through poor serving than any other reason. Once properly learned, the serve will form the heart of your future offensive skills.
COMMON SERVING PROBLEMS:
Because serving can be a compound skill, it can produce some problems:
Lack of power – Probably caused by inadequate rotation. Practice the serve motion without a ball and exaggerate hip and shoulder rotation. Another deficient power problem maybe too much bend in the elbow or a very short backswing. Practice keeping arm straight and exaggerate arm extension.
Ball into the net or going too low: Check stride – it maybe too long. Shorten stride.
Ball going out or going long beyond opponent base line: Check for too short stride. Take a bigger step forward.
Ball spinning sideways out of bounds: Poor hand and paddle positioning.
Jerky or incomplete motion: In-adequate follow-through. Increase rotation forward after ball strike with paddle. Point paddle side shoulder at target.
STRATEGY:
Vary the speed (pace) and placement of the ball. Taking off the pace is a good strategy when you want to throw off your opponents to keep them guessing.
CREATE CONFIDENCE IN YOUR SERVE:
Pickleball is NOT a power game. Having a variety of serves is optimal to throw off your opponents and keeps them guessing. Keeping the ball in play is the best way to create confidence in your ability to play.
MIXING UP YOUR SERVES
- Serving wide
- Serving with a spin
- Serving short
- Body serve
- Thrust serve to your opponent backhand
- Serve high and deep to extreme right
- Serve high and deep to extreme left
PRO TIPS
Better Pickleball says to keep your serve deep for maximum effect
Pickleball 411 says stay back behind the baseline after a serve & wait for the return so your momentum will always be moving forward
Prime Time Pickleball says to use your whole body and not just your arm when serving
Successful Pickleball says your target should be at the center of the serving box to ensure 100% margin of error
USAPA Rules states your contact with the ball is below the waist
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Successful Pickleball 