Beginners Guide to Serving

Pickleball strategy begins with a winning serve. That’s right, if you have an effective serve you can gain an advantage and win the point. A strong server can win as much as 25% of the game’s points before a rally even starts. I know that’s hard to believe, but its statistically true based on tournament play results. So learn how to serve effectively, and you have a very good chance of winning.

Most pickleball players start playing in double games. Go to a local park with pickleball courts, play at the YMCA or at your local club or community courts  – you’ll see that everyone – or nearly everyone – is playing doubles. Almost everyone who plays the game learns pickleball serving rules, pickleball scoring rules and (to a limited extent) doubles pickleball strategy by playing doubles. Serve deep, stay back, return service, come to the net, slam, dink or hit down the middle. That’s the way we’re taught to play the game. Once you’ve mastered the game of doubles many younger players move onto singles, but for the most part the vast majority of pickleball players – especially those that are starting out in 55 and over communities – are playing doubles.

Back to the serve…In order to have a winning serve, regardless of whether or not it’s singles or doubles play, you need to (1) follow standard pickleball serve rules, (2) learn good form and good technique by practicing pickleball serve drills, (3) learn serving strategies, and (4) fine-tune specific serving techniques.

Follow Standard Pickleball Serve Rules: 

·     You must serve underhanded.

·     When the paddle contacts the ball it must be below your waste at the level of your navel.

·     Theoretically you initiate the serve with at least one foot behind the baseline. In reality, though, both feet should be behind the baseline. Neither of your feet may touch the baseline or court until after the paddle makes contact with the ball.

·     As you most assuredly know, you must hit the ball diagonally crosscourt, similar to the doubles serve, and the ball must land within the opposite diagonal box on the other side of the net.

·     It is common knowledge that you want to start your serve from the far corner regardless of whether or not you’re serving from the deuce or add court. Why? Because it gives you the best chance of angling your shot away from your opponent.

·     You only get one attempt at serve.

There are several YouTube videos demonstrating legal vs. illegal serves. These are a few that are definitely worth viewing

Here Jim Simmons demonstrates the serve motion. The serve must be made with the arm moving in an upward arc and the paddle head below the wrist when it strikes the ball.