Serving Form and Technique

Serving: Learn Good Form and Good Technique

Obviously the serve in pickleball is very important. You have to have an effective serve in order to win a point. The serve starts the rally. A strong serve will put you on the offensive, whereas, a weak serve will put you on the defensive. I don’t have to tell you which side you want to be on. It’s important to learn good form and good technique right from the start. 

Although I don’t want to spend time right now on pickleball equipment, I do want to mention that playing with the right pickleball paddle is very important. In fact, in a later post I will offer my opinion on a variety of paddles and highlight the best ones and where to buy them. Quick advice, though, you can buy pickleball paddles online at Amazon or at a sporting goods store such as Dick’s.

Back to learning good form and good technique…

·     You do not want to rush your serving motion. You want to be steady and have a fluid, easy motion.

·     Before you serve you should look up and pick a spot on the far side of the court where you want your serve to land. Mentally hold onto that spot. Just before you serve lower your head so you can focus on the impact spot where the paddle will meet the ball. Same as in golf, tennis or any other racquet sport. I’m sure you’ve heard it a thousand times (especially if you’re a golfer), but it bears repeating: Keep your head down. Try to see the paddle actually hit the ball before you raise your head.

·     Another tip is to keep your front shoulder (left shoulder if you’re right-handed, right shoulder if you’re left-handed) pointed to where you want the ball to go. Simply put, your lead shoulder should be aiming towards your target spot on the court.

·     Similar to a golf swing or baseball swing, your weight should shift from back to front naturally. This is how you’ll get power into your serve.

·     Your swing doesn’t stop when the paddle meets the ball; rather, it ends after you’ve hit through the ball. There has to be what’s known as a “follow through,” which is near shoulder high.

Here are a handful of videos to watch that will help you improve your serve:

“The Serve Simplified” by Deb Harrison (Pickleball Deb) focuses on the basics of the pickleball serve using a progression starting without the paddle and progressing from the transition zone to the baseline. Deb emphasizes the importance of getting the serve “in” and keeping it simple. “As with any shot,” says Deb, “drill and practice are essential for success.”