Beginning pickleball players only care about one thing: hitting the ball in bounds. As we progress, we want to do more and more with our game, and we want to score more often. Maybe we even start practicing shots.
We hit serves and overheads and dink for hours (even if most dink rallies these days last two seconds before someone tries a speedup).
However, one essential part of our game is often overlooked: the return of serve. And boy, is that a big BIG mistake.
As you learn to play better, you discover that the team that makes it to the kitchen line the most scores more often and wins more games. You might call it the game within the game.
In pickleball, the returning team has the advantage at the beginning of every point (because they start with one player already at the NVZ line). When you’re the returning team, you want to keep and enhance that advantage when possible.
With this in mind, the first two goals of every rally should be to
1) Get to the NVZ line, and
2) Keep your opponents off of it
So, on the return of serve, instead of thinking, “Just hit the ball in bounds,” or “How can I score?” try switching your thinking to, “How can I help my team achieve its first two goals?”
Because if you can do that, the points and the wins will follow.
Looking for further proof that the return of serve is one of the most important shots in pickleball?
Now that you’ve executed the return of serve perfectly, it’s time to get your behind to the NVZ line!
If you can do it before your opponent hits the ball, then BOOM! advantage you. So many players hit the ball, then stop or slowly get up to the line.
This is a huge mistake. Remember the two goals–keep your opponents back and get yourself to the NVZ line.
What do you do when your return of serve isn’t working? Here are some common return-of-serve mistakes and how you might fix them.
As we said earlier, a short return gives your opponents too many options.
If you find your return keeps getting crushed, or your opponents are dropping the ball inside the kitchen with ease, consider you might be making one of these errors:
The opposite of too short is too long, which gives your opponents an immediate point.
While you want to push the envelope, try to aim your return to land about three feet before the baseline, which gives you more room for error.
If you find the ball sailing too long too often, check yourself for these errors:
There is more space and more room for error.
Putting spin on the ball takes practice. It’s hard to get good at it if you only use it in games.
However, using concise strokes is the key to generating a good spin on the ball.
The biggest mistake players often make when trying to spin the ball is they loop the paddle too much–giving themselves a long backswing and an uneven follow-through.
If you consider that your arm path is making a “C” when you try to put a spin on the ball, consider switching the path to a lowercase “c” instead. Short, concise, solid contact is the key.
Now it’s everyone’s favorite part: drills.
The best part of this drill is you can do it at home when no one is looking. Pretend someone is about to serve, then:
Try it on both your forehand and backhand. When you’re ready to take it to the court, simply have your partner (or a ball machine) serve at you over and over again until it feels natural and you’re making solid contact.
Gather some markers (i.e., cones, sticky notes, water bottles, whatever) and place them three feet from the baseline—one toward the middle line, another on the sideline, and the third in the middle.
Make every return of serve attempt land between the cone and the baseline. Remember to practice forehands and backhands.
If you play inside, you’re limited in how high you can return it. If not, then let it rip! The higher, the better, baby.
Open your paddle face and practice your follow-through. It’ll take a few attempts, but at some point, you’ll get a feel for what works best for you.
Take those same markers as the drill above and try to get your high return to land inside the three feet before the baseline.
Return of Serve Drill #4 - Get to the NVZ line
Once you’re comfortable with your swings, it’s time to move your feet again. Practice hitting the ball, then sprinting to the line. Keep doing it until it’s comfortable for you.
Return of Serve Drill #5 - The lowercase “c”
Grab a paddle and practice this wherever you’re sitting right now. First, mimic a swing and draw a big “C” in the air.
Do it a few times. Now, draw a lowercase “c.” Can you feel the difference? That’s the feeling you need to recreate on the court. That little motion will add plenty of spin to your return of serve.'
It’s time to become a master of returns. Put it all together and take it to the courts. But, don’t be surprised if your games last longer and the wins pile up. Good luck out there!
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