Perfect Your Pickleball Serve: Techniques for Success

Hey there, fellow racquet enthusiasts! Sarah here, your friendly neighbourhood tennis coach. Today, we're going to dive into the exciting world of pickleball. Specifically, we'll be focusing on pickleball serving techniques. Now, I know what you're thinking, "Sarah, isn't pickleball just a mini version of tennis?" Well, you're not entirely wrong, but there's so much more to it, especially when it comes to serving.

The Basics of a Good Serve

First things first, let's talk about the grip. The grip is the foundation of your serve. You want to hold your paddle in a way that's comfortable, but also allows you to have maximum control. A common mistake I see with beginners is gripping the paddle either too loosely (which can lead to lack of control) or too tightly (which can cause wrist strain). Try to find a middle ground, it's all about balance.

Next up is the swing. A good swing is a combination of arm movement and body rotation. You start with your paddle back, your elbow bent and close to your body. As you swing, your arm straightens and your body rotates to add power. Remember to follow through with your swing, it's just as important as the initial hit.

Lastly, let's discuss foot positioning. When you serve, you want to stand with your feet shoulder-width apart, with your weight on your back foot. As you swing, you shift your weight forward. This not only adds power to your serve, but also helps with balance.

Different Serving Techniques

Now that we've covered the basics, let's move on to the different serving techniques. In pickleball, the two most common serving techniques are the underhand serve and the overhand serve.

The underhand serve is the most popular technique in pickleball. It's easier to learn and control, making it a great choice for beginners. To perform an underhand serve, you start with your paddle below your waist and swing it upwards in an arc. The ball should be hit below your waist, and the paddle should be moving in an upwards direction at the moment of contact.

The overhand serve is a bit more advanced and requires more power and control. It's similar to a tennis serve, where you toss the ball in the air and hit it with an overhead swing. This serve can be a great weapon once you master it, but make sure you're familiar with the rules of pickleball as some tournaments don't allow overhand serves.

Common Serving Mistakes to Avoid

We all make mistakes when learning something new, and pickleball is no exception. One common mistake is hitting the ball too hard. In pickleball, precision is more important than power. Aim for the corners of the service box to make it harder for your opponent to return the serve.

Another mistake is not varying your serves. If you always serve the same way, your opponent will quickly catch on and anticipate your every move. Mix things up a bit – change the direction, speed, and spin of your serves to keep your opponent guessing.

Remember the charity tournament I organized at Stanley Park in Vancouver a few years back? One of the highlights was a pickleball clinic for beginners. I saw first-hand how quickly players improved their serves once they started focusing on control and variation, rather than power. It was a great reminder of why I love coaching – seeing players discover their potential is truly rewarding.