When you’re just starting out in Pickleball, handling different kinds of serves—especially those with heavy spin—can feel intimidating. Whether it’s a topspin serve that jumps up faster than you expect, or a backspin serve that barely bounces, it’s easy to feel unsure of how to handle them.
More experienced players will try to catch you off guard and score a point with a serve that has a lot of spin on it.
This post is designed to help you understand the different types of spin you’ll face as you go up against more experienced opponents and how to deal with this spin.
If you are unfamiliar with paddle grips, including the Continental and Eastern Forehand grips, or with how spin shots are hit, review the posts on “Basic Shot Execution” and “Adding Spin to Shots”.
Topspin Serve
As the ball approaches, the topspin will cause it to dip suddenly and bounce higher than usual. Anticipate the bounce and be prepared for the ball to jump up and move faster after it hits the court.
Rather than waiting for the ball to reach its peak, take a couple of steps forward as it bounces, try to hit the ball early, just as it’s rising. This gives you more control and prevents the topspin from pushing the ball too high. Keep your knees slightly bent and your paddle ready out in front of you to react quickly.
As you prepare to hit the shot, adjust your paddle angle to counter the topspin. When a topspin shot hits your paddle, the spin will naturally cause the ball to rise. To deal with this, tilt the face of your paddle slightly downward to keep your return low and controlled. If you are already using an Eastern forehand grip, your paddle will already be positioned downward; if you are using a Continental grip, either switch to an Eastern grip or simply tilt your paddle down a bit before hitting the ball.
There’s no need for a big swing. The topspin already adds speed to the ball, so a compact, controlled stroke is all you need.
Cut Shot / Backspin Serve
A backspin serve stays low and skids forward after it bounces, making it tricky to handle if you’re not prepared.
Anticipate the low bounce. Unlike a topspin serve that kicks up, backspin keeps the ball close to the ground. Move forward and get low, positioning yourself to meet the ball early before it drops further.
Backspin naturally pushes the ball downward when it hits your paddle, increasing the risk of hitting it into the net. To avoid this, slightly open the face of your paddle, lifting the ball enough to counteract the backspin and prevent it from dipping too low. If you are using a Continental grip, your paddle face will already be neutral; with an Eastern grip, the paddle will be turned down, and without adjustment, it’s easier to mistakenly hit the ball too low.
As with topspin, keep your swing smooth and controlled.
Sidespin Serves
Sidespin can be tricky because the ball curves in the air and often kicks off to the side after bouncing, making it difficult to predict if you’re not ready.
When you see a serve with sidespin coming your way, anticipate the curve in the air. The ball might initially seem to head straight for you but veer off at the last moment. Move early and get into position so you can meet the ball where it’s going—not where it first appears to be headed.
As the ball bounces, expect it to kick off to the side based on the spin’s direction. Adjust quickly to the angle it takes after the bounce.
Keep your stroke short and controlled. There’s no need for a big swing because the sidespin already adds complexity to the shot.
Hitting a sidespin shot hard is generally not a good idea. A hard swing amplifies the spin’s effect, increasing the margin for error and making it harder to control your return. Instead, focus on control with a shorter, steady stroke. This will help you neutralize the spin and keep the ball in play.
Summary
In Pickleball, handling spin and specialty serves is something you will need to master as you advance. As with any serve return, focus on depth and add some loft. Your opponents are required to let your return shot bounce, which gives you time to advance to the kitchen line.