Correct serve defensive positioning is critical in Pickleball.
Defending against the serve and preparing for the third shot involves using effective court positioning.
Serve Defense Starting Positions
You have the advantage on defense, and you want to keep that advantage when you receive and return the serve. The illustration below shows the defensive setup at the start of a point.
Player C is positioned as close as possible to the kitchen line. Stand with knees bent, feet set slightly wider than shoulder-width, poised for swift lateral movements. The paddle is held up at chest height in the middle, ready to switch to either forehand or backhand.
Player D waits behind the baseline to return the serve. It’s important to stay behind the baseline, not on or ahead of it. Remember, you have to let the serve bounce. If you are on the court and it lands near your feet at high speed, you will have trouble returning it.
Right-handed players should shift slightly towards the center line, whereas left-handers should move closer to the sideline.
This positioning makes it easier to transition from the serve and use the forehand to counter serves aimed at the backhand. Keep your knees bent and feet set apart for better agility, and hold the paddle up, ready for immediate action.
Serve Defensive Positioning Mistakes
The illustration below shows the defensive player (Player D) too far on the court and out of position at the start of a point.
Defensive Player D receiving the serve should start behind the base line on the serve. Move forward to play the serve as needed.
Mistake by Player D: Being on the baseline or on the court. A fast and deep serve will pose challenges in returning as you need let it bounce first before hitting it. If the ball lands at your feet, it will be difficult to return.
It’s simpler to move forward than to retreat, and you should have some forward momentum when hitting the return shot, which helps propel you towards the kitchen line.
How far back you are from the baseline is a judgement call. Start behind the line and see how good your opponent’s serve is. You might adjust forward or back a bit from behind the baseline based on the power of their serve.
The illustration below shows the defensive player (Player C) back away from the kitchen line and out of position at the start of a point.
Mistake by Player C: Standing too far back from the kitchen line.
It might seem like not a big deal to be a foot or so behind the line, but in pickleball, every inch is crucial when responding to the 3rd shot from the serving team.
Position yourself as close to the kitchen line as possible. On a third shot drop, you want to volley the shot back if you can and not let it bounce.
Playing solid defense at the kitchen line and defending against the third shot is critical for your advancement to the 3.5+ level. The only way to do this is to be at the line and not away from it at all.
If you are new to pickleball and are worried about being too close to the net, you need to get over this. To advance in pickleball you need to be at the kitchen line at the start of a point. This gives you the best opportunity to stop the offense from scoring a point. Don’t worry about being too close, your hand speed to defend is quicker than you think.
Summary
Maintain your position behind the baseline as you await the serve.
Always position yourself at the kitchen line and don’t give up an inch.