Hitting an effective pickleball serve return may seem simple, but focus, court positioning, and strategy are crucial. A solid pickleball serve return is essential for advancing to the 3.5+ skill level, helping you stay in control of the point and set up your team for success.
Start Behind the Baseline for a Strong Serve Return
The illustration below shows a pickleball player hitting the serve return.
To prepare for an effective pickleball serve return, position yourself at least a couple of feet behind the baseline.
- Why Stay Back?
Strong opponents often serve fast and deep. If you stand too close to the baseline, you may need to backpedal to adjust for a deep serve, which throws off your balance and makes for a weak return.
Instead, stay back and move forward as needed based on the depth of the serve. Adjust this positioning as you gauge your opponent’s serving ability.
Body Movement Tips for a Better Serve Return
Proper movement and body mechanics are essential for executing a strong pickleball serve return:
- Use a Split Step
- As the serve approaches, take a small split step to get balanced and ready to hit the ball. This controlled hop helps you stabilize before making your shot.
- Avoid moving your feet while hitting the ball.
- In general, moving while hitting any shot in pickleball makes the shot much tougher to control.
- Transfer Your Weight Forward
- Shift your weight forward as you hit the ball. This not only adds power to your return but also helps you move toward the kitchen line after the shot.
Bonus Tip: Your return technique, including spin and placement, is important, but your forward momentum toward the net is just as critical. Getting to the kitchen line quickly is key to maintaining an advantage.
Pickleball Serve Return Strategy: Aim for the Middle
An effective pickleball serve return strategy focuses on simplicity and precision:
- Target the Middle:
Aim for the middle of the court to force your opponents to communicate on their third shot. This often leads to confusion and weak returns. - Force a Backhand:
Returning to the center increases the likelihood of forcing your opponent to use their backhand, which is most always less effective than their forehand. - Add Loft and Depth:
Hit a lofted, deep return to push your opponents back. A deep return gives you time to advance to the kitchen line while keeping your opponents on the defensive.
Advance to the Kitchen Line After Your Return
After hitting your pickleball serve return, your top priority is to move up to the kitchen line and join your partner.
- A deep, lofted return provides plenty of time to advance, this puts you and your partner in an ideal position to challenge your opponents’ third shot.
- Advancing to the kitchen line is crucial as this is where many points are won in advanced pickleball.
Summary: Master the Pickleball Serve Return
Mastering the pickleball serve return is a fundamental skill that sets the stage for the entire point. A well-executed return allows you to:
- Stay in control of the rally.
- Force opponents into defensive positions.
- Advance to the kitchen line for better court coverage.
Though it may seem basic, a good serve return is key to advancing in the game and reaching the 3.5+ skill level. Advanced players rarely miss a serve return.
Short Video on Hitting the Return Shot\
Video courtesy of “The Art of Pickleball”
Watch this video on the split step on Youtube.
Short Video Showing the Split Step
Video courtesy of “Pickleball Minute”
Watch this video on the split step on Youtube.