In Pickleball, maintaining good serve positioning is a critical aspect of starting a point.
Maintain Good Positioning on the Serve
Below is an illustration of a player out of position after the serve.
It may seem like a minor thing, but some beginner players have a habit of moving onto the court after the serve, before the return shot is even hit.
In the illustration below, the server’s partner(Player B) moves onto the court after the serve and the return of serve is hit hard and deep right at them.
This is a mistake.
In this scenario, Player A serves and Player B moves onto the court before the serve is returned.
The return of serve is fast and deep and lands at the feet of Player B. Because they are forward and, on the court, they struggle to make a successful 3rd shot.
This is just a simple mental error. You may have been thinking about the previous point or just anxious about the game you are in. You don’t focus on your position and the next thing you know a powerful serve return is landing at your feet.
Even moving a short distance onto the court is risky.
After the serve, maintain your distance behind the line. A strong player will try to hit the serve return deep and forcefully, particularly if they notice you advancing.
Being on the court makes it challenging to respond to a shot aimed at your feet. Remember, you need to let the ball bounce on the serve return.
Be prepared to move forward quickly if the serve return is short. Advancing is easier than retreating.
Summary
Maintain good court positioning during the pickleball serve. Don’t move onto the court after the serve. Hold your position in case the return of serve is deep and move forward quickly to play a short return of serve.