As your skills develop in pickleball, it’s tempting to experiment with more powerful and trickier return shots to catch your opponent off guard. Having a powerful and complex serve return that you can land consistently deep makes your opponent’s third shot more difficult. This is a good thing, but the key is to focus on serve return consistency first. You can then slowly move to more powerful and complex serve returns.
If you find yourself missing return shots in a game, you should reset on your strategy. 3.5+ level players always get there serve returns in as they know it is too easy a shot to give up a point on. It’s better to focus on controlled, deep returns that push your opponent to the baseline.
Power Serve Return
A powerful serve return puts immediate pressure on your opponent. They have less time to setup for a third shot drop. If they do play the drop shot it is much more difficult for them to play, especially with a powerful return shot that is jumping forward with top spin. If you can hit the power return almost all of the time with success, use it. If you miss any of them, especially in a tight game situation, rethink your strategy. Power returns might seem like a way to take control, but they are harder to control and can easily go out of bounds or hit the net. A less powerful, deep return gives you more time to approach the kitchen line without risking an error.
Sharp Angle Return
Hitting a return shot to a spot at the side of the court instead of up the middle can make your opponents third shot more challenging. This is especially true if it forces a backhand response. Sharp angles that pull your opponent wide require near-perfect execution to stay in bounds. This often results in a missed return. Prioritizing depth in the center of the court is always a safer play. If you find yourself thinking about doing this in a game and then missing the attempt, you may want to reconsider this strategy. Remember, missing a serve return is never a good thing.
Drop or Short Return Shots
A short return might seem like a good way to exploit a slower opponent, forcing them to rush forward, but it often backfires. Inviting your opponent to the net can give them the upper hand, especially if they’re quick and experienced. Your opponent will always drive a short serve return back at you to keep you away from the net. A short return may be low and harder to drive but a good opponent will get to it quickly and push it back at you. If you haven’t gained the kitchen line before they hit it back at you, they now have control. As they advance to hit the shot you’ve pulled them in closer to the kitchen. If you find yourself consciously considering a short return of serve that drops over the net like a third shot drop, reconsider this strategy. You might occasionally get a point off a tricky drop return but you’re likely to miss more of them. It’s always better to aim for a deep return that keeps your opponent at the baseline and gives you more time to advance to the kitchen line.
Lob Return
A lob return may feel like a safe way to play a tough serve, but it gives your opponent too much time to prepare for an aggressive third shot. Good players can take advantage of the extra time and position themselves for a better third shot. Hitting a lob shot consistently deep is a tough shot and risks going out of bounds. If you hit the lob short you have now invited your opponent up to the net, which is what they want. If you have to hit a lob return because it is your only play off a tough serve this is fine. If you are consciously attempting the lob return, reconsider this strategy. Instead, aim for a lower, more controlled return that has more pace and lands deep in the court.
Spin Return
Using spin on your return shot is a good idea. You want to complicate your opponent’s third shot and adding some spin will do this. The key is to use some spin but don’t overdo it and risk a bad return shot. While using excessive spin can make your serve return more challenging for your opponent, it’s difficult to control. Adding some spin is a good tactic to complicate the third shot but overemphasizing spin increases the risk of errors, with the ball flying out of bounds or falling short. If you find yourself thinking about adding more spin beyond just a normal return spin shot you have developed, reconsider. It is better to focus on serve return consistency and control before trying to use too much spin in your returns.
By recognizing the risks of these shots, you’ll avoid using them too much. Stay focused on serve return consistency. Controlled, well-placed returns help maintain the upper hand without giving away easy points.