I was playing pickleball with this banger yesterday and his serve intrigued me. He would try to hit this serve that would land near the kitchen line with enough spin to take me off the court to return it. When he got the serve right, it was difficult to return. His third shot would then be down the line for a winner.
The problem that he had was that he would only get this serve right once every 3 to 4 serves. The other times, it would not spin enough, he would hit out or it was just a short shot that I was then able to come into the kitchen for a potential kill shot.
This reminded of what the ideal serve should be.
Primary Goals of the Serve:
- Get the serve in: Consistency is paramount. A serve that faults gives the point to the opponent. A badly located serve or even a lob serve is better than a serve that lands out or in the net.
- Deep placement: The second objective of a serve is try and place it deep. A deep serve forces the receiver to play further back, giving you and your partner more time to advance to the net.
- Weak return: If you can get the first two objective right then set up for poor return by your opponent. The ideal serve aims to elicit a return that is high, short, or directed to a less advantageous spot for the receiving team.
Strategic Serve Locations:
- Deep to the Backhand: This is often the go-to serve for many players. Most players are less comfortable with their backhand, and a deep backhand return can be weaker and higher, allowing you to attack the third shot.
- Deep Down the Middle: Serving deep and towards the center line can create confusion between the receiving partners about who should take the shot. A miscommunication can lead to a weak return or an error.
- Deep to the Forehand (with variation): While many players have stronger forehands, varying your deep serve to their forehand can keep them guessing and prevent them from getting too comfortable.
- Short Serve (Kitchen Line): Used sparingly as a surprise tactic. A short serve that lands just over the net and inside the service box forces the receiver to rush forward and can result in a pop-up if not handled well. However, it can be easily attacked if the receiver is anticipating it.
- Body Serve: Aiming the serve directly at the receiver can be uncomfortable to handle, especially if it has some pace. It can jam them up and lead to a weaker return.
- Wide Serves (to the corners of the service box): These can force the receiver to move laterally, potentially putting them off balance for their return.
Key Factors to Consider When Choosing Serve Location:
- Opponent’s Weaknesses: Identify which shot (forehand or backhand) your opponent struggles with more and target that side.
- Opponent’s Position: If your opponents are positioned in a specific way on the return, exploit the open space.
- Doubles Strategy: In doubles, consider where your partner is positioned at the net and try to serve in a way that allows you both to move effectively for the third shot.
- Your Strengths: Serve in a way that you can consistently execute and follow up on.
- Vary Your Serves: Don’t become predictable. Mix up your speed, spin (if you can generate it legally), and placement to keep your opponents guessing.
Standing Position for the Serve:
While the rules dictate you must be behind the baseline, you can vary your lateral position:
- Near the Center Line: Provides more options to serve to either side.
- Closer to the Sideline: Can create better angles for wide serves.
In summary, when you are serving, the first thing to remember is to get the ball in! After that everything is gravy. You should continue to adapt your serve to keep you opponents guessing on where your serve will land and how you hit. If they know where and how your serve will be then they will be able to return it to their advantage. Focus on consistency, depth, and varying your placement to keep the receiving team off balance and give yourself the advantage.