The serve in pickleball is a starting shot, not a weapon. Because the receiving team gets to hit the return and then move to the net, the goal of your serve is simple: land it deep, near the baseline, so the return is harder to hit aggressively.
Beginners should start with the drop serve. Drop the ball, let it bounce, and hit it with a low-to-high swing. Once that is consistent, the volley serve (hit out of the air) adds a little pace and topspin.
Key cues
- 1Relaxed grip, paddle below the wrist at contact
- 2Aim for a target three feet inside the baseline
- 3Finish the swing toward your target, not across your body
- 4Same rhythm every time: bounce, step, swing
Common mistakes
- Trying to hit aces and serving into the net
- Serving short, which invites an aggressive return
- Rushing the serve before calling the score