Types of Pickleball Serves

Serving is one of the most important skills in pickleball. A well-placed serve can set the tone for the rally, put pressure on your opponent, and create opportunities to dominate the point. In this guide, we’ll walk through five essential serves, from power to spin, including how to execute them, who they’re best for, and drills to perfect your technique.

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1. Power Serve

The power serve is all about speed and force. It’s designed to challenge your opponent’s reaction time and put them on the defensive right from the start.

Execution Tips:

• Knee Bend & Body Rotation: Keep your knees slightly bent to engage your core. Rotate your hips as you swing to maximize power.
  
• Full Swing: Avoid flicking the ball from your elbow. Transfer your body weight from the paddle side to the opposite side during the swing.
  
• Low Trajectory: Aim for a fast, flat serve just inches over the net. You can slightly reduce speed and clear the net higher for more safety while still landing deep in the service box.
  
• Soft Grip: Hold your paddle lightly. A tight grip limits the energy transfer from your legs through your core and into the paddle.
  

Who Should Use It:
Best suited for players who already have consistent ball placement. The goal is to combine precision with speed. The fast pace can overwhelm opponents who aren’t ready to react quickly.

Drills:

• Practice serving to both the even and odd sides.
  
• Mix placement with power: target corners or the middle to keep opponents guessing.
  
• Use it against opponents with weaker backhands for maximum effect.
  

2. Lob Serve (High Soft Serve)

The lob serve is slower, with a high, arcing trajectory that lands deep in your opponent’s court. It may seem simple, but it can be deceptively effective.

Execution Tips:

• Contact Point: Strike the underside of the ball, not the back.
  
• Follow-Through: Swing upward toward the sky, rather than aiming at your opponent.
  
• Body Rotation: Even though it’s slower, still rotate your body to generate smooth power.
  

Why It Works:
The slow speed and high bounce often cause opponents to overthink and mis-hit their return. Because it appears easy, they may try to return it too aggressively, increasing the chance of errors.

Who Should Use It:
Ideal for beginners who already have a solid deep serve. It’s a great way to mix up your serving style and challenge opponents differently.

Drills:

• Focus on consistently landing the ball deep.
  
• Vary height slightly to add unpredictability.
  
• Combine with power serves for contrast.
  

3. Short Angled Serve

The short angled serve is a precision placement shot that lands just past the non-volley zone near the sideline. It’s excellent for pulling your opponent off the court and creating open space.

Execution Tips:

• Aim for just past the kitchen corner.
  
• Serve from the same location as your other serves to avoid telegraphing.
  
• Observe your opponent’s position, the more unexpected the serve, the more effective it is.
  

Why It Works:
A well-placed short angled serve stretches your opponent laterally, often leaving gaps between them and their partner. A weak return creates opportunities for aggressive follow-up shots.

Who Should Use It:
Best for players rated 3.0 and above, as it requires precise placement.

Drills:

• Practice adding slight sidespin on the odd court to push the ball further away from your opponent.
  
• Drill extensively to ensure the ball clears the NVZ while landing accurately.
  

4. Sidespin Serve

The sidespin serve introduces spin to the ball, making it curve unpredictably after the bounce. This can force weak returns and disrupt your opponent’s rhythm.

Execution Tips:

• Swing from outside to inside, “cutting” the back of the ball to impart spin.
  
• Use a low-to-high motion, hitting the ball higher and slower rather than hard.
  
• Focus on spin rather than power.
  

Why It Works:
The unexpected bounce can throw off timing and positioning, creating weak returns that you can exploit.

Who Should Use It:
Recommended for players 3.0 and above who have mastered deep power serves and lob serves. Players who naturally hit with spin may find this easier to incorporate.

Drills:

• Repetition is key — practice consistently to develop accuracy.
  
• Include your standard pre-serve routine to improve consistency.
  

5. Topspin Serve

The topspin serve involves striking the ball so it spins forward end over end. The ball accelerates off the bounce and can be difficult to time for your opponent.

Execution Tips:

• Use an open or semi-open stance.
  
• Start with the paddle nearly perpendicular to the ground.
  
• Strike the ball with a slightly open face, moving from low to high and finishing toward your opposite shoulder.
  
• Keep your wrist relaxed and allow speed to build naturally through the motion.
  

Why It Works:
Topspin makes the ball kick forward unpredictably after hitting the ground, often forcing weak returns and catching opponents out of position.

Who Should Use It:
Advanced players who can control spin at varying speeds. Mastery of this serve requires practice but can be a powerful weapon.

Drills:

• Begin closer to the net to perfect the motion, then gradually move back to the baseline.
  
• Use deep targets to improve accuracy.
  
• Combine with other serves to develop a diverse serving strategy.
  

Conclusion

Mastering these five serves will make your game more versatile and challenging for opponents. Start with power and lob serves as your foundation, then gradually add short angled, sidespin, and topspin serves as you gain confidence and control. Regular practice, precise placement, and strategic variation will elevate your pickleball game and keep your opponents guessing.