When Vic Vosen lines up to serve from the right court in singles , he stands just 2 feet to the right of the white center tick . While this reduces the crosscourt angle he can achieve on his serve , it allows him to cover the court better on the return . The receiver will want to make Vic run to his backhand . The farther Vic stands to the right , the farther he will have to extend to reach a return to his backhand . In doubles , that return would be his partner ’ s responsibility . In singles , efficiency in court coverage is the key . Photo by Alice Tym .
and go for too big of a return . Now you are the player in control .
A short serve is also beneficial , especially in the seniors game . Those big-forehand players are just waiting to crush it , and the ball just doesn ’ t come up to them when the serve is short . The danger is that a short serve brings your opponent to the net . But a change of pace will make him wary on future serves , and it will keep him honest in his stance when he is receiving .
It is especially handy against left-handed players . They are ready to hit a big forehand and instead get a short nothing-ball to their backhand , which is doubly insulting because now they are pulled wide off the court .
Serving takes practice . Placement and the variation of pace are important when you practice . Be sure to address your serve with the same look , so your opponent cannot read the angle or pace or height .
STRATEGY WHEN SERVING FROM THE LEFT COURT
The left side offers all kinds of opportunities . You can serve short and wide to the opponent ’ s backhand and pull him way off the court . If you add some slice to the ball , it will stay low and force him to hit up to you . You can serve high and deep to the backhand , forcing your opponent off the court . This fits the greater strategy of running your opponent .
Think long term . Make your opponent run the diagonal — deep to the backhand , drop shot to the forehand . Even if your opponent has an excellent backhand , he still must cover more court . That is especially true of players with twohanded backhands . They don ’ t have the reach of one-handed players . It is an interesting feature of pickleball that since the court is small , the disadvantages of the two-handed backhand are minimized and the advantages are maximized .
How can you be more precise with your service placement ? Make sure your feet , hips , shoulders , and toss are in one line . Use the same preparation for every serve . Don ’ t telegraph where you are hitting . Keep your serving fluid as you visualize the path from your paddle to the spot you want to target . The serve is a path , not a hit .
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MARCH / APRIL 2025 | MAGAZINE 25