beginning the point on defense. By that I mean the
other team is on offense as they already have one
player up to the non-volley zone and the player who
returns the serve will be running up to join him/her
and establish the offensive position. The team that can
control the net wins the vast majority of the points.
So, what can you do as the server to help your team’s
chances? The fundamental answer is a deep serve, one
that lands within two or three feet from the baseline.
This can be a high-arching serve, or one that is flatter
and faster, but the key is hitting it deep into the
opponent’s court.
If the serve is short, the opponent is already moving
in to return the serve, and with only a few more steps
will be up to the non-volley zone with his/her partner.
A deep serve, however, forces your opponent to step
back, behind the baseline, to hit the return, making
a longer distance to travel to get up to the non-volley
zone. If the player hits a short return and fails to get
up to the non-volley zone with his/her partner, it
opens up more court space for the serving team to take
advantage.
THE RETURN OF SERVE
As mentioned previously, the serving team is starting
on defense while the returning team has the offensive
position at the net. The goal of the team returning
serve should be to keep the serving team on defense.
The best way to do that is by making sure you and
your partner are side by side at the non-volley zone
BEFORE the serving team hits the third shot. The
key fundamental shot, like the serve, is to hit a deep
return. Not just a deep return but one that gives
you plenty of time to join your partner at the nonvolley
zone.
For players without blinding speed (the vast majority
of us), the best return of serve is a nice high-arching
shot that lands within two or three feet from the
baseline. Remember, THE SERVING TEAM HAS TO
LET THE BALL BOUNCE! Give yourself as much time
as you need to get to the non-volley zone. The higher
the arch, the more time you have to get to the line.
The flatter or harder you hit the return of serve, the
quicker it reaches your opponent and the less time you
have to get to the line.
If your return is short, the serving team has the
opportunity to drive it and you have lost your offensive
advantage. By hitting a deep return of serve, you keep
the serving team back and on the defense, forcing
them to work harder to get to the non-volley zone. We
all know about hitting the third shot drop. Well, it’s
much harder for the serving team to hit an effective
drop shot from the baseline than from mid-court.
Keeping your opponent deep is a fundamental goal of
the team receiving the serve.
PRACTICING THE FUNDAMENTALS
As previously stated, the only way to master the
fundamentals is to practice them over and over. The
beauty of the fundamental serve and return of serve is
they can be practiced together very easily with just two
people. Take some painter’s tape and lay it down two
to three feet inside the baseline on both sides of the
court. We’ll call this area the “end zone.”
One person will be the server, the other the
returner. Make a little game out of it. Regardless of
where the serve lands, the returner always hits a
return shot. For every serve the server gets inside the
end zone, it counts as a point for the server, and for
every return of serve inside the end zone is a point
for the returner. See who can get to 10 first, and then
reverse roles.
You’ll quickly see how much more difficult it is
for the returner to win the game if the server is
consistently hitting deep serves. Start out by just
hitting high-arching serves, but as you get better you
can start varying the speed and trajectory of your serve
and go for the corners of the service area. Remember,
though, the first fundamental rule is to get your serve
in. There aren’t many service aces in pickleball, so
your primary focus should be on getting the serve in
and deep.
When you hit the return of serve, simulate a game
situation and run up to the non-volley zone. Notice
where you are standing when the ball bounces on the
other side of the court. If you can get to the non-volley
zone before the ball bounces deep into the opponent’s
court, you know you have hit an effective return
of serve.
This drill transitions effectively into a third shot
drill, but that’s a fundamental shot for another time.
For now, focus on hitting a deep serve and a deep
return of serve—two fundamental shots that can help
your team win the point. •
Jim Hackenberg and his wife, Yvonne, have won a combined
40 gold medals in Men’s, Women’s, and Mixed Doubles, and
Men’s Singles in the USAPA Nationals, and 19 gold medals in
the US Open Pickleball Championships.
JUNE/JULY 2020 | MAGAZINE 47