4 . Weight transfer – Appropriately engage your lower body and core when you feel comfortable with the rest of your technique to effectively generate flow and power for your serve .
Some things to consider based on your skill level
1 . Beginner ( 1.0 – 2.5 ) – I am working on building a consistency in my technique so that my foundation in serving is as comfortable as I think it can be .
2 . Intermediate ( 3.0 – 3.5 ) – I ’ m pretty comfortable with my technique , but I really want to start challenging myself to improve on certain aspects of my serve .
3 . Advanced ( 4.0 +) – My technique is solid more than 80 % of the time and I ’ m ready to start adding some real variations to my serve when I play my games , not just in practice .
How do I create a routine that ultimately leads to muscle memory ?
1 . Be purposeful . This helps to get you settled both mentally and physically ( this could include bouncing the ball on the ground or off of your paddle two to three times , setting your feet in a certain position , etc .). This can lead into developing your muscle memory and you should even include calling the full score ( e . g ., 0-0-2 ) during your routine to strengthen this habit for game play ( recreation , tournament , etc .).
2 . Visualize it . It ’ s OK to start with just getting the ball over the net and in play . But the more specific and realistic you can make your visualization , the more likely you are able to accomplish and meet that goal . It can be wanting to hit a deep serve , or targeting your opponent ’ s backhand , depth , even something as simple as improving your consistency of serve . 3 . Slow down . How many times have you just finished an amazing point , rush back to serve — and miss ?! Happens to the best of us . Getting settled into your first two steps above , and slowing down by adding a breath , can help any player to calm the nerves and get ready for that all-important next shot . So don ’ t forget to take that breath at the right moment , and especially before you begin your pre-serve routine .
Practice with games / drills
With many things in life , we don ’ t want to just learn ; we want to have some fun while learning . So here are three games / drills that you can practice either on your own or with a fellow pickleball enthusiast .
1 . Four cones – Set four cones ( flat discs are great and safe for use ) in a specific area in the box that you are practicing your serve within . By creating a smaller square box as your target , you are helping to make a visually appealing area to serve specifically within . But be generous as you are starting to first learn ( maybe a 2 ' x 2 ' area ) so that you are setting an attainable goal . As you get more confident and comfortable with your serve , think about moving the box to specific areas ( for example , your opponent ’ s backhand ) or even maybe making it a bit smaller to challenge yourself .
2 . “ 3-D ” ( Deep Serve , Deep Return , 3rd Shot Drop ) – This is a great game / drill for other parts of the game as well ( return and drop ). But for just the serve , you can set up some training strips ( or a chalked line ) 3 ' from the baseline . Try to serve so that your ball lands between the training strips ( or chalked line ) and baseline . This really allows you the opportunity to see how you can vary depth , height and even pace on your serves . It also gets you familiar with how you can develop a variety of serves for your own game .
3 . Five-ball scenario – I ultimately like to challenge my students to get at least four out of the five balls in on each service side . It helps to build the mindset of , “ If you can get in at least 80 percent of your serves on any given day , you are doing your part for your team to start a point in order to score a point .” If you get even more comfortable with your serve , try this out … I like to challenge my students to , on the fifth ball , close their eyes as they begin their swing to serve and see how their foundation in technique has developed . If you can serve a ball in with your eyes closed , imagine how confident you will be when your eyes are open .
So , just how important is it to have an effective serve ?!
It is probably one of the most important things to consider as you continue to develop your own game , as the game itself continues to evolve . Remember , ultimately , options and variations are what ’ s important , since each player is and will continue to be unique in their own style of play . Consider working on a solid foundation in your technique for your serve , which will allow you to continue to build your own confidence no matter what your skill level . •
Sonny Tannan is a Team JOOLA sponsored player , PPR Clinician & Certified Teaching Professional , and USA Pickleball Ambassador .
JULY / AUGUST 2022 | MAGAZINE 69