Steal This Serving Trick From The Pros

WEEK 24

Welcome back to the Road to Pro!

This week I’m going to help you dial in your serves! Here’s what we have today:

• The grip you should be using on your serve

• How to fix your backswing

• How to fix your follow-through

• The hack that pros do that you’ve never noticed

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Q&A Spotlight

Answer: To answer Nathaniel’s question, I’ve explained some of the biggest serving mistakes most players make and how to fix them based on what the pros do.

(Check out the video below if you prefer learning how to perfect your serves in video form!)

Wrong paddle grip

Almost every pickleball player uses the wrong grip on their serve. Most players maintain the same grip during the whole game, including on serves. However, it's perfectly fine to use one grip for your serve and switch to a more comfortable grip for the rest of the game since you have plenty of time to adjust while waiting for the return.

The continental grip is the most common, but it’s not the best for serving because it favors the backhand. Since the majority of players hit with a forehand serve, you should choose a grip that accentuates your forehand. I’ve analyzed how the pros serve, and I’ve noticed that some of them switch grips. For example, from what I can tell, Ben Johns uses a continental grip when he plays, but on his serves, he appears to use an eastern forehand grip (index knuckle on bevel three), or a semi-western forehand grip (index knuckle on bevel four).

Bad backswing

For more effective serves, you need to fix your backswing. There are three things to keep in mind: your backswing path, the distance of your backswing, and the speed of it.

1. Backswing path

Like most players, I used to serve by swinging my arm straight backward then forward to make contact with the ball. However, the pros don’t do this. Instead, they lead their backswing with their elbow by bringing it out and around slightly behind their body. Their hips slowly twist in the same direction so that when they swing forward, they engage their hips and generate a lot of power.

2. Backswing distance

A powerful serve does not come from a big backswing. If you watch the pros, they don’t bring their paddles far back behind their body. Their paddles move only slightly behind their body before swinging forward, and their serves still pack a punch. If your backswing is too far behind your body you won’t be able to get your hips fully involved, which is where most of the power comes from.

3. Backswing Speed

Another tip for a great backswing: slow it down. The pros take their time by moving their paddle slowly backward, positioning properly, then exploding forward. Think of your backswing like a rubber band: pull slowly, feel the resistance, then snap forward. This deliberate movement leads to better weight transfer, more controlled power, and consistent contact with the ball on your paddle.

Put all three of these things together, and your serves will instantly start to improve.

Not pausing after calling the score

Don’t call the score immediately before serving. If you call the score incorrectly and notice it, but have already started your serving motion, you’ll be more focused on the fact that you called the score wrong rather than hitting a great serve. Instead, call the score first, then pause for a moment before serving. This small adjustment will improve your concentration on your serve which will then enhance your consistency.

Not using your wrist

On most shots in pickleball, it’s important to keep a locked wrist when making contact with the ball. However, your serve is one of the few times when you should use your wrist. Many players either don’t do this at all, or they use their wrist incorrectly by snapping it like a windshield wiper, rather than a front-to-back lever. Instead, use what’s called wrist lag: keep your wrist and arm straight on the backswing, then let your wrist lag behind as your arm moves forward. When you make contact with the ball, snap your wrist forward to generate more power and spin.

Forgetting about your follow-through

Most players don't pay attention to their follow-through. I often see players follow through sideways across their body, which isn't the correct motion. Instead, do what the pros do: follow through in a clean motion from low to high, finishing with your paddle near your head over your opposite shoulder.

Wrong contact point

It might sound surprising, but the best pickleball serves don't hit the center of the paddle. Hitting the throat or center of your paddle reduces your ability to add speed and spin to your serve. Instead, make contact near the top corner of the paddle using wrist lag and snapping at contact (as we discussed above). This will cause the ball to roll off the tip of the paddle, generating a great amount of speed and spin.

Inconsistent drop

One of the easiest ways to improve your serve consistency is by releasing the ball from your hand the same way every time. Many players toss the ball or drop it from too low of a height, and both methods lead to unnecessary inconsistencies. Instead, what you should do is hold the ball out in front of you with a straight arm and a downward-facing wrist. Keeping this exact same positioning every time ensures consistent contact with the ball on your paddle.

Not being intentional with foot placement

Always be aware of where you are standing when you serve. This means you’ll be more prepared for the return of serve. Some pros stand close to the line, fall into the court on their follow-through, and then take a couple steps back in case their opponent sends a deep return. Others stand further back from the line to add more power to their serve. Personally, I prefer the second method because it eliminates the need to step back after serving, giving you more time to prepare for your third shot. Either way, be aware of where you are so you’re not caught off guard with the return.

Standing straight and still

The power in your serve doesn't come from just your arm; it comes from your whole body. Make sure to load your weight on your back foot and transfer it to your front foot as you swing forward and make contact with the ball. This weight transfer maximizes the power you can add to your serve.

In addition, you need to bend your knees, even just a little. Getting lower allows you to push off your back foot and explode into your serve. If your legs are straight, you won’t be able to create this movement or generate any power. So you’ll need to learn how to load your weight properly and transfer it through your shot if you want a powerful serve.

Ignoring your opponent’s position

Pros have a trick for serving that not many people notice: they pay attention to the position of the opponent who’s returning. Just before starting their serving motion, they look up and see where the opponent is for a spilt second. This affects where they serve the ball. A huge mistake players make is not looking at their opponent's location or planning where to serve to. Your serve will become much more effective if you register where your opponent is before serving and decide on a target area. Just remember to focus back on the ball throughout the full motion of your serve.

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Videos You’ll Enjoy

• Staying on trend with this week’s serving theme, here’s another video I made a few months ago about how to weaponize your serve.

• If you haven’t seen it yet, go check out Cracked Pickleball’s latest video!

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