8 Ways to Improve Your Pickleball Serve: Tips for Beginners

When you're just starting out in pickleball, the serve can feel a little tricky. It’s not just about getting the ball over the net—there’s technique, strategy, and a bit of finesse involved. A solid serve sets the tone for your game, so it's important to master this skill early on.

In this post, we’ll cover some simple, practical tips to help you improve your pickleball serve as a beginner. Whether you're playing for fun or aiming to compete, a reliable serve will give you more confidence and make your games more enjoyable.

1. Understand the Basics of the Pickleball Serve

Before diving into tips for improvement, let's quickly review the basic rules of a pickleball serve:

• The serve must be underhand and hit with an upward motion (no overhand serves).
• The ball must land in the diagonal service box on the opposite side of the net.
• The serve must clear the non-volley zone (also known as the "kitchen") line by at least one foot.
• When serving, your feet must remain behind the baseline, and the ball must be hit below your waist.
• You only get one chance to serve. There’s no second serve, so accuracy is key!

Once you understand these basic rules, you can start focusing on your technique.

2. Start with a Solid Grip

The way you hold your paddle can significantly affect the quality of your serve. For beginners, the most common and effective grip is the continental grip, which is similar to the way you'd hold a hammer. This grip allows you to comfortably hit both forehand and backhand serves, giving you flexibility as you develop your serving technique.

To use the continental grip:

• Place your hand around the handle of the paddle as if you were shaking someone's hand.
• Keep your thumb along the back edge of the paddle and your fingers wrapped around the front. This grip helps you control the ball and make clean contact, reducing the chance of errors.

3. Use a Consistent Toss

A consistent toss is essential for a reliable serve. While you don't need a high, dramatic toss like in tennis, having a controlled throw can give you the consistency and precision you need.

Here are some tips for your toss:

• Height: Keep the toss low—about 6 to 8 inches above your paddle. If you toss too high or too low, it can make it harder to make accurate contact.
• Position: Toss the ball straight ahead, just a little in front of you. Aim for a straight, controlled toss that allows you to comfortably step forward as you serve.
• Focus on the ball: Don’t take your eyes off the ball. Make sure you follow through with your serve after you release the toss.

4. Perfect Your Swing Motion

Your swing should be smooth, controlled, and fluid. The goal is to make contact with the ball in a way that sends it over the net with the right amount of speed and spin.

Here are some key tips for your swing:

• Pendulum Motion: Imagine your arm as a pendulum. Begin with the paddle hand near your hip and swing upward in one smooth motion. Your follow-through should feel natural and relaxed.
• Use Your Whole Body: While your arm will do the work of the swing, don’t forget to engage your entire body. A slight shift of your weight forward, from your back foot to your front foot, will help generate more power.
• Watch Your Paddle Angle: The angle of your paddle when it meets the ball is crucial. For a basic serve, keep your paddle face square (flat) against the ball to ensure it goes straight over the net. For added spin (like a topspin or slice), you can slightly adjust the angle of the paddle, but for beginners, it's best to keep it simple.

5. Practice the Third Shot Drop Serve

One strategy that’s become popular in pickleball is the "third shot drop serve." This is a soft, controlled serve that lands gently in the opponent’s kitchen (non-volley zone). It can throw off opponents who expect a faster, harder serve.

To practice the drop serve:

• Begin by gently tossing the ball with your non-paddle hand.
• Let the ball fall and gently hit it with your paddle as it drops, using a soft, controlled motion.
• Aim for a spot in the opponent's kitchen, ensuring the ball drops in the box without bouncing too high.

The drop serve is easier to control and can help you become more comfortable with your overall serving motion.

6. Focus on Accuracy, Not Power

As a beginner, it’s tempting to try and serve as hard as possible to gain an advantage, but accuracy should always come before power. A powerful serve that goes out of bounds or into the net won’t help you win points. Instead, focus on placing the ball in different spots of your opponent’s service box.

Try varying your serve placement with these tips:

• Serve deep: Aim for the back corners of the service box to force your opponent to move.
• Serve short: A short serve just over the non-volley line can make it harder for your opponent to attack.
• Use angles: Serve toward your opponent’s forehand or backhand side to keep them guessing.

By mixing up your serve placement, you keep your opponent on their toes and increase your chances of winning the point.

7. Take Your Time and Be Patient

As with any skill, improving your serve takes time. Don’t be discouraged if it takes a while to get the hang of it. It’s important to stay patient and practice regularly. Over time, you’ll develop muscle memory, and your serves will become more consistent and reliable.

8. Watch and Learn from Others

One of the best ways to improve your serve is by watching more experienced players. Notice how they toss the ball, how they position their feet, and how they follow through after the serve. Pickleball videos on YouTube or in-person lessons can provide valuable insights that you can incorporate into your own game.

Final Thoughts

A good serve in pickleball is a key to starting a point off on the right foot. You should also consider picking up high quality paddles such as Tempest Prime CFS 16 to further improve your control, consistency and placement which would help you develop a reliable serve. By following these tips, practicing regularly, and being patient with your progress, you’ll be well on your way to serving like a pro in no time. 

Keep practicing, stay confident, and most importantly—have fun out there on the court!