7 Reasons Your Serve Has No Power (& How to Serve Harder)

In this video, I’m breaking down the 7 reasons why your serve might be lacking power and, more importantly, how to fix it. Don’t miss out-your serve is about to get a serious upgrade!
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Timestamps:
00:00

[@thatpickleballguy]

Take ThatPickleball IQ Test to see how well you really know the game. VERY FEW get 10/10. I dare you to try thatpickleballtest.typeform.com/to/YuHaz4N6

[@SanityReigns-pz8qh]

And no results without providing email so you can receive more spam.

[@dianashare7158]

Where is the link for the school_

[@Zooweebob903]

Another thing that really helps is to keep your head down and see the ball hit the paddle’s sweet spot. Like golf or baseball, the best strikers never pull their eyes up until AFTER they make contact. You can’t hit clean what you can’t see!

[@thatpickleballguy]

I like it!

[@alonzocudd3393]

Love this video. I been trying this serve and one note I'd make is that the follow through carries you forward so I take a step back from the line so i'm ready for any deep returns. Nice work Kyle!

[@thatpickleballguy]

Yes, really good idea!!

[@shalpher844]

Good breakdown again. One thing that I do when I’m “trying too hard,” or feeling tense due to the score, etc., is pull my head up out of the serve and not watch the ball hit the paddle. That will cause a wide or long serve or a serve into the net. Also, when you’re tight (or #7 fear), deep breath and slow down the whole process. You can pick up the pace as you get into that calm, flow state.

[@steveiannazzo5451]

And practice!!!! I knew I'd never get a respectable serve if I only served in the context of games. So...for the past four months I've hit 300 practice serves per day, seven days a week. You have summed up everything I taught myself in a 10 minute video. (I think that staying loose is the best recommendation of the seven) The only thing I'd add is establishing a consistent pre-serve routine. In addition to grooving in my weight transfer and torso rotation over that time, I repeat a little mantra in my head immediately before every serve. "Head down, paddle lag, drive forward." Doing those three things sets me up for success. In four months I've turned my serve into a weapon...at least at my rating level. I'm not trying for aces but I do get my fair share of easy points from failed returns of service. Worst case, I'm at least putting pressure on my opponent's service return.

[@thatpickleballguy]

this is awesome! Thanks for sharing

[@Coach_A22]

With the exception of the toss, all serve movements are extremely similar to gaining power when throwing a ball, especially underhanded as in softball pitching. If your students can't throw a ball, they won't be able to get power from a serve. Leg bend, forward upward momentum, follow through, arm too close to the body, standing straight up (no power), etc. All of these mechanics are very much like throwing a ball. Great content, thx!

[@jimpagano9445]

I try to drop the ball in a straight line off my front foot. Since my stance is similar to yours, it accomplishes the same effect you described. For me, it reinforces the consistency of both my stance and drop. Fewer variables = Better results.

[@ChristianHetrick]

@thatpickleballguy mistake#3 is totally correct, but one could argue that having a stiff arm/wrist as a complete beginner with no racquet sports background is actually better to get the feel of the ball. Too loose with the arm, and especially the wrist, increases the margin for error. But I say to steadily increase the looseness of your arm and wrist as you get more comfortable with making contact. Obviously, reps are the key. I just see complete beginners trying to serve and they are all over the place. Making the adjustment of a stiffer wrist (while keeping the grip loose) helps gain consistency. Then have them gradually open it up with the loosness. Each person is different. I'm not taking a person transitioning from high level tennis and teaching them to serve with a stiff arm. I'm teaching them this exact method you are using. Love the videos man! I still refer to your rules video to all beginners trying to learn the game!

[@thatpickleballguy]

This is a good articulation. I was struggling with this as I was thinking through it. I think you nailed it though. Really appreciate this response. This made me better!

[@alanamassey6412]

Always keep Tyler in your videos!! You guys are great together and make your lessons so entertaining!

[@tanner.pickleball]

Amazing video. Great advice to hit that serve with power!!

[@thatpickleballguy]

Thanks dude! I gotta take my own advice! Gotta hit the serve harder in tourneys!

[@tanner.pickleball]

@@thatpickleballguy hehehe as do I

[@ValentiPickleBallClub]

Always good key. And you don’t need any friends to work on your serve. That’s why my serve is so good ;)

[@thatpickleballguy]

amen

[@65atBestPB]

Good video … I did come from tennis so let me add and eliminate some stiff 😁 TLDR: - only think square paddle face swinging low to high, forget that closed face - low to high path isn’t as steep as one guesses early on learning topspin - if your instructor says roll paddle over top of ball, don’t pay them … if friend tells you this get a new friend - Kyle’s sports analogy was both good and lacking (Kyle, see how polite I was there 😉), the relaxed, rotating weight transfer was the good … not pointing out rotation pauses/stops to pass the momentum to the arm to finish the relay to contact on it’s own. It’s a sports body mechanics thing … watch a quarterback or pitcher throw a ball … uncoiling reaches a range of motion point, and then arm finishes on it’s own … it’s a power move. In tennis you will see the shoulder uncoiling start up again, but that’s just the arm and racquet in follow through long after the ball is hit pulling shoulders around some more - don’t start your swing (uncoiling) UNTIL your weight is on hip/leg you will swing from. Jaume Vich just coils and uncoils over right leg (basically stands up on right leg with no weight transfer to left leg, Ben Johns weight transfers to left leg and only then/after uncoils. - I think Ben John rotates through contact on serve, would probably gain some mph with pause and arm release, obviously doesn’t matter as much in wiffle

[@Leonardokite]

Good stuff. Each individual tip is minor in an of itself, but with all combined the synergy not only improves the serve, but actual game play.

[@thatpickleballguy]

absolutely!

[@terogan]

Arm straight out is closer to 90° actually 😬. 45° would be closer to waist high. But I now know what I’ll be working on in tomorrow’s play session.

[@65atBestPB]

How paddle lag can add to topspin: First … definition/terminology from tennis. If you have watched Federer hit a forehand, you have seen the butt cap pointed forward with wrist back (extension) and racquet trailing the hand. Racquet head is often also down … so down and back. This is called racquet lag … a component that came along with the modern forehands with shorter backswings to accommodate the pace of the game. There is a late release of wrist extension back to neutral and arm roll from shoulder … internal shoulder rotation (think windshield wiper finish) which brings the racquet forward and up to contact. Same thing with paddle back and down (paddle lag) on serves and forehands in pickleball. Topspin … let’s say with square/vertical paddle face … is determined by how much low to high paddle head swing path at contact (also obviously paddle surface friction and possibly pocketing and dwell time). Well, if you start from dropped paddle head, you just increased the steepness of the paddle head swing path to contact, therefore increased topspin. btw … it appears to me forehand speedups with paddle head dropped is basically the ISR arm roll … with or without the wrist extension component.

[@ianmacdonald5278]

Paddle angle at back swing/start of forward swing, path and motion of non- dominant arm after releasing the ball, head/eye position, remember to back up if you have entered the court on the serve cause your new found power is quickly coming back at you...a few things that come to mind.😊

[@digitalreporter]

0:00 Intro 0:15 To Tall To Narrow 0:56 No Weight Transfer 2:36 Stiff Arm 5:17 Neutral Wrist 6:55 Jam Toss 8:43 No Explosive Breatj 9:07 Fear

[@everbard3071]

“None of that made the video” might be my favorite ThatPickleballGuy moment so far.

[@thatpickleballguy]

Let's go!!

[@Positively46]

Your left handed serve was perfect 😅…thanks, great tips.

[@bridgethughes3244]

Hey can I get a quote ? What is the best pickleball tip that you can give to an advanced player ? It’s for a book?

[@Ylf33]

Hi Kyle can you please create a video how to convert a tennis court to a pickleball court with temporary lines? I am new to pickleball and we have a tennis court but no pickleball court. Thank you!

[@IMGMasterclass]

Good job man! Love every video

[@thatpickleballguy]

Thanks for watching!

My serve is a combination of Happy Gilmore and a Softball Swing (to combine rotational force with forward momentum). If I can ever develop some consistency, I might be dangerous. LOL.

[@ZA-et9xw]

Great video as always! Do you have a recommendation for which grip to use when serving? I’m torn between continental vs eastern. Thanks.

[@thatpickleballguy]

Try both! See which one: 1. Feels more comfortable 2. allows you to hit where you want and deep more consistently

[@SnapShot83]

great video Kyle!

[@thatpickleballguy]

Thanks!!

[@tanyasites4890]

OMG I took the test, and got a 3 out of 10. I'm a new player but I didn't think I'd do *that* bad!🤣

[@thatpickleballguy]

Its okay!! :) youll improve fast

[@sfkimrush]

I fear hitting it into the net. When the score is close at the end of the match I often lighten up my approach.

[@thatpickleballguy]

Me too! We both gotta work on that :)

[@mo5328]

nice vid

[@ArizonaMMJ]

Why are they closing that place down?

[@thatpickleballguy]

Not 100% sure

[@shargogo8876]

i like this video

[@thatpickleballguy]

Thanks!

[@JudRegis]

damn i miss picklemall

[@thatpickleballguy]

me too!

[@sHsIkuA]

Sorry but I don't want #6 to be a norm. Its very annoying

[@thatpickleballguy]

I can understand that :)

[@ictkeith3730]

Reason #8 I’m 5’10” and not 6’4” 🤣🤣

[@brianlane9534]

Tyson's serve is illegal.

[@MegaHowtoMan]

Mistake number 1. Hitting a fault. Your goal should be 100 percent no faults and no net. Once you are 99 percent in play. Add more spin. Then add power.

[@everbard3071]

I think your goal should be to make 90-95% of your serves while trying to use your serve as a weapon. The return team has such a massive advantage in pickleball that it’s okay to miss a couple serves if it means on the rest you’re causing more return errors/short returns. You’ll see pros miss deep on their serves quite a bit, especially in singles. If you allow a deep return your disadvantage as the serving team gets even bigger.

[@malcomnotinthemiddle343]

1st?

[@thatpickleballguy]

Nice!!

[@shipwreck8847]

Lol, Enhance Pickleball put out a video the other day with How to SERVE BOMBS and now you guys do the same. I feel like all the pickleball youtubers are just copying each others content.

[@thatpickleballguy]

Lot of us do this full time. Naturally there will be some overlap from time to time.