How to Hit HARD with the "Drop Serve"

[@lesgoins5124]

I've just come across your videos in the last 2-3 days and I have to say that I enjoy your style and your method keep up the good work! Les

[@edjupickleball]

Thank you! Appreciate the kind words 🙏

[@Moo2oob]

What I like about the drop serve is the simplicity of the rule. The only rule is you can't propel the ball. When the drop serve was first adopted not too long ago it was amazing the number of players I came across who called me out for an "illegal serve" as they were under the impression that the same complex rules of the volley serve still applied. I kept telling people to go look it up. Kind of annoying also the number of people who misunderstand the Non Volley Zone rule. The only rule is you can't hit the ball in the air when you are standing there. You don't have to wait for the ball to bounce in the NVZ before you can enter the NVZ. It's the Non VOLLEY Zone. Not the Non STANDING Zone.

[@EsseQuamVideriSe7en]

Non standing zone. Lol. I've heard some confusion about this too.

[@mikeyis009]

Drop serve is outstanding. Been doing it for 2 years. Big power. Very deep serves. Can curve the ball left or right with ease.

[@solutionbox]

i can curve it right with some slice - how do you curve it left if hitting RH forehand?

[@mikeyis009]

@@solutionbox Hit the right bottom of the ball; a little bit behind the ball, and the follow through is up hard and curve away from the ball path to the right after impact. The ball leaves pretty straight and starts to curve left with a counterclockwise/topspin mix. When it bounces, it adds more left movement. The absolute best time to switch spin from one direction to the other is when you’re serving a side spin and a loose ball comes over and you have to re-serve. The receiver will shade to the direction you just served because they saw the spin path and outcome. You yank it the other way on the re-serve and they are well out of position. It happens more indoors where space between courts is a premium and is hilarious.

[@ricksussman1411]

I use a 16mm Voltaire and use this serve. Working on a backhand version I saw. Great spin and hook

[@ricksussman1411]

@@solutionboxbackhand serve

[@solutionbox]

Post a link?

[@ernestrivera5571]

I got tired of people always questioning my underhand serve, not knowing it's the navel. So I adopted the drop serve and I love it. I can hit the ball however like and no one ever questions me anymore. Now I actually get compliments on my serving. My favorite is to slice the ball like "fruit ninja" and a lot of the time players are not expecting how it returns off their paddle.

[@bernhtp]

You're still staying within the paddle-wrist height restrictions of the volley serve here. Have you tried a lower starting position (more squatted) where your arm can go out more - closer to a topspin forehand - and get power/spin from more wrist rotation? Exploding up and forward is also a kinetic momentum source.

[@Mr.DJones]

Thank you for your time and posting. I've been using the drop-serve for about a year now.

[@kristinek2916]

I love the drop serve! Great video, thank you!!

[@markmywords12u]

just got into pickleball, and your videos are very helpful and informative! thanks for making this

[@PatrickDeBoard1946]

I like your comments about your use of focus on your kinetic chain. I struggle with that myself. As a six or seven month beginner, I've been using a closed stance, with four serves: topspin, low screwball, high screwball, and backhand slice. Recently I upgraded to a Joola paddle that Ben Johns uses, and the extreme power of the thing has messed up all my serves. I've had to change my grip and am still not settled on which one to use. And then I decided this week to change to an open stance, for better loading and whipping. It's difficult for me because I'm 77, out of shape, and I'm disabled with heart disease. So my legs are quite sluggish. I'm working on strengthening them, with stationary bike work and a series of exercise my VA PT recommended. I'm hopeful! When my serves were working well with my other paddle, a Selkirk Luxx Control Air, like yours, same color, my serves were frequently not returned. I had good spin, good pace, and great spin on all of them.

[@crownator]

Nice video and I've been experimenting with the drop serve over the past couple months so very helpful. But I must say when I first saw the title "drop serve" I thought you were talking about hitting a soft, angled drop-shot like serve to make the receiver sprint forward and blow out their calf or hammie!😆

[@kepafratz2544]

I am a big user of the drop serve and you gave a great explanation!

[@caldwellkelley3084]

I like the style of teaching Ed. I think it will help a number of players!

[@edjupickleball]

Thank you!

[@rjtv1765]

Yes! I've been using the drop serve for a long time and it makes it easy to get to the base line

[@jeffleonard9983]

I don’t do drop serve currently, but may try it. I bend the knees and go lower for more top spin. I also stay close to the centre line for all serves, that way I’m not telegraphing where the serve will go. Also, I practice short power serve aimed at just across the kitchen line so it goes out the side. I feel the serve is an underrated part of the game and should be used more to score points. Go for an Ace everytime.

[@theKXgreen]

I'm fairly new to pickleball and absolutely love it. The clip you show of Dekel Bar looks to be an illegal serve because of the upward toss and the strike appears to be above his waist. The instructor I learned from explained the ball cannot be tossed upward or slammed downward in a bounce and the paddle has to be downward tilted (below your wrist) and struck from below the waist. I find your videos to be very helpful and instructional, thank you for posting.

[@jimh.4027]

An upward toss is fine with a volley serve. Your instructor was confusing a drop serve rule with a volley serve rule.

[@SnapShot83]

Love the idea of focusing on being fluid to stay relaxed, great video Ed!

[@dnurse1910]

Great video! I love all the different angles and slo mo

[@SuperThunder911]

Definitely going to practice drop serve,thanks buddy 💪💪

[@anwarsadat6825]

Might I suggest you stand at the same place and serve at the two spots. That will make you more deceptive. If you change spots then the opponent knows where you are going to serve. Trouble with drop serve is that most courts are not as even as they should be. After the bounce the ball can move quite a bit. But when the court is good I can generate tremendous power, spin and change of direction. It is a little lower than when I hit it out of the air but it is plenty hard and there is no chance of it being called illegal.

[@charlesmuller120]

Love your kinetic change implementation! I'm going to try this! Ironically, I just started using the drop serve with a very similar style.

[@Plump_Nick]

I love your videos man. Thank you for posting !

[@MetalEsquire]

I've been trying to focus on more core rotation thanks to your vids. Zane mentioned in a vid about the PPA serve that using it, you could hit the ball any way you want- even downward. He proceeded to hit downward in a slice arc to produce hard, nasty slices. I regularly use the drop serve to mix in a slow, lobby tennis slice with tons of spin, but i was like- what if i did a drop serve and just cut straight down on the ball (throw in some wrist action)? The results are nasty. The ball's action is the opposite of topspin- it's path is straight but stays up like a rising fastball and lands very deep. You can't hit it too hard or it will sail out (maybe hit it at 75% but its still comes in fast). Upon contact with the ground, the ball immediately dies. It takes practice but it surprised a lot of players.

[@jazpwr8613]

Hi Ed really like the visual with the spilt screen comparison.

[@chazsteadman5020]

agree to disagree on moving where you serve from. when i see someone move to the center to serve, I expect the ball coming down the middle. I teach to learn the different serves from the same position so the opponent will not know what to expect. good video.

[@psycl0ptic]

disagree to agree. I do this too...always say 2 feet from center and serve to different spots, but thats because i'm not pro at ball placement yet...or you can just mix it up and keep them guessing....move whereever and serve to whereveryouwant :P

[@michaelchu94]

Once they catch on just do the opposite. Always keeps 'em guessing. *Assuming you can hit it anywhere at any given time.

[@mikeyis009]

Very observant. Most players: 1. Don’t notice when I change serving position at the baseline. 2. Don’t notice when I change the height of the drop serve release point.

[@EsseQuamVideriSe7en]

You can also do a deadly backspin serve off the drop, short and to the sideline, that is very hard to get to.

[@alohaleslie9407]

Aloha! Great video, however, DB isn't doing a drop serve. Maybe the pros are doing things different these days, but he's also not hitting low to high below the waist. What are your thoughts? Thanks!

[@nilkamals]

Dekel is hitting the ball at slightly above the net level so his just goes straight and then drops into the court. Your drop serve is being hit from just above the knee level so it has to first go up to clear the net then drop down. I've tried hitting like dekel with a high contact point at the waist level and it's hard.

[@SilverZepp]

I’m only 1 month into pickle ball and I’d say I’m a 4.0. But I know for sure my grip is what’s going to hold me back. I have an eastern grip but I put 1 finger on the paddle face. When I server without it it feels unsteady. How to fix? Besides practice

[@superpurplemoon]

Does that mean you can drop from any height if using the drop serve? The 45° arm angle suggestion only applies to volley serves, correct?

[@IKanFlyDrones]

Thank you for this video. What is the pickleball hopper that your using to hold your balls?

[@LinedanceArt]

I noticed that your “footing” is different from the other guy. That is, you move your left foot before you hit the ball. The “model” guy doesn’t. Although your power increases by stepping 😢forwarded with your left foot to get your entire body moving, it seems to me that stepping forward with your left foot increases the margin of error.

[@edjupickleball]

woah, i actually didn't realize that at all! I'll have to try that out and see how that makes a difference. thanks!

[@SAlder-ds9of]

great tips! thank you!

[@MsJunwai]

Hi < im beginner play How did you get many ball for training ,... My plan is looking some training ball and get bucket of it , i dont wan to hit one ball and run to get it again , waste time

[@odkdsjf]

Pickleball is the people's sports... they need to keep it simple, i.e. less rules or certain rules by type (recreation/pro) and age (non-elderly/senior citizens)

[@davidparker7156]

Doesnt seem like stepping in the court is a great idea, as a deep return will back you up and stop your motion to the kitchen.

[@iKumala]

I noticed Navratil tosses the ball in upward motion. I thought that was illegal. ??

[@jimh.4027]

Tossing the ball is only illegal on the drop serve. Most pros use a volley serve and tossing the ball on a volley serve is legal (except during a PPA tournament).

[@MB-nc7bs]

Imo, Dekel serves are illegal. He serves above his belly, look @3:18

[@lymedog3176]

That drop serve that pro did was absolutely illegal…. He threw it up first!

[@jimh.4027]

No, Dekel only does volley serves. Ok to toss the ball on a volley serve.

[@kimleith1378]

Hoping it remains "optional" Pros can return any serve even if it is struck high.

[@arttomaszewski5497]

I thought you cannot throw the ball up during a serve?

[@RamonRamon609]

Drop serve aces!

[@mikeyis009]

All the time. They come in very low and screaming with topspin. People get lazy and just stick their paddle down without crouching. Easy points.

[@marcus5368]

2:05 shouldn't the serve be illegal as the foot is lifted momentarily off the ground. Almost look like a jumping serve. If not, everybody will start doing a jumping serve.

[@edjupickleball]

USAPA rule on that is: At the moment of contact, one foot must be on the court behind the baseline.

[@pkmiami]

That pro is clearly tossing the ball up in the air.

[@kento1957]

Yes, that must have been footage before the new rule.

[@rdelnaja2558]

@@kento1957 There is no new rule. Please stop mixing up PPA test with the actual 2024 USA Pickleball rule.

[@psycl0ptic]

DEKEL BAR

[@kento1957]

@@rdelnaja2558 It's a new PPA rule. I understand the difference perfectly.

[@rdelnaja2558]

@@kento1957 they are testing the rule, its not a new rule.

[@osint6372]

The differentiation of pickleball rules between "PRO" and everyone else is at the very least IDIOTIC. One sport same rules. IMAGINE if they said OHHHH you play in non PREMIER LEAGUE soccer divisions therefore the rules are different.....They are going to start throwing rocks at you.....for being a buffoon...... The whole pickleball thing in terms of rules and ratings among other things is a cluster...... Good video BTW.

[@mattgross1143]

I’ve never seen the serve being an issue at the pro level. I do t get it.

[@wadejensen6829]

de-weaponizing the serve is just rediculous. This is on par with removing the kick return in football (nfl).

[@trumpisastump9382]

No it isn't. There is almost nothing analogous between the two situations.

[@airwalkmike]

The serve need to be weaponised even more

[@vincek7227]

A $600 an hour golf instructor taught me that all your power comes from your feet and using the ground force. By using your feet and the ground properly, your legs, hips, arms and wrists will naturally follow in the correct order. It’s natural you don’t have to think about the proper sequence, or maybe I’ve been golfing for too long and no longer have to think about it. The same principles can be applied to the pickleball serve. It’s very similar. This golf instructor is very famous, George Gankas is his name if you want to look him up.

[@gg80108]

Good golfers are gumbie people, but for the rest of us,.......... That's why the senior tour looks different than young guys.

[@trumpisastump9382]

Cannot take anyone serious if they paid a golf instructor $600/hour.

[@vincek7227]

whatever you need to make yourself feel better@@trumpisastump9382

[@afterthesmash]

@@trumpisastump9382 How about anyone who pays a golf instructor $600/hour then wins a $50,000 prize in the next tour event? But on the flip side, Donald would probably pay his golf instructor that much if she had big enough hooters.

[@tommykaira8775]

Its illegal

[@patrickcody8344]

Perfectly legal. Rules for a drop serve are less restrictive than a typical volley serve. Hitting the ball below the naval, entire paddle below the wrist, and upward low to high swing only apply to volley serves and NOT to drop serves.

[@coachfezz1137]

good thing your wife has a good paying job

[@britta215]

Please get to the point more quickly by showing an example first - thanks

[@psycl0ptic]

of course Dekel's serves, as show, are fault serves now...at least at the pro level :P thanks for more great content!

[@trextrextrex]

Thanks

[@ricoman7981]

I went to the drop serve simply because where I was playing at the time we had a guy that saw himself as the rules policeman and he was constantly calling people out for an illegal serve even when he wasn’t playing. It pissed me off so I switched to the drop and have never gone back. Now people complain that the drop serve rules need to change because we can hit so much top or side spin on serves. I’m surprised so many people never practice their serves, content to just plop the ball into play and going from there.

[@juancmunozr]

Hola ! I really enjoy your videos and content, thank you. As a newbie to pickleball I use the drop serve and so far works OK, I guess I need more spin, power and off course consistency. This video is for sure a one to save.

[@bobgowing7099]

Good job. The big fella was throwing the ball in the air though ?

[@trextrextrex]

I know. Im new to Pickleball and thought that was illegal

[@jimh.4027]

Perfectly legal for a volley serve.

[@markboast2867]

Given the rule of stepping into the kitchen counted as part of the shot will it only be a matter of time before the same will apply to the serve? Stepping over the line as part of the serve counting as a foul?

[@choski76]

dude, you are buff. are you lifting? Go ED!

[@wonkals]

5:21 def in

[@psycl0ptic]

depends on who is calling it, ;)

[@rseckler52]

Just dumbing down the game.

[@Lonecow12]

Do more video from behind so we can see follow thru

[@evannatteford1784]

Great video, would have been great if you had current footage of Decels serve since the serve you were showing was the old rules where he was tossing his serve in the air, obviously the body mechanics are still relevant but would have been nice to see the new serve since he is one of the only players who seem to be able to maintain the deadly aspect of his serve with the new pro rules.

[@jimh.4027]

The rules haven't changed for volley serves. You can still toss the ball. The "no toss" rule is only for PPA tournaments.

[@T4Talitha]

Love the drop serve

[@surfertango]

Coming to pickle ball from tennis due to old age injuries. Last week. So I'm playing left-handed (tennis was right-handed). I'm more comfortable with the drop. Only one other person uses it here and I've watched dozens of different players. Talking fluidity, I teach tango and we say keep your body quiet. Helps me now with everything. Quiet body. Thanks for your advice. 🙏

[@cmacrob123]

Do you usually stand that far away from center line? I am always right on the center line, which I though, allows for quicker time/distance to opponents side. It looks like you have your basket where I would usually stand.Thoughts?

[@fernandoherranz4095]

Having a killer serve is great, esp at the pro level where you gotta win games to stay in it. But at the rec level, I have mixed feelings about it. Hitting aces at rec level, while great to win games or catch up quickly if you're behind, also deflates the game by removing rallies. I play the game for the rallies, the back and forth, the "struggle". If I were so good that I could hit aces for all my points and win the game this way, the game would actually become quite boring and pointless. Would I use my killer serve in rec play? Probably, but I'm not sure I would use it all the time. I wanna have fun with my friends first and foremost. Thanks for the video!

[@adamdonovan5633]

Your power would seem to be coming only from your upper body/arms; so while your loose wrist gives you a lot of snap, it looks as if the hips (core) lag behind the serve so none of the pace you want is coming from your legs. Dekel Bar's serve is powerful but his body language is really awkward. He is trying to throw his body toward the net.

[@jimh.4027]

Dekel's foot is off the ground well before contacting the ball, whereas Ed's foot is off the ground about the time contact is made (or slightly later). Not sure how Dekel does that. Obviously it works for him.

[@gg80108]

Only the pros were confused, was always the palm down drop and bowling style up motion. Was the tennis pros decided to ignore the rules. Drop serve is what they deserve😊 of course newbies might be confused.

[@jackstein5486]

Simply amazing. I am going to give it a try. Your depth, and speed were amazing. Accuracy was there too.

[@patricksnyder3446]

I've dropped serve from the beginning you can do so many things with a drop serve I haven't been able to do with a regular serve!

[@TheCrimson7272]

People at my courts would call Dekels serves illegal all day. Drop serving seems to be the only way to shut up these karens who suck at returning.

[@Pklball11]

I love the drop serve and always score some points on my serve in rec play and tournaments. You can get aggressive and really put a lot into it.

[@smkunder1]

Just found you and subbed, awesome video for helping us improve!

[@carolzanoff5628]

Excellent breakdown, Ed. Thanks!!

[@groven2788]

Thanks for the vid, been struggling with my serves lately so definitely giving this a go

[@yogaleena]

The drop serve gets tricky on windy days.

[@johnrobinson2113]

Dekel is tossing the ball up, not drop it .

[@Nyhiak]

Stop the cheat and go to the drop serve.

[@tricia3114]

Like a fighter, work ur core.

[@Iamcris_04]

👍👍

[@martintu]

That’s the funny part about pickleball, the rule keeps changing to prevent players get advantage of serving. But people keep inventing new ways to take advantage of serve. One day, they will ask you not to move your both feet to serve

[@afterthesmash]

No, they change the rules because people find a way to gain advantage right on the edge of what's legal that the judges can't reasonably and consistently mediate.

[@FloridaMan_Adventures]

That Deckle serve you showed is illegal. His jump elevates the starting point of his belly button and he is making contact above the actual start of his belly button.

[@jimh.4027]

That's not how the rule works.

[@CreightonOls]

The drop serve is supposed to be dropped. Your pro was tossing it. That was never allowed. This is turning into all the other sports where they allow the pros to dictate whatever they want.

[@jimh.4027]

The pro was doing a volley serve, not a drop serve. Ed was showing how Dekel transfers his weight into the ball when serving.

[@patrickcody8344]

Bravo, you're hitting bullets! What grip are you using? Are you getting top spin?

[@SeanGaffney]

Ed uses a Hesacore grip. (Me too.)

[@dawnaflora7605]

Excellent video Learned a ton Thank you for helping my game😢

[@edjupickleball]

My pleasure!

[@earlewilliams4262]

Good content. I started with the drop serve and went away from it. I was comfortable with it but felt kind of like an odd duck on the court. It hearkens back to my racketball serve. Also, you look like you have put on some muscle up through the shoulders and arms or is it my lying eyes?

[@jeffreinardy7570]

Good video! Do you feel like you could serve like that without dropping? Question, Is that a Luxx you are using? If so how do you like it? I have the Invicta Air, but still being new-ish, my biggest struggles are with dinking with it. Lots of power but leads to dinks that run a bit too high. Just wondering your thoughts on it for power and control. Do you use any tape? Thanks again

[@edjupickleball]

Yes! Although in doing so, you will find yourself flirting with the line of an illegal serve and if you are with a group that maybe offended by it, then I wouldn’t do it.

[@jeffreinardy7570]

@@edjupickleball Thanks! How about the paddle, is it a Luxx? If so what are your thoughts on it?

[@edjupickleball]

@@jeffreinardy7570 yup it’s a luxx! It’s a great paddle for control. Excellent balance between touch and control. I would hold off for Selkirk’s new paddle though. It’s coming out soon and IMO it’s better than the Luxx and cheaper.

[@TridentMissileTech]

There are some indoor gyms that due to substitute floors, the ball doesn’t bounce consistently. Therefore, I don’t think having only the drop serve option as feasible.

[@rxb364]

But his serves .. not both feet on the ground! Another rule that changes

[@jimh.4027]

The rules do not require both feet to be on the ground.

[@rxb364]

@@jimh.4027 I also thought what difference does it make IDK I thought I saw this somewhere ...lol.

[@paulczerner3286]

still a toy "sport", don't even know their own rules.

[@kento1957]

If you release the ball as high as possible, the bounce will be higher which will enable you to get a higher contact point on the hit which will enable a sharper angle which will enable you to hit the ball harder and keep it in.

[@psycl0ptic]

but the ball bounce and your hit location will be less consistent. also ball does not need to be up high. I crouch when I serve and hit at a very low contact point brushing up putting lots of spin on the ball....results in low deep serves with 99% going over the net.

[@kento1957]

@@psycl0ptic Consistency in the hits will have nothing to do with hitting the ball higher off of a higher contact point as long as you release the ball from the same highest point each time. The fact that you get power crouching low doesn't take away from my point that you'll get more power with a higher contact point. That's the geometry and physics of the game. Which of course is why there is a hip level restriction for contact on volley serves.

[@kevinwilson642]

Hi Ed …great content. I noticed in you Jaume Vich video you had some speed metrics for your serve and for Jaume’s … any chance of calculating some speed metric comparisons of your drop serve vs your Jaume serve?

[@edjupickleball]

Sure I’ll add them in the next ones!

[@rdelnaja2558]

In a controlled environment yes. Now, try it out doors in colder climates with wind like in the Pacific Northwest.

[@psycl0ptic]

yup

[@mikeyis009]

All the time with ease.

[@rdelnaja2558]

@@mikeyis009 Please come to Whatcom county right now. We will be at Whatcom Community College. Winds are 14mph and gusting 24mph coming from the North east.

[@rdelnaja2558]

@@mikeyis009 winds are cranking 14mph gusting around 24MPH right now, I highly doubt it would be with ease.

[@jacksmiles47]

@@rdelnaja2558practice more. I serve 90% drop serve in all weather conditions for competitive play. Only really serve from the hand to slow down the ball when coaching

[@bincent]

Drop serve ftw!

[@psycl0ptic]

if you want, but not as rule...as a rule that sucks.

[@ryanrego5516]

Pickleballs rules is stupid. Take away all the skill and advantages a player may have. That or “ wahhhh. That paddle is too powerful.” Why dont you just get more athletic…

[@peteherrera1502]

The new rule says drop the ball from around the waist serve is what should be legal

[@Reck1025]

That's only for pros and didn't apply to the drop serve

[@mikeyis009]

Only applies if you hit a volley serve. Does not apply to drop serve. “4.A.8.c. The restrictions on the Volley Serve in Rule 4.A.7 do not apply to the drop serve.”

[@rdelnaja2558]

Can you image all the laughs Pickleball will get at the Pro Level Televised events? It's like telling Pro volleyball players they are only allow to use the under arm serve.

[@gg80108]

Pros are in it for the money too. Better than a Mc Job or making money teaching tennis to beginners. 😢

[@echochapman7657]

The first day I have to do a drop serve is the last day I play pickleball...... then I'm not an eighty-year-old lady. With respect to the Pros, that's a rule that will put the nail in the coffin of PB as a spectator sport.

[@psycl0ptic]

ummm...so much more to PB than just the serve.

[@gg80108]

It's never been a spectator sport. Fasting growing has to do with players. It's a con job.

[@psycl0ptic]

@@gg80108 lots of player spectators....so yes fast growing both...

[@echochapman7657]

@@psycl0pticof course there is. But if you made rules that a golfer could only putt one handed, to make the putt less of a weapon, it would diminish the whole sport

[@tricia3114]

Bye