How to serve in pickleball - basic to advanced technique!

[@steigj]

This is the clearest explanation of body mechanics in a serve that I've seen. You're a phenomenal teacher. Thanks.

[@rickeladoesfilm]

I've been trying to get different ones to help me with my serve, but never felt I was doing it right. I realized that it was never broken down such as this. Thank you for your coaching and clear instructions on a proper serve!! This was easy to understand and will be put into practice!

[@uinisetuaonelangi1041]

This is the most detailed, clearest explanation yet. Great job

[@PickleballKitchen]

Thank you very much! I hope you'll enjoy the other videos as well.

[@angelcmercado2022]

Just discovered pickleball as a new sport and a way to keep on exercising, I’m 62. Your videos are so thorough and well explained (congratulations, there), I did much better than I expected, yesterday. Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge of the game!

[@delacruzjeffrey]

The best video on serving I've seen and I've seen a lot. Definitely subscribing.

[@quarter_moon_and_a_guitar]

Played lots of racket sports in my life, and pickleball for the first time today. It was natural for me to step into the serve with my left foot. Checking vids this evening, only this guy does that as well (everyone else show no step, or follow thru w/ the opposite foot). Glad to know I don't have to change anything.

[@GT4JB]

This guy really gets the game and the mechanics necessary to improve, ThX

[@maromeowelligton]

MAR... a good teacher keeps his students engaged , focused and looking forward to the next lesson Nice work.. I am a beginner at pickleball, your videos are a big help...Thanks

[@PickleballKitchen]

Thank you and welcome to pickleball!

[@benice2272]

really appreciate you advise! your "intermediate" level serving technique transformed my boring, stale beginner serve. seems so simple yet so effective! you're an efficient instructor lending basic, simple to follow advise that can transform ones game!

[@kjanszen4178]

Thank you for the basics. I'll come back to this video after hitting the ball a few times. I'm 60 and looking forward to a sport that will get me back to being active. Thank you.

[@PickleballKitchen]

That's awesome. Enjoy yourself out there!

[@michaelanowell551]

This video has helped me so much on my serve, your explanation is so well done. Thank you!

[@QuilterNancy]

Thanks so much. I’m pretty new to pickleball, just started playing this year, but am in love with the sport. My serve has gotten better just from playing, but I really appreciate the tips to improve! Will try this out this weekend.

[@PickleballKitchen]

Welcome to pickleball! Let me know how it works out for you.

[@normjeske8944]

Wow, the best explanation ever. And to think this video was posted three years ago. Can’t wait to get out there and just serve.

[@PickleballKitchen]

Yeah that's an oldie but goodie! Thanks for watching!

[@cathierichardson9216]

Top notch class here!! Clearly shows dynamics of the serve from beginner to advanced. Thanks!

[@PickleballKitchen]

My pleasure, thanks for watching.

[@Fernwald84]

I come from a tennis background where the modern forehand uses the wrist lag. This technique is widely misunderstood there; many players think you have to do some manipulation with the wrist. In fact, all that is required is keeping a relaxed grip and set of forehand muscles. The rapid forward swing will cause the forearm and racket to lag behind the torso and upper arm, tightening (stretching) the forearm muscles. At a certain point the tension created by the lag between the forearm and the torso and upper arm will cause the former to rapidly propel and catch up to the latter. It is important not to try and control this as the entire process takes a fraction of a second--far to fast to accurately control. I believe the same exact mechanics apply to the pickleball stroke.

[@jjaustintx]

Thanks!

[@PickleballKitchen]

Thank you for the tip!

[@michelem9981]

Great instruction. The pro at my club is such a poor teacher... he had me frustrated and awkward trying to master an intermediate forehand serve, and I'm a beginner. Should've just instructed me on the skillet serve, which I used when I tried playing a few years ago. The point really is to get the ball in play!! Thank goodness for video instruction, esp for those of us in smaller towns who have a lack of qualified instructors.

[@lagunapocket]

Great info. I can’t get past the shock of seeing all those empty Pickleball courts behind you I haven’t seen one around here in years.

[@gopstench1883]

I'm still new to this game, and your technique of getting the left hand out of the way is the best advice yet for serving.

[@PickleballKitchen]

Yes, it's essential! Thanks for stopping by.

[@lindacolgan7704]

I agree that this is the clearest explanation of serving issues! Thank you!

[@mathcoachjax2560]

Excellent information on serving. Your video showed me several things I was doing wrong. I'm off the the courts to put your techniques in motion. Thank you!

[@tbird4evr]

Great lesson Barrett! I know you were a very good golfer before starting Pickleball but I have never heard why you stopped playing golf. I’m interested in hearing what we now say is “the back story!” Thank you! ~Tim~🙂

[@PickleballKitchen]

Perhaps I’ll put out a video about my backstory. I just like Pickleball better. It’d also more cost-effective, that’s for sure!

[@geoff4705]

Great video! Clear and methodical without being patronizing.

[@valturner2886]

Very helpful, thank you! I am very new to pickleball, and I tend to serve too short, sometimes the ball gets in the kitchen! 😆

[@PickleballKitchen]

Welcome to pickleball and I'm glad you found it helpful!

[@qd1602]

You’re an amazing teacher. Thanks a lot.

[@Yielar1]

You've helped me get over a case of the serving yips! Was your tip regarding the grip. I was gripping the paddle slightly turned so my face was contacting open and consequently many balls were going out of bounds. I'd try and compensate but it just made me incredibly inconsistent. Everyone should pay attention to their grip first off. The 2nd helpful tip was the advanced tip of the wrist lagging behind and then following through on ball contact but without the wristy motion. Definitely puts a ton of extra power into the serve.

[@747jpdrummer]

Outstanding. Been playing for 4 months now. Going from tennis background, the my ground strokes are okay. On the other hand, I still am trying to find my serve. I went from a drop serve to non-drop (if that is what you call it) and was not happy with my consistency. I was getting advice from a club player and he had me bend too low. This was not good for my knee. Your video rectified a lot of my uncertainties with the serve. Mahalo and Aloha from Hawaii!

[@billcarrington5289]

Hey Barret Really great video. I’m a beginner and had been spraying my serves all over. And I mean all over left, right, long, short, everywhere, basically the shotgun approach. Not sure if I was just at a place where there was some natural progression but I think your video really seemed to help. For some reason your “skillet” advice really resonated. Today virtually all of my serves were in and I was gradually able to vary the speed, angle and power as the day went on. Appreciate the help

[@connie5768]

Very good tips for a beginner like me. Thanks!

[@PickleballKitchen]

Glad they're helpful!

[@kinchan3988]

Great teaching explained very clearly thank you

[@wilsonandlucy]

Great video. I come from the world of racquetball and for whatever reason I have the "yips" when it comes to serving. Looking forward to seeing your drop serve video with the new rules. I can already see people slamming balls down trying to get a higher bounce.

[@lauratimbruno1906]

Can either leg cross the baseline after you hit the serve, also can you back leg cross the baseline while still in the air before you hit the serve

[@kayshue682]

You're a great teacher! Thank you!

[@PickleballKitchen]

Thank you!

[@philminion4705]

another good video. how about something on how to return a slice serve.

[@PickleballKitchen]

That's a bit too specific to make a video out of, but what I would say it to make sure you're hitting up on the ball more. Hit it higher than you usually would.

[@kabnis2022]

You mentioned there was an even better way to do ground strokes towards the end of this video. Do you have a link to a video going over ground strokes with top spin?

[@PickleballKitchen]

Great timing! I have a video coming out about groundstrokes soon. Make sure you subscribe so that you'll be notified! Thanks for stopping by.

[@iraf.3567]

Great video! Unmentioned, but visible, is how far forward - arms length from video - that you drop the ball.

[@ginjaninja3627]

Excellent video. Can you do a follow-up video where you talk about how to add various forms of spin?

[@eh4236]

I played for the first time in 6 mos this morning. I come from an advanced tennis background. I was able to pickup the advanced serving technique and apply it immediately. This morning I held my serve and won the final game as a result because my opponents were unable to return/read my serve. I hit it hard in tennis and do so in Pickleball. I could not believe how deep and consistent my serve was. The only issue I see at this point is to get better at keeping score. :)

[@747jpdrummer]

Love your comment about scoring. We need an app!! Started playing 4 months ago and also from tennis background.

[@alkallhoff9005]

Good stuff about the weight transfer.

[@PickleballKitchen]

Thanks and yeah it's super important.

[@LatiNoble]

I’m happy you emphasized the importance of getting it in at the end. Beginner to intermediate; it really is more about getting the ball into play. I’m an intermediate player; about 8 months and unrated. This is basically my serving evolution during my first game of the day. I tend to get the yips right off the bat so I have to do the granny-bowling serve until I get a few in.

[@PickleballKitchen]

Nothing wrong with the granny serve!

[@andreaketchel7804]

How do you do the top spin serve with a drop serve? Love your videos. Thank you!

[@PickleballKitchen]

Topspin serves on a drop serve is very hard to do. You basically have to crouch down to pull it off

[@josephdosso7024]

Crystal clear explanation. Thank you!

[@PickleballKitchen]

My pleasure, thanks for watching!

[@dumb0ut224]

Awesome video! Thanks. Question though. Where are you trying to make contact with the paddle? It seems you are hitting towards the top of the paddle?

[@wildflower1542]

Very well said & done , Thank you for sharing ..

[@08sejo]

Yes! Live the slow mo playback too

[@patmalone4262]

So helpful! Thanks!

[@PickleballKitchen]

My pleasure, thanks for watching.

[@marcus5368]

Great video. The lag is very important for a more explosive shot

[@harryhutchins6754]

Barrett. Just went back and viewed this video again. I think you did an excellent job on taking it from beginner to advanced serve. Everyone , in my opinion , should work to have a consistent advanced serve with several variations of spin, depth and placement. the only question I have is in your final follow through. Would you see anything wrong in the follow through ending up pointing to your target instead of going over your left shoulder ? Thanks ahead of time for answering my question. Continued success to what you do for so many of us.

[@PickleballKitchen]

If you want to point to your target on your followthrough that’s OK, but you have to be aware of how it affects your swing. If it’s affecting your swing negatively then that’s something to focus on. The main reason why people have exaggerated followthrough’s is to help him have a smoother swing.

[@doc-bj4bj]

I had a case of the serving yips recently in a tournament. This was obviously very frustrating. I am a tennis player who has converted to pickleball in the last few years. I sometimes mix a bowling like serve w a tennis forehand like serve. This obviously doesn’t work. I am not coming below the ball enough w the tennis like serve. It sometimes seems like the pros are doing more of a tennis stroke on the serve. Your skillet flip was very helpful. Coming from tennis the lag and snap reminds me of advice I got to lead w the butt of the racket on the backswing. Thank you for this and your other videos.

[@kenfrank8775]

Loved your video Thank you. I just subscribed!!!!!!!!!1

[@tomkatunleashed8708]

Very very informative! Thank you very much!

[@PickleballKitchen]

My pleasure!

[@patrickmorrissey2271]

Great job. I feel the same way... Half my serves don't go in... That feels like a big big problem.... All this talk about "get to the line"... I need to get my serve IN first.... Thanks very much... What are drills you do?? Or do you just serve?? Over & over? How many hours is a practice for you???

[@lindajohnson1984]

Perfect! Love the breakdown in slowmo...

[@PickleballKitchen]

Glad you liked it!

[@jimclark4952]

Barrett, you had/have a series of lessons one could sign up for, for a fee. Are these atill available?

[@THEFITNESS411]

Nice lesson 👍Thanks

[@marshaschoenbach4507]

Great help! Thanks so much!

[@PickleballKitchen]

My pleasure.

[@jacobrocks7]

Great advice thanks

[@LenonFPB]

Hi Barrett! Thanks again for another great video. I was wondering why the edge of your paddle was blue? Do you have some sort of tape to help the paddle last longer? Cheers.

[@PickleballKitchen]

It's electrical tape that I use to protect the edge guard. You don't have to use it if you don't want. Thanks for stopping by again!

[@mikepetrandis8525]

How do you keep a loose grip and arm and at same time have a firm wrist and stable paddle face?

[@carlwalker6769]

Excellent video..good teaching

[@forthedoggiesguitars2277]

I serve better just practicing by myself. As soon as I serve to a real human, I fall apart. Grant it, yesterday was my first 2 on 2 match. I’m pretty self conscious and need some mental instruction because I can get my serve over almost every time. Enjoy your day!

[@joycestevens376]

Great lesson. Thank you.

[@PickleballKitchen]

My pleasure and thanks for your other comments.

[@RHEMA2]

Can you drop the ball when serving and then hit it?

[@Jack-yx2zh]

Whenever I hit my serve with any power I usually hit it long out of bounds. Any suggestions to what I could be doing wrong.

[@edyue1]

Awesome thanks for sharing your knowledge and techniques 😎

[@PickleballKitchen]

My pleasure, thanks.

[@gordonmoog6981]

what padle are you using?

[@SB-in3qx]

Off topic, but are you wearing compression socks in your videos? What purpose do they serve if so?

[@patmalone4262]

Thank you!

[@cindyguardalabene9896]

Only thing missing for me is what you are doing with the pickleball itself - are you slightly tossing it in the air and at what point.? I hold the ball and just pull my left hand away just before making contact with the paddle. Does it make a difference? Thank you!

[@PickleballKitchen]

Do whatever is comfortable for you. I typically don’t like to give advice on the toss because changing it can cause the yips.

[@theaddictedgamersquad6800]

I’ve recently really been figuring out my serve and I’ve had the problem with the ball going to the left and I tried swinging the paddle and I realized I am flicking at the end

[@DanYoungMusic]

Are you allowed to throw the ball up on the serve as long as you still follow upward arc / below waist contact rules?

[@ruthhalpern2098]

No

[@JC-xf5jc]

Were did you get those socks?

[@ubaidrazi97]

Hi, i have a different question.. is it true in singles and doubles games paddle choice makes a difference?

[@PickleballKitchen]

Not really, but some people like it. Certainly not required.

[@scottwins2]

What is a good success rate of a competition serve?

[@rays9033]

During your serves, it looks as if you are slightly tossing the ball up, is that legal? I thought you had to drop the ball for a underhand serve? 🤔

[@marydenise10]

I see you are using a longated paddle. I am a beginner and I bought a regular size Paddle. All the players in the tournaments have longated paddles. So What is correct?

[@PickleballKitchen]

No, you don't have to use an elongated paddle. A standard sized paddle is just fine. There is no correct answer here, just personal preference.

[@Dawson2011H]

I think it is the same as hitting tennis with eastern grip

[@Bic1105]

Awesome!!! 👍👍👍

[@PickleballKitchen]

Thanks!

[@theresasmith1000]

Thx! Awesome!!!

[@GiaoluuPickleball]

Với những người mới chơi như mình thì video thật là hữu ích

[@lizlemon9632]

Like the laid back wrist.

[@jacobwebber140]

What paddle is he using in this video

[@PickleballKitchen]

Prince Response Pro

[@unan100M]

Can you come to Indonesia to train us?

[@its-kitty]

3:41 for movement

[@dearphilly]

This hasn't helped me!! My serves are sending the ball too long and out of the area! How are you doing powerful shots that still remain in?

[@jahouser6273]

Good information, I forgive the black knee socks.

[@evanhayes5891]

Onions make the best bowling balls. Got'cha.

[@sandradavis847]

Thanks/

[@chromefree]

I notice that your grip changes when using the advanced serve…

[@PickleballKitchen]

That's correct. It's definitely more of a topspin grip.

[@anoka114]

Not so simple anymore!

[@Mazakanubis]

I was taught you can't hit it above the waist? LIke I can't even follow through above my waist. This seems outdated and innaccurate from the pros I've watched, and yourself.

[@PickleballKitchen]

The rule is about the moment of impact, not what happens afterward.

[@sandradavis847]

Thanks, my serve is mush better.

[@PickleballKitchen]

Awesome!

[@michaelpoindexter8886]

Nice videos but Okay? Right? constantly repeated make me stop watching.

[@BigLob2]

OK Poindexter...relax. This was a great video. Who the hell cares if there are a few extra “okays”, or “rights” in there? It makes no difference. If you’re following along to the excellent advice, you don’t even notice that sort of thing.

[@IntegrityDistribution]

Didn’t notice. He teaches for a living… good teacher.

[@michaelpoindexter8886]

@@BigLob2 - Okay BigBlob2 - Well obviously, I care. Okay? If you are a teacher you should learn how to speak properly. Okay? I followed along with difficultly because of the constant okays. Maybe you are his market of people who don't listen very well. Okay? Or maybe you have, like, the same irritating speech patterns? And, like, you uptalk? And say, like, stuff and things? Okay?

[@BigLob2]

Poindexter, you seriously need to get a life. Do you live in the basement of your mom’s house?

[@dabanh18]

Thanks!