Serve 3x HARDER With LESS Effort (It’s NOT What You Think)

[@BrionesPickleball]

Get our Total Pickleball Mastery Course HERE: www.brionespickleball.com/total-pickleball-mastery-course

[@sfkimrush]

I go through the motion you described when serving. Even so it was good to see and hear an explanation of the method. I take pride on my serve. The primary issue I deal with is inconsistency and needing to correct the mechanics. Also, because the ball is low when it goes over the net my serve hits the tape at the top of the net at times or I hit it out.

[@BrionesPickleball]

Awesome! My suggestion is to aim 2-3 feet above the net, and work on your topspin motion!

[@stigaguy1]

I actually naturally serve this way. Nice to see an explanation of why it’s effective.

[@BrionesPickleball]

Awesome !

[@Mr.Martini549]

I actually played against a fairly experienced player who was convinced my serve was illegal b/c my right foot's momentum carried over the service line after I had struck the ball on my serves. I told her it wasn't. We had to agree to disagree!

[@BrionesPickleball]

She’s definitely wrong lol

[@iamthekwan]

Open the rulebook, that solves it. Rule 4.A.4 - The moment the ball is served. The subsequent sub-rules a/b/c only apply at point of contact. After the ball is hit, the serve is over and you can step into the court, including momentum. Momentum only applies for kitchen volley faults.

[@ianmacdonald5278]

A fantastic video! The only thing I didn't see covered is the angle of your paddle as it starts the downward motion of the backswing? And im not sure if it's something in your swing but at 2:14 it looks like the paddle went from slightly closed to slightly open to slightly closed again before brushing up on the ball?

[@watersdavis7499]

To get maximum power, it is helpful to get separation by sequencing the hip turn to start before the arm swings through.

[@BrionesPickleball]

Yes!!!

[@RonChin-v7s]

How does your serve meet the rule 4.A.7.b:"The highest point of the paddle head must not be above the highest part of the wrist when the paddle strikes the ball."?

[@BrionesPickleball]

It meets it perfectly.

[@dragostego]

The actual answer is everyone (pros included) cheat that rule when serving. Its why they keep trying new serve rules. Briones serve is 100& percent illegal as written, but no one can actually enforce paddle angle at contact without a high speed camera.

[@BrionesPickleball]

@@dragostegoif you literally pause the frame at CONTACT, my wrist is ABOVE the paddle. Legal. 99% of players have NO idea what the rule means.

[@BrionesPickleball]

@@dragostegoby the way, “EVERY” pro’s serve is illegal? That’s a bold statement, because MOST pros that play have legal serves. Obviously there are some pros with illegal ones.

[@dragostego]

​@@BrionesPickleball I was referring to what Zane Navratil has said about serve enforcement kzbin.info/www/bejne/jaHTYYGpaKh6m8ksi=uquJG-ID37ncosXR&t=140 , However to be fair I clipped and pixel measured your serves and you are right, your serve appears to be good. In some cases it appears to be within half a centimeter of illegal (specifically the serve at 0:06 and 1 cm for 1:50) but still on the side of legal. That's not viewable without breaking it down frame by frame, and its difficult to get accurate pixel measurements since you have to sight the camera used. Much less accurately determining during the .05 seconds (assuming 3 frame contact on video) in person. some of the side angles like 5:22 appear to be close but given the other ones with better references were clear I'm willing to say they are all good. I will concede that the statement everyone cheats is overbearing, but more accurately your serve does not have to clearly be within the margin for top of paddle below top of wrist. So you can effectively hit your serve with the paddle sideways and its fine.

[@JerrySaner]

Rules are a funny thing. How many times have the rules of "in and out" changed - 3 times I know of since I started in 2015. This last time, the article I read said the newest take on the calls of "in and out" are not "new", but a reinterpretation of the original rules - we will see next year. However, there are bad rules or badly worded rules and changing those rules to evolve the activity are certainly worth considering. In my opinion, removing the "let" serve in the USAPA rules is a determent to the sport - I think this is evidenced by it not being removed in the PPA. It isn't about "getting use to it" as much as it adds an unnecessary "chance" factor into a game where players are constantly striving to keep "chance" to a minimum. I thought about your reply and I can see that by holding the paddle "up", swing up under the ball and making contact below the waist/bellybutton that that could be considered swinging through an "arc", since an "arc" is just a curve of no defined measurement. The problem is when players fudge the swing using a "flat serve" where there is no real discernment of the paddle head being below the wrist. Usually it is only obvious to the opponents unless the servers' partner watches the server - which I do - I want the server to make a correct serve - swing, paddle head positioned properly and no foot faults. I caution my students about the momentum follow-through on their service allowing themselves to go into the court. Mostly what I see when players do this as a matter of course is they forget to step back and/or watch for the return of the serve to see if it is being hit back at them by an opponent trying to take advantage of their forward motion carrying them into the court. What I tell them is if I am the receiver, I watch to see if one of the opponents is moving into the court as the ball is being served because that is who I will aim for first on my return of serve. Not a new concept for someone who has played, but for beginners it can be difficult to remember even if they have done it once or twice and then was victimized by a perceptive return of serve. I don't tell students not to momentum forward on their serves - just caution them about moving back immediately to avoid getting caught. Thank you for your immediate responses - I really enjoy your videos - they help me help beginning students to learn the play of the play of the game of pickleball.

[@BrionesPickleball]

I appreciate that. It’s the pains of a growing sport. I started this game almost 10 years ago, so I’ve seen all the changes in front of my eyes. The drop serve is the only solution, or it will be a vague rule forever, unfortunately. I hate the drop serve. The closest thing I can think of is baseball’s strike zone? But they have ai now to check it. Although Umpires are still wrong.

[@BrionesPickleball]

Teaching a bowling motion to a beginner doesn’t not help their future development. It actually teaches them bad mechanics, and they’ll have to completely relearn a forehand shot.

[@BrionesPickleball]

This is why it’s important to teach them right from the beginning.

[@Paul-w5r1m]

Best video in my opinion you have made yet! Thank you for the time and effort you put into these videos. They are helpful for somebody like me that wants to jump from a 3.75 to 4.0. With the serve, I didn't see a lag between are movement and the hip going forward? Is the serve supposed to be in a way like you see with Dak Prescott doing his hip exercises before games where I guess as a football player to through maybe they use the hip going forward first and there is a slight lag with the arm throwing and the same goes for two on two beach volleyball players where you have to for optimal power twist your hips first with a lag before you then precede with your elbow and arm reaching up and forward. Or do you move both the arm and hip forward at the same time. Sorry if I missed that part but I appreciate your time and effort. Thank you!

[@BrionesPickleball]

Mechanics are very similar to tennis and other sports. Power comes from legs and core rotation first.

[@BrionesPickleball]

Thanks for watching!

[@michaelfrench1984]

You did not mention the grip.. Do you use an Eastern grip when serving?

[@BrionesPickleball]

Eastern

[@dianashare7158]

Is it ok to apply those tips to a drop service?

[@BrionesPickleball]

Yes!

[@BrionesPickleball]

Although, I would not recommend a drop serve in an open stance.

[@dianashare7158]

@ should I try and stop using a drop serve? I started to a while ago because my serves were going out. BTW love your videos, how succinct you are in your explanations, very easy to follow and not a lot of extra fluff and talking. You stick to the point. Are you playing in the Pebble Creek Tournament in Feb.

[@MONUARHOSSEN-u1k]

just amazing ❤❤

[@BrionesPickleball]

Thanks!

[@carlhillier-kj5ve]

What is the cost of your 5 day intensive. 🙂

[@BrionesPickleball]

Here’s the details: www.brionespickleballvideos.com/5-day-intensive

[@alp.2330]

How do I improve my aim?

[@BrionesPickleball]

Get a basket of balls and hit lots of serves!

[@shargogo8876]

excellent

[@BrionesPickleball]

Appreciate it! 🙏

[@shargogo8876]

I always miss the contact point, and don't know how to fix it

[@BrionesPickleball]

Drop or release the ball further out in front. Then your contact will change!

[@shargogo8876]

@@BrionesPickleball Thanks a lot!

[@JerrySaner]

I watch a lot of your videos - I like most all of them - this one was a bit sketchy for me as others have commented on. What I don't see here is an obvious "low to high" arc motion. The rule book says the arm motion must define a low to high arc - like the "old school" way I was taught when I first started pre-covid. It was called the "bowling move" - a decided arm motion that clearly defines an low to high arc. I didn't see the "pro's" you showed using a pronounced "low to high arm motion arc" - like it shows in the pictures in the latest edition of the USAPA rule book. I just see variations on the "side arm" swing that is illegal - granted, there is a bit of upward motion, but not much. I have watched a lot of pro games and most of the players have that decided low to high arcing arm motion and use the body mechanics you talk about. "upping your game" should not be about bending the rules. Players who constantly bend the rules because there aren't any refs are doing the sport in general a disservice. I teach beginners. I teach them the bowling move to begin with because it cannot be construed as being "illegal". I show them the "drop serve" and encourage them work on both. Before pickleball, I played badminton (played intercollegiate in college for a couple of years). Serving in badminton use to be the same motion - low to high arc, racquet head down, contact below your belly button, but, over the years, the way you can position the racquet changed. It went to more of a "flick" serve - but - the head of the racquet still had to be below the wrist and belly button as contact is made with the bird. Maybe it's time to acknowledge the obvious - consider the side arm motion as a legal way of serving - it really doesn't matter how someone serves - some one else will figure you out and beat your serve - i.e. they will be able to return it and it becomes just another "low percentage of success" shot. thank you for your videos - I will keep watching to your great tips.

[@BrionesPickleball]

This is why rules need to be changed. Any low to high motion counts. Also, the term “sidearm” is always funny to me. It doesn’t make any sense. Any good server is going to be swinging around their body, and depending if they contact the ball more in front of them, or more on the side of them, it’s still going in a low to high motion. An easy way to gauge it is watch if the paddle drops below the ball at all, if it drops below the ball, it’s a low to high motion for sure. Now you only have to watch where the contact is.

[@BrionesPickleball]

Also, it’s not about “bending” the rules. A good serve is simply a good forehand. They will not take this away because it’s an essential shot in pickleball. Even with a drop serve, pros would use the same exact mechanics that they are currently using.

[@adamscott796]

What you're teaching here is nothing more than hitting a forehand in tennis. If you watch Roger Federer or Novak Djokovic forehand, it is exactly the same thing. That's why if you are a 12 UTR tennis player, it takes about three months to become a 5.5 DPUR pickleball player.

[@BrionesPickleball]

It’s not that easy, but yes, good tennis players can get good fast.

[@BrionesPickleball]

Getting to 5.5 in doubles is not easy, takes a lot of work.

[@adamscott796]

@@BrionesPickleball Actually it is very easy, and I'll give you an example. Jordan Chrysostom played D1 tennis at Virginia Tech, and he is currently playing PB. His DUPR rating is 5.555 in singles and 5.1 in doubles, and he started playing PB a few months ago.

[@BrionesPickleball]

Like I said, DOUBLES. Singles I agree it’s very easy for a D1 player to get there. Doubles, it’s definitely going to take more time.

[@BrionesPickleball]

He’s a 5.1, just like you said, not a 5.5 yet.

[@lesliewilensky3170]

Looks illegal to me too. Impossible to enforce during a game. I try to do it every time!

[@BrionesPickleball]

Thanks! It’s legal.

[@michaelwolf8024]

Thanks for teaching me the open stance serve, brother. I use it quite a bit now 🫡

[@BrionesPickleball]

Let’s gooooo!!!