1. PICKLEBALL LESSONS: RETURN OF SERVE
In this pickleball lesson, coach Jeff Rausch demonstrates strategy and tactics for the service return. Working on your return of serve is a great way to set the stage for the rally to develop in your favor. This video will demonstrate strategy and tactics for the service return.
The key focus on the service return is to hit deep to keep your opponents back, in the middle
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of the court to confuse, soft to give you more time for your transition to the NVL, and down the middle to reduce your opponents' angles in their returns.
The pickleball drill within this video is as follows:
Set up the court with cones in the middle of the transition zone across the court and have talent aim for the area between the cones and the baseline. Hit five balls and score 1 point for every ball hit in the space between the cones and the baseline.
Once successful or if you need more advanced practice, add lanes to the area between the existing cones and the baseline with the larger area in the middle, which is the primary target zone. Have talent hit five balls focusing on the center area with 1 point for every ball hit in the area between the cones and the baseline and 3 points for every 1 hit in the center lane as well. If talent needs more of a challenge, reduce the size of the center lane so that you only have a four-foot square to hit into.
Focus on areas of potential weakness now, aiming for one of the lanes on the side of the court with the same scoring - remember that hitting angled returns will give your opponents more angles for their returns. Have talent hit try to hit five balls into each outside lane with the same scoring.
Be nimble in your practice - there are times when you may want to return with a drop into the non-volley zone as well - especially if the service returner is not paying attention and/or prepared to move forward and/or you want to mix it up. Have talent practice some drops into the non-volley zone - you can add cones for targets as desired.
In the end, your goal is to be consistent while making the serving team's third shot more challenging and to keep your opponents at the baseline, when possible, to increase time and distance as you prepare for your next shot.
Practie the Retur of serve regularly - remember to be nimble and practice a number of areas on the court with different paces and heights. Give points for depth (short or deep, depending on the area you are practicing) and extra points for accuracy.
If you love to play doubles, check out this "Pickleball Tips for Returning The Team to Maintain Offensive Position."
If you want to improve or learn how to play pickleball at a higher level, during this pickleball lesson, coach Trey's insights will help you understand pickleball strategy when returning. No more guessing who hits what ball.
This lesson demonstrates how the returning team utilizes the Blocker & Workhouse roles. We continue to stress that you control what role you will play by where you hit the ball to your opponents. For example, if a ball is hit to the middle of your opponent's court, you must wait to see which opponent hits it to determine if you will be the Blocker or Workhorse. This session is important because the return team is the aggressor and is working on getting a side-out so they can have the opportunity to score points.
Learn more about the Blocker/Workhorse method "Doubles Strategy - Blocking/Workhorse Dinking - Part 1" lesson in our pickleball library.
During this lesson, coach Trey Sizemore introduces students to the importance of having roles on the court when playing doubles. Rather than playing as two single players operating independently, this lesson will help the player understand his role and responsibilities. In addition, the lesson answers common questions like Who takes the lobs? Who hits the middle ball? What is the best shot for me to hit to put the team in the best position to stay in the point and ultimately win it?"
To understand the strategy behind who is responsible for the 3rd shot in pickleball, applying the Blocker/Workhorse method, watch the "Doubles Strategy - Blocking/Workhorse Dinking - Part 2" lesson in our pickleball library.
In this video, coach Trey Sizemore focuses on how the Blocker/Workhorse roles help determine which player should take a middle ball from the opponents and where to hit it. He demonstrates two middle ball options (one shallow and one deeper in the kitchen) and covers who should take each, why, and where they should hit the ball for best results. The middle of your court by the opponents often causes confusion between partners and causes mistakes that lose points by the 'wrong' player hitting the ball, no one hitting the ball, the ball is hit to the wrong place in your opponents' court, and more.
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