Zane Navratil did a video on this technique a few months ago. He emphasized dropping the swinging arm shoulder instead of bending the knee. Of course to do what Zane said you have to bend your right knee. However you can torque your body some and really drop your shoulder. Not only do I have a lot of height on my serve now, I use lots of topspin which pins people back.
Excellent explanation on why serving deep put you at advantage right from start. Drilling and posture as you have explained makes total sense especially to someone new who hasn't played any racket sports. Important also is timing at what point the contact is made hitting that serves. Later contact, on flat serves (no top spin) gives you height and depth. A more aggressive lower contact point drive with ( paddle follow through upwards ) gives you a faster but higher top spin and give an additional 'kick' to make it difficult for the average 3.0 to control return. Against a higher level player, it makes no difference. So use serving as 'an additional weapon' against weaker returners but not as your main weapon.
Agree about the higher level comment. I teach mostly beginners through intermediate so it’s affective against them. Pros have returned tens of thousands of serves and it’s simply doesn’t matter in pro doubles what you do, they are coming after you.
I really try to focus on mechanics. Some people can do that naturally, but I tend to focus on those who need a physical prompt and demonstration to increase their playability. Thanks for your comment.
If the opponent gets backed up and gives a short reply to the serve, the server should move in very quickly and take the return on the short hop...just off the ground. If you do this, you can often beat the returner to the net, giving you and your partner the advantage that the defense should have. I see people waiting for the return to bounce up high where it can be attacked, but the extra split second you get by taking it off the short hop is more valuable than hitting it hard
I find that taking it on a short hop is less consistent with a drive shot than trying to short hop and taking it too low. I see more hits higher to the body on short hops which results in faster slams back.
If the opponent is returning your serve from deep in the court, and hits his return very short, you can often get to the ball and shovel it back BEFORE the returner has a chance to get in to the net. This gives you a bigger, deeper target for the third shot drop, and you can hit it from closer to the net.....all of which should give you more control of the ball, and put your team in control of the point, assuming your partner moves up to the kitchen line with you. There's not much danger of popping it up too high if you have decent racket control. There are several examples in this video of where my technique could have been employed.
Short hop shots tend to be a lot less reliable than Apex shots. When you are approaching the ball at that low of a height, it’s very hard to drive the ball, and everyone has a tendency to pop it up higher from my experience.
Excellent, Coach Jeff. One little thing though, When Gary demonstrates with the dropped ball service, he is doing it illegally. He first tosses it up a bit instead of just allowing it to drop. Very much a no-no.
Zane Navratil did a video on this technique a few months ago. He emphasized dropping the swinging arm shoulder instead of bending the knee. Of course to do what Zane said you have to bend your right knee. However you can torque your body some and really drop your shoulder. Not only do I have a lot of height on my serve now, I use lots of topspin which pins people back.
Adding top spin is smart… I try and teach one thing at a time. But my server generates type spin like yours. Thanks for the comment.
Excellent explanation on why serving deep put you at advantage right from start. Drilling and posture as you have explained makes total sense especially to someone new who hasn't played any racket sports. Important also is timing at what point the contact is made hitting that serves. Later contact, on flat serves (no top spin) gives you height and depth. A more aggressive lower contact point drive with ( paddle follow through upwards ) gives you a faster but higher top spin and give an additional 'kick' to make it difficult for the average 3.0 to control return. Against a higher level player, it makes no difference. So use serving as 'an additional weapon' against weaker returners but not as your main weapon.
Agree about the higher level comment. I teach mostly beginners through intermediate so it’s affective against them. Pros have returned tens of thousands of serves and it’s simply doesn’t matter in pro doubles what you do, they are coming after you.
I love hv you don’t hv to be athletic to be super competitive in pickle ball. Even the elderly can be super competitive. What an awesome activity.
pickleball is like checkers
I can hit the ball deep with a flat serve.
But I understand what you are teaching.
I really try to focus on mechanics. Some people can do that naturally, but I tend to focus on those who need a physical prompt and demonstration to increase their playability. Thanks for your comment.
If the opponent gets backed up and gives a short reply to the serve, the server should move in very quickly and take the return on the short hop...just off the ground. If you do this, you can often beat the returner to the net, giving you and your partner the advantage that the defense should have. I see people waiting for the return to bounce up high where it can be attacked, but the extra split second you get by taking it off the short hop is more valuable than hitting it hard
I find that taking it on a short hop is less consistent with a drive shot than trying to short hop and taking it too low. I see more hits higher to the body on short hops which results in faster slams back.
If the opponent is returning your serve from deep in the court, and hits his return very short, you can often get to the ball and shovel it back BEFORE the returner has a chance to get in to the net. This gives you a bigger, deeper target for the third shot drop, and you can hit it from closer to the net.....all of which should give you more control of the ball, and put your team in control of the point, assuming your partner moves up to the kitchen line with you. There's not much danger of popping it up too high if you have decent racket control. There are several examples in this video of where my technique could have been employed.
The counter to this is to take the ball on a short hop.
Short hop shots tend to be a lot less reliable than Apex shots. When you are approaching the ball at that low of a height, it’s very hard to drive the ball, and everyone has a tendency to pop it up higher from my experience.
When someone gives me a high serve I can hit it hard and deep with a lot of top spin. I prefer someone serves me high.
Excellent, Coach Jeff. One little thing though, When Gary demonstrates with the dropped ball service, he is doing it illegally. He first tosses it up a bit instead of just allowing it to drop. Very much a no-no.
You're exactly right! Good eye! Was hoping someone was observant enough to notice!
tiny court + kitchen = joke