The Pickleball Serve — What to Hit, When to Hit and Why to Hit Different Types of Serves

The serve in pickleball represents a dichotomy of fundamental philosophies. On the one hand, pickleball “traditionalists” will argue that, because you can’t win a point if you don’t get your serve in, it’s best not to take any chances and, instead, just use the serve to start the rally. This philosophy of thought renders the serve as as offensive weapon irrelevant.

On the other hand, some will argue that, while the goal of the serve is not necessarily to ace your opponent, the goal is nevertheless to create a weak return so that the third shot can be an offensive opportunity — or at worst — an easier/shorter drop shot into your opponent’s non-volley zone.

Setting Up your Third Shot with an Effective Serve

I favor the latter philosophy — using the pickleball serve (and taking appropriate chances) to create a weaker return so that more options are available for the third shot — whether it be a drive or drop.

Different Types of Pickleball Serves

So what types of serves set up this opportunity for offensive weaponry?  Once you have mastered the serve so that you can consistently hit it past the kitchen line and into the correct service court, you will want to learn to vary your serves and give your opponent a different look from time-to-time.  The following three serves can — and should — be used.

The Power Serve

Like the name implies, this is a serve that is hit low and hard — generally to your opponent’s weaker side (usually the backhand) and as deep in the court as possible.

Serving the ball deep in your opponent’s court makes their return more difficult — and it also makes it more challenging for them to get to their own kitchen line after the return-of-serve.

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The Power Serve is an effective serve to hit when you notice the service returner standing a few steps inside of the baseline.  It’s also a great serve to hit if you notice the returner over-shifted to their forehand or backhand side.  Hitting it hard and deep may very well result in an ace in this situation — or, at the very least, a weak return.

The Moon Ball Serve

The Moon Ball Serve is a high (to the moon), soft serve that lands deep in the opponent’s court near the baseline.  It’s a great change-up serve that forces the returner to generate their own power and often-times frustrates them.  This serve also adds variety to your repertoire and can be used to set up future, harder serves — much like a baseball flamethrower uses the change up from time-to-time to set up their fastball.

The Short, Angled Serve

This is actually one of my favorite serves to hit — especially when serving from the even side.  This is generally a slower serve that lands and is angled just beyond the kitchen line. It can be effectively used with the service returner is positioned several feet behind the baseline or when the service returner has over-shifted to protect their weaker side. Because of the imparted top-spin/side-spin, this serve pushes the receiver well beyond the sideline.

If struck well, the short, angled serve may open up significant gaps in the opponent’s court for you to exploit on the third shot with a hard drive. 

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The short, angled serve is also extraordinarily effective against a team that is stacking.

Depth & Consistency — Important Above All Else

Consistency and depth still remain the two of the most important considerations of the pickleball serve.

Keeping your opponent deep on the serve prevents them (or at least makes it a lot harder) from quickly capturing the non-volley zone line. 

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And, of course, you have to be able to get your serves in with a very high degree of consistency, regardless of which serve you use.  Make sure you don’t rush yourself when serving — and visualize the serve before you hit it.  You’ll be surprised how you can make the serve an offensive weapon and set yourself up for easier third shot drives or drops.

Which serve do you find most effective?  I would love to hear your thoughts.  See you on the courts.