Whether you’re still a beginner in pickleball or you’re an intermediate looking to elevate your game, mastering a powerful serve can significantly impact your performance. Pro pickleball coach and player, Will East, shares his top five tips to enhance the power behind your serve.
For an even clearer understanding, don’t miss the accompanying video, where East demonstrates these effective strategies in action.
Step 1: Balance and Posture
Achieving a powerful serve begins with the right stance. Many players find themselves leaning too far forward, balancing on the front foot with their head over the ball. This position limits the power you can generate.
To break through this power ceiling, focus on maintaining a balanced stance. Keeping your weight evenly distributed between both feet allows for greater force to be applied during the serve.
Step 2: Paddle Direction is Key
The direction of your paddle greatly influences the serve’s power and accuracy. Aim to keep your paddle as square as possible to your target. A simple but effective method to practice this is by using a strip of tape on the floor, pointing towards your opponent’s side.
This visual guide helps ensure that your paddle remains square at the point of contact, optimizing the power and direction of your serve.
Step 3: Establishing a Wide Base
A common mistake among pickleball players is maintaining a narrow stance. Adopting a wider base not only improves your balance but also sets the stage for effective weight shifting—crucial for a powerful serve.
Step 4: Shifting Your Weight Forward
Practicing with a small block to elevate your front foot can help you master the motion of shifting your weight forward into the swing, significantly boosting the force behind your serve.
Step 5: The Hip Snap
The secret to unlocking extra power in your serve lies in the hip snap. This movement involves rotating your hips through the point of contact, allowing for a fuller range of motion and the opportunity to accelerate the paddle through the serve.
Mastering the hip snap can add a significant amount of power to your serve, making it a more formidable weapon in your pickleball arsenal.
Watch Will East demonstrate these four steps and how to implement them with quick drills:
Check out more videos and pro tips from Will:
- Pro Tips for Solo Pickleball Drills at Home
- Strategic Pickleball Serve Insights from a Pro Player
- Pro Tips for Perfecting Your Third Shot Drop in Pickleball
- Improve Your Quick Volleys & Kitchen Line Strategy
Bonus Tip: Incorporate the Back Foot
For those who feel confident with the first five steps and are looking to add even more power to their serve, consider the placement of your back foot. Bringing your back foot forward through the point of contact enhances the rotation on the serve, further increasing the power you can generate.
By integrating these expert tips from Will East into your practice, you’ll soon see a noticeable improvement in the power of your pickleball serve. Remember, consistency is key, so be patient and persistent with your training. With time and dedication, you’ll be serving with more power than ever before.
