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Return of serve

Pickleball / Popular

Return deep and get to the kitchen line.

What coaches agree on

  • Hit your return deep, aiming for the back third of the court, to push the serving team back and make their third shot harder.
  • The instant you hit your return, move forward toward the kitchen line instead of staying back to watch it, since the double-bounce rule gives the returning team the first chance to claim the net.
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  • Aim your return at the backhand or weaker side of your opponent to make their next shot tougher and buy yourself extra time.

Common mistakes

  • Setting up too close to, or right on, the baseline is the most common return error: it leaves no room for a deep or fast serve, so the return gets jammed and the player is pushed back onto their heels just when they need to be stepping forward.
  • Taking a long, tennis-style backswing to generate power against a fast serve creates timing problems; a short, compact stroke that redirects the serve's own pace is more reliable.