A strong serve is increasingly becoming a major weapon in professional pickleball.

Men’s singles player Michael Loyd recently shared his tips for players looking to elevate their serving game.

“You don’t need a power serve to win in pickleball,” insisted Loyd. “But you absolutely need a reliable one.”

Before learning from a top pro, however, ensure your serve is legal.

“Most serve problems start before the swing. I recommend a closed stance with our feet staggered with our non-dominant foot forward,” explained Loyd. “My weight is in my back foot, and then I’ll transfer it to my front foot to start.”

Also, avoid standing square to the net. Position yourself at an angle to coil your body and add extra power to your serve.

Loyd suggests using a loose continental grip to generate both effortless power and precise control.

Loyd also shared a simple tip: the ball follows the direction of your paddle face. If your serve is veering too far left or right, it’s usually because the paddle is angled incorrectly. Straighten your paddle face and watch your aim improve.

When discussing the service motion, Loyd advised keeping it simple.

“It’s simple for a reason,” he said. “We want this to be repeatable and consistent before we worry about pace and power.”

To generate consistent power, focus on your stance, coil, and the weight transfer from your back foot to your front. Many players try to swing as hard as possible, but that’s hard to replicate consistently. Loyd advises against over-swinging and emphasizes repeatable mechanics instead.

So where should you aim your serve?

“Serving in is good, but serving smart is better,” shared Loyd. “The number one goal is always going to be depth. We want to aim for the ball to land within two to three feet of the baseline.”

A deep serve forces your opponent back, making their return more challenging and slowing their approach to the kitchen line.

“The deeper you can hit your serve, oftentimes that’ll result in a weaker return from your opponent,” added Loyd. “That will help set you up for an easier third shot.”

Loyd also emphasized the importance of shot variety. Mixing in a short or lob serve after consistently hitting deep serves can keep your opponent off balance.

He wrapped up his tips with a mindset shift that could benefit players at every level of the game.

“Think of serving like pitching in baseball. A good pitcher has multiple pitches, just like a good server has multiple serves. Try a bunch of different serves, find two to three serves you like, and take those out to the court,” recommended Loyd. “Remember, you’re not trying to win the point on the serve, you’re trying to set up an easier third.”

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