An ace in pickleball is a serve that the receiving team cannot successfully return, resulting in an immediate point (or side out, depending on the scoring format).

Common examples of an ace include:

- The serve lands in bounds and the receiver completely misses it.
- The receiver makes contact but hits the return out or into the net.
- The serve has so much spin, pace, or placement that it forces an unreturnable error.

Because pickleball serves are underhand and more controlled than in tennis, aces are less common at the recreational level, but at the pro level, players can still generate aces with:

- Deep serves to the baseline
- Sharp angles
- Heavy topspin or sidespin
- Surprise pace changes

In singles, aces happen more frequently because players cover more court alone. In doubles, strong positioning usually makes clean aces harder to achieve.

Getting more aces comes down to making your serve tougher to read, tougher to attack, and more precise. Pure power helps, but placement, disguise, and consistency matter more.

Here are the biggest ways to improve your serve:

Target depth

Deep serves are the foundation of effective serving. Aim within a few feet of the baseline to push opponents back and limit aggressive returns.

Good targets:

- Deep backhand corner
- Deep middle seam between partners
- Near the sideline to open angles

Develop spin

Topspin and sidespin can create awkward bounces that force errors.

- Topspin helps the ball dip in while kicking forward after the bounce.
- Sidespin can pull receivers off the court or jam them into their body.

A legal spin serve can still be very effective when used sparingly.

Vary your serve

Predictable serves are easy to return. Mix up:

- Pace
- Height
- Spin
- Placement

Even a slower serve can create an ace if the receiver expects speed.

Attack weaker receivers

Most doubles teams have one weaker returner. Identify:

- Slow footwork
- Weak backhand
- Trouble handling spin
- Difficulty with deep serves

Then keep serving there until they adjust.

Improve disguise

Try to make different serves look similar until contact. If opponents can’t read spin or direction early, they react later.

Use the body serve

Serving directly at the receiver’s torso is underrated. It jams footwork and often causes pop-ups or missed returns.

Practice consistency first

A serve only becomes dangerous if opponents know it’s landing in. Many players chase aces too early and rack up faults instead.

A good benchmark:

- 90%+ legal serves
- Reliable depth
- Controlled spin
- Then add aggression

Drill with purpose

A few effective serve drills:

- Hit 20 serves in a row deep crosscourt
- Alternate wide and middle targets
- Practice serving cones near the baseline
- Record yourself to check consistency and disguise

Watch top servers

Pros like Tyson McGuffin, Ben Johns, and Federico Staksrud are great examples of players who use placement and spin effectively without relying solely on power.

One important mindset shift: in pickleball, the serve’s primary job is usually to create a weak third shot opportunity, not necessarily to hit outright aces every time.