Whether you are the serving team or the receiving team, there are a few things that need to happen before the pickleball is served:

1. Go Through Your Routine – Pre-serve and pre-return of serve routines are essential to your game. These routines, whether you realize it or not, get both your mind and body ready for the point. Make sure you go through your routine—whatever the routine may be—before every point starts.

2. Know Your Strategy – Before you even step onto the court, you and your partner should have a game plan. Know what that game plan is and execute it. This is especially true on your serve and your return of serve. Pick a spot (or an opponent), pick a particular shot (i.e. slice, drive, or slow lob), and execute it. Also, make sure you and your partner know who is responsible for the middle of the court and for how much of the middle (in other words, how much space across the middle (if any)). This will help you and your partner avoid any confusion with down-the-middle shots. As a reminder, generally, the player with the forehand toward the middle will be responsible for the down-the-middle shots.

3. Give Yourself Positive Reminders – Visualizing or mental reminders of proper technique can be helpful prior to starting a point, as these reminders are a way for your mind to tell your body what to do. For example, “Follow through.” or “Watch the ball.” Be sure to talk to yourself in a positive way. In other words, phrase your self-talk as “Do X.” rather than “Don’t Y.” Be sure, however, that once the point starts, you get out of your head, quit overthinking, and just play pickleball.

4. Be Ready – Always make sure you are in the proper ready position. Be ready both physically and mentally!


Key Takeaways:

1. Before every point on the pickleball court:

a. Go through your routine;

b. Know your strategy;

c. Give yourself positive reminders; and

d. Always be ready!