You have a lot of options when striking your return of serve. A couple of key strategies to keep in mind when returning a serve include:

1. The majority of returns of serve should be played deep and back through the middle. Oftentimes, the phrase “down the middle solves the riddle” proves true on the pickleball court, so let your opponents fight over the return! As a reminder, do not aim for the baseline on your opponents’ side of the pickleball court. Rather, aim for a few feet inside the baseline to avoid any unnecessary unforced errors.

2. If you are having trouble advancing to the Non-Volley Zone or Kitchen Line after you hit your return of serve, consider using more of a lob return of serve, rather than a driving return of serve. The lob return of serve will give you more time to take the Non-Volley Zone or Kitchen Line. As with any other shot on the pickleball, be aware of the wind conditions. Wind will have more of an effect on a lob return of serve than other types of returns of serve, so take the wind conditions into consideration.

3. Another strategy is to target the weaker of your two opponents. Find your opponents’ weaknesses and isolate them.

Key Takeaways:

1. Hit your return deep and back through the middle of the court or toward your opponents’ respective weaker sides. Be sure to miss inside the baseline to avoid hitting your return of serve out of bounds and giving your opponents an easy point.

2. Use the lob return of serve if you need more time for you and your partner to move in to the Non-Volley Zone or Kitchen Line. However, be aware of wind conditions when using the lob return of serve.