Similar to a driving serve and a lob serve, there are a few key differences between a driving return of serve and a lob return of serve:

1. Contact Point – For a driving return of serve, you will strike the pickleball more behind the ball. In contrast, for a lob return of serve, you will strike the pickleball lower on the ball. You should get further under the pickleball in order to cause the pickleball to take a higher trajectory. To do so, you may need to open your paddle face up toward the sky and take a shorter backswing.

2. Paddle Speed – For a driving return of serve, you will likely have a bit quicker paddle speed striking the pickleball and following through the pickleball. In contrast, the lob return of serve will have slower paddle speed and be a much softer shot.

3. Follow Through – For a driving return of serve, your follow through will be relatively horizontal through the pickleball. In contrast, for a lob return of serve, your follow through will be more vertical. Again, this is designed to cause the pickleball to take a higher trajectory. Remember to keep your paddle face toward the sky all the way through your follow through.

Mix in both types of returns of serve. Use what is working and be unpredictable. Do not forget about the potential benefits of a high, deep lob serve, which include (1) pushing your opponents back on their side of the court making it more difficult for your opponents to hit a quality third shot and take the Non-Volley Zone or Kitchen Line since they have more ground to cover; and (2) giving you, as the return server, more time to get to the Non-Volley Zone or Kitchen Line.

Key Takeaways:

1. To hit a driving return of serve:

a. Strike the pickleball on the lower backside of the pickleball with a relatively quick paddle speed; and

b. Finish your return of serve with a relatively horizontal finish.

2. To hit a lob return of serve:

a. Strike the pickleball more on the underside of the pickleball, with an open paddle face and a relatively slow paddle speed; and

b. Finish your return of serve with a relatively vertical finish and a flat paddle face up toward the sky.

3. Mix in both types of return of serves. Take advantage of 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.