Drill

Drills

Pickleball

Low Return Against Hard Serves

Handle pace with a compact block instead of a full swing

8 min
6 x 10 fast serves returned
Intermediate

Why this drill

Builds toward handle pace with a compact block instead of a full swing.

Instructions

  1. 1Partner or machine feeds hard, deep serves.
  2. 2Shorten the backswing to a small paddle set just before contact.
  3. 3Block the return deep using the incoming pace rather than swinging hard.
  4. 4Reset stance immediately for the next fast serve.

What to focus on

A compact, stable paddle face absorbing pace.

Recommended reps

6 x 10 fast serves returned

Common mistake

Taking a full swing against a hard serve and sending it long.