Not every serve is a lob. I thought to clarify it because many beginners have confused it with a typical serve.
You are in luck if you are wondering what a Pickleball lob serve is and how you can play it because your go-to-guide has arrived to save you from any further confusion.
Let us quickly see all the ins and outs of this serve and be as successful in Pickleball as you can.
What is a Lob Serve in Pickleball?
A Pickleball lob serve means a serve that you hit high into the air. It allows to travel deep into the opponent’s court.
This is the most common Pickleball serve and is easy to execute. You might have seen even pros hitting this serve.
So, you can understand how helpful this service can be. The primary reason for its importance is the production of an arch as you hit the ball as high as you can.
This arch causes opponents to face an aggressive shot high and closer to the kitchen line.
So, they have to run for it instantly and try to return it with challenges, which they may fail to do.
How to Play a Lob Serve in Pickleball?
You can play a Pickleball lob serve by just going through these digestible ways:
- Initially, you should stay at least two feet behind the baseline and between the imaginary extensions of the centerline and service line. You should not touch the baseline when hitting the serve.
- Then, extend your right hand if you are right-handed and your left hand if left-handed and bounce the ball.
- Hit this ball as high as possible with the paddle in an upward arc and keep the paddle head below your waist level.
- The serve should be high enough to hit or bounce near your opponent’s baseline. But it should not go out of the boundaries.
- While playing a lob serve in Pickleball, you should aim to land the serve on the opponent’s non-dominant hand. For instance, you can target their left hand if they are right-handed and vice versa for left-handed players.
Tip to Master a Pickleball Lob Serve
Mostly, newbies make the prevalent mistake of hitting the lob serve at a low height.
This mistake may sound unimportant. But it is caused by even the intermediate pickleball players.
So, you can understand how unexpectedly you can lose scores for this fault in Pickleball.
With all this horrible scenario in mind, I would advise you to hit the lob serve in Pickleball at a maximum height to make it successful and not leave the scores to your opponent.
Final Thoughts on Lob Serve in Pickleball
Pickleball lob serve is really easy to play because you have to focus on improving the ball’s height, besides other crucial factors. Then you are all set you catch your opponent’s off guard.
Sidewise, you should remember that only sometimes are perfect for playing lob shots. Hence, mixing up the shots for a better play would be better.
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I’m Brandon Fritze, a pro Pickleball player, instructor, and tournament champion with a degree in Sport Studies from Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, PA. With years of experience, I’ve sharpened my expertise in the game, helping over 100 players become skilled in Pickleball. Through my renowned blog, “Pickleball Infos,” I inspire and empower players of all levels to enhance their skills and experience the thrill of this amazing sport.