Imagine you’re playing pickleball and struggling to gain the upper hand. At the same time, your opponent seems to be returning every serve with ease. That’s when you remember the Pickleball paddle serve.
The paddle serve can add spin and create challenges for opponents, helping you gain an advantage in the game. However, it’s important to note that the paddle serve becomes illegal when the paddle head is above the wrist.
In this article, we’ll explore everything you need to know about the paddle serves and how to use them to your advantage on the court. Let us keep reading to understand it in detail.

What is a Paddle Serve in Pickleball?
In simplest terms, Pickleball paddle serve means a serve that you make by keeping the paddle parallel to the ground and then hitting the ball at a low threshold.
Players like it for getting more spin on their balls. This challenging serve, in turn, puts the opponent in a confusing position.
As a result, they end up hitting it illegally or out of bounds or sometimes even miss it.
That is why you can use this serve to mix up your shots and get an upper hand on your opponent.
How to Play a Paddle Serve in Pickleball?
This is how you can easily play a paddle serve in Pickleball:
- First, you must stand at least a foot or two behind the baseline and with the imaginary extensions of the centerline and sidelines. In this way, you achieve a legal Pickleball serving position.
- Hold your paddle with a continental grip. It means placing your thumb in the paddle’s middle and wrapping your other fingers around it.
- Then, create a little wrist snap on your ball by dropping it and taking the paddle up behind you. Then, hit the ball smoothly.
- Here, you have to keep the paddle face nearly parallel to the court, and you should also drop the ball at the low height of your waist or knees. Doing this will generate more spin on the ball.
Tips to Master Playing Pickleball Paddle serve
You can strengthen your paddle serve by following the given tips:
The paddle serve may not help generate more power because the point of contact with the ball could be higher here. This low point will not create more force and, hence, more energy.
Practice makes a man perfect. That is why you should practice regularly to get an accurate paddle serve.
Secondly, try to maintain consistency and control for a better reach.
You should vary the speed and spin of the serve to put your opponents in a more confusing situation.
Avoid depending on it mainly because it can be predictable for your opponents, and they will start answering it effectively.
Final Thoughts on Pickleball Paddle Serve
By practicing and refining their technique, you can utilize this serve to add spin to the ball. It will harder for opponents to return the ball and attack the net.
While the paddle serve has some disadvantages, such as a lower contact point and potential difficulty with direction and power.
Players can keep their opponents guessing and gain an advantage by using this as a surprise element and varying its speed and spin.
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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.