Pickleball Rule Change! Great Drop Serves to add to your game!

 

Master the Pickleball Drop Serve

Use these tips from the expert to add variety and power to your game

In this guide, we'll recap 2018 Pickleball Hall Of Fame Inductee Steve Peranto's advice on how to perform effective drop serves and take your game to the next level.

Steve clarifies the rules - feet must be behind the baseline, the ball can't be tossed up or slammed down, and it can't bounce above the waist. Now let's get into the various drop serve techniques:

Forehand Drive/Topspin Serve (1:31)

For power, hold the ball as high as possible before the drop so it bounces up to your ideal contact point. Copy your forehand form - if you have a great forehand swing, this serve lets you replicate it. The higher the bounce at contact, the more pace you can generate. Add some topspin for a ball that dips down into the court.

Backspin/Slice Serve (2:38)

For a low bouncing, skidding serve, use a high to low swinging motion to impart backspin. Contact the back of the ball and brush downwards. You don't need to hold the ball as high for this serve, since you want a lower bounce at contact. The backspin will keep the ball low after it bounces.

Side Spin Serve (3:30)

To curve the ball left or right, brush the ball diagonally during your swing. Most right handers will curve from left to right with a diagonal up-left to down-right motion. Curve the ball away from your opponent or into their body for optimal effect.

Lob Serve (4:24)

The drop serve gives you great control for hitting high looping lobs that push opponents back. Let the ball drop from your hand then swing up for topspin. Vary the height and spin for optimal placement.

Specialty Serves (5:06)

Get creative! Try backhand, two-handed or even table tennis style tomahawk serves. The new rules open up possibilities for unorthodox serves.

Conclusion

While rule changes in any sport generate controversy, the increased serving variety and ease of execution with the drop serve will likely be a plus for pickleball. Take your game to the next level by mastering these techniques. The drop serve opens up a fun new dimension of the sport.

1:31 Forehand Drive/Top Spin Serve 2:38 Backspin/Slice Serve 3:30 Side Spin Serve 4:24 Lob Serve 5:06 Backhand Serve /Two-Handed Serve/Tomahawk Serve