- Pickleball Daily
- Posts
- Turn your return into a weapon
Turn your return into a weapon
Paul from Pickleball Daily
March 31, 2025
|
Tip of the day
This video explains a formula pro pickleball players use to determine where to return a serve, making it difficult for opponents to score.
The strategy for returning serves depends on the opponent's serve strength.
Returns should generally go back to the server against strong servers, providing a larger margin for error due to the longer angle and lower net.
Returning to the server can push them back and provide more time to reach the kitchen line.
When facing weaker serves, players have more options.
Pro players are now hitting returns more like aggressive passing shots, focusing on shot quality over an immediate net approach.
The return is becoming a crucial weapon in pickleball.
Key Points:
Assess Serve Quality: Adjust your return strategy based on the server's strength.
Return to Server (Strong Serves): Return to the server for a larger margin of error and to gain time.
Aggressive Returns (Weak Serves): Utilize aggressive returns, especially to the opponent's backhand.
Shot Quality Over Net Rush: Prioritize shot quality (topspin, power, accuracy) over immediately approaching the net.
Avoid Slicing Returns: Focus on other return styles.
Deal of the day
Meme of the day
🤣
That’s it for today! As always, thank you for reading. 🙏
What did you think of today’s newsletter? Please reply with how you think I can improve. I read your feedback and appreciate all of it (for real)! 😄
Happy pickling,
Paul