Serve Return Drill for Intermediate

The Serve & Return drill is a key practice for intermediate pickleball players. It focuses on improving your serving accuracy and return strategies. This drill is rated a 3 in difficulty, making it suitable for players who have a basic knowledge of the game but want to improve their skills.

Why This Drill Matters

This drill helps you:

• Improve your serving accuracy by aiming for specific targets.
• Develop better return strategies to handle different types of serves.
• Gain consistency in your serves and returns.
• Learn to control the pace and placement of your shots.

What You Need

For this 45-minute drill, you'll need:

• Pickleball paddle
• Pickleball balls
• Targets (cones or markers)

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Warm-up: Start with some light stretching and basic pickleball strokes to prepare your body.
2. Set up targets: Place cones or markers in different areas of the service box on the opposite side of the court. These will be your targets.
3. Practice serving: Focus on serving to the designated targets. Try different serves (flat, slice, topspin) to see how they affect the ball's trajectory.
4. Return practice: Have a partner serve to you, and practice returning the serves strategically. Aim for different areas of the court, focusing on depth and placement.
5. Rotate roles: Switch roles with your partner, so both of you get practice serving and returning.
6. Repeat: Continue the drill for about 45 minutes, focusing on consistency and accuracy.

Alternative Drills

Target Serve Drill

This variation focuses solely on improving your serving accuracy. Set up multiple targets and try to hit them consistently with your serves.

Partner Return Drill

In this drill, your partner serves to you, and you focus exclusively on your returns. Experiment with different return strategies, such as deep returns, short angles, and attacking returns.

Tips for Safe and Effective Training

• Warm-up: Always warm up properly before starting any drill to prevent injuries.
• Feedback: Use feedback from your partner or a coach to improve your accuracy and technique.
• Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated during the drill.