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I see so many good players not using their serve as a weapon. I don't understand it. Once you are at a 3.5 level and above, you should weaponize your serve with spin and speed. I use my serve often to set up my 3rd shot drive as a lot of times it's returned short. If they are still able to return it deep, then drop it. I hit a low, hard topspin, or sometimes side spin serve that I am able to set up third shots by having them hit weak returns. If you are playing against experienced players, hitting a soft, loopy serve just to get it in is allowing the return players to dictate the point. They can put it anywhere they want it and be at the NVZ line before you can even hit the 3rd shot. If you can weaponize your serve and get it in 90% of the time, do it!!

@BetterPickleball

5 ай бұрын

If you’ve got a consistently deep aggressive serve use it. The keyword is consistent. The problem is that many players try to do to much with it and then miss it. A softer serve in and deep is better than a hard hit serve out

@redb5640

5 ай бұрын

Mike you are absolutely correct. I serve like you and basically know what the return will look like. But I think this message is to help beginning players.

@BetterPickleball

5 ай бұрын

@@redb5640 the message is a deep serve even if it is soft is better than getting fixated on developing an aggressive serve that hits the net or goes out, which is the mistake that players at beginner through intermediate levels often make :)

Great video. The progression of serve through shots 2, 3, and 4 is an awesome way for new players to begin understanding how the start of the point flows.

@BetterPickleball

5 ай бұрын

Not just new players. We see these mistakes especially the 4th shot made by players over 3.5 ;)

I would disagree on the handling of the 4th shot. If there is a decent margin for error, you should go for it, or at least make it as hard as possible for your opponents to return. Hitting two shots at the same spot would give a strong player options to counter.

@BetterPickleball

5 ай бұрын

If I hit a “winner” on the 4th shot what do I get? A side out or a change of serve. If I take a chance and don’t hit it perfectly what do I lose? A point. I’d rather keep giving my opponents and opportunity to make a mistake. Chances are they will

@chubun6631

5 ай бұрын

Key words here are 'decent margin' meaning you don't have to be 'perfect'. People playing dinking game just to wait for an attackable ball. And here we have a clearly attackable ball and decide to play it safe. Doesn't make much sense to me. Furthermore I don't believe in giving opportunities because decent ones will more likely not make a mistake but rather make you pay.

@kbotelho27

5 ай бұрын

Yes, at the highest level players are being a bit more aggressive on 4ths. However, for the vast majority of players the combination of side out scoring, court size and the NZV make deep shots keeping the serving team back the high percentage play.

@Morgandgrant

5 ай бұрын

In the video the opponent already made a mistake by popping up a smashable ball on their 3rd shot. Why not take advantage of it? I play 3.5 level and I think my opponents would smash home a winner 8/10 on the 3rd shot you showed for the "4th shot mistakes" segment. Pretty good odds in my book. I understand what you were getting at but I think the video you chose was not the best - that was a super attackable ball.

@BetterPickleball

5 ай бұрын

@@Morgandgrant if you keep hitting it deep without risking hitting it out, how many times will they be able to return it to you before they miss? My guess is that you would be able to continually put the ball back deep and they would miss before you do :)

No offense, but 3 of your tips are for beginners only. Once your at 3.5 or above you should weaponize your serve! If you develop a wicked serve getting 8 out of 10 serves in is fine. I get points off 10-30 percent of my serves plus the majority of their returns are popped up and short which we then have the advantage. The return of serve should focus on a deep return to the middle or backhand of the weaker opponent. Yes, some height above the net is a good idea as it allows you to get to the kitchen line. You should mention a split step just before they hit their return and the common mistake of trying to hit while on the move. And the 4th shot: yes, keep them back with shots deep to their feet, but when you are in position use an overhead slam with an angle. Whacking the sh$T out of the ball is one of the biggest dopamine rushes in sports:)

@BetterPickleball

5 ай бұрын

We see these mistakes made at 3.5 frequently. As to the forth shot yes it’s fun to hit the ball hard but if I hit it in what do I get? If I hit it hard out, what do I give? Most matches are lost because of gifted points, not from winning them outright ;)

@Abbiedupre7

5 ай бұрын

@@BetterPickleballthis philosophy is holding a lot of people back, game is changing and your getting left behind

We are in our 60’s and retired. Just moved into an over 55 Del Webb community. We have 8 PB courts. We just want to get out, exercise and play. Meet our neighbors etc. Not wanting to turn pro. Love these videos on how to just keep the ball in play and have fun. Not everyone is looking to be #1 in the world. Thanks.

@BetterPickleball

4 ай бұрын

We may not want to turn pro but it’s always fun to play our best ;)

This seems like a good video for absolute beginners. Otherwise you’re putting almost zero pressure on your opponents

@BetterPickleball

5 ай бұрын

Most players below the 3.5 level do not get past 4 shots on average ;)

@Goofymonkey11

5 ай бұрын

That’s a fair point 👍🏻

Thank you

@BetterPickleball

4 ай бұрын

You're welcome

thanks for this tips

@BetterPickleball

5 ай бұрын

Most welcome

Great tips! I make all those mistakes!

@BetterPickleball

5 ай бұрын

Glad it was helpful!

I agree with Steve, what do you do when the shot is in the kitchen and you’re hanging back behind the serve line? Especially when you’re of an older age and don’t want to fall and get hurt 😮

@gerrydertinger7447

5 ай бұрын

Concur. Like with serving, smart players will “ mix it up “ . Combine this soft touch with a dash to the net and risk a lunge that can pull your hamstring something nasty. Been there done that ( 68 yr old body and 30 yr old brain ).

@carlrodrigues6919

5 ай бұрын

You antisapte the 4 shot

@BetterPickleball

5 ай бұрын

A returners objective is to hit the return as deep as possible to give the serve team a difficult third shot. If you’re playing against players who are utilizing this strategy and you step in the court it’s highly likely you won’t get the third shot back. Will there players who can’t or don’t return deeply. Sure. In that case adjust.

those are great tips. these days I'm exasperated by those short points where I've made an unforced errors within the first 4 hits/touches of the ball... I wonder if you had to go through many takes bc it started to rain a bit by the end...

@BetterPickleball

5 ай бұрын

Keeping it simple during the first 4 shots often leads to longer rallies. The rain wasn’t so bad but we only got to play one game :(

Do I understand this right, that the server should stay behind the service line to not get trapped by deep returns? But what if the return is shallow, as in landing in the kitchen? Then again, I guess it's easier to run forward than to step back.

@carlrodrigues6919

5 ай бұрын

Bingo

@BetterPickleball

5 ай бұрын

Yup, easier to run forward. If you play against someone who returns short consistently then you can make an adjustment for that person.

@jos6415

5 ай бұрын

Yes stay behind the base line

Where is the subscribe button? It doesn’t appear on my screen at all

@BetterPickleball

4 ай бұрын

Here you go kzread.info

While there is a place for a “softer” game, this doesn’t work against a more experienced, more aggressive player. Not specifically a banger but those that serve and return with both speed and spin.

@BetterPickleball

5 ай бұрын

What’s most important on both the serve and return are depth. Players figure out how to return speed and spin, but put a player behind the baseline to hit a return or third shot and most players struggle

Also creeping in on a 3rd shot is a safety issue. Yesterday in a rec game someone twisted there ankle by going backwards

@BetterPickleball

5 ай бұрын

Yikes. Hope they get better soon

Looks like John dressed for different weather than the rest of you

@BetterPickleball

5 ай бұрын

Lol! He's from Chicago

No way. Tired of the rules being changed every minute and that you can’t be an aggressive player. They look like they are learning to play table tennis. I will continue with my aggressive game.

@BetterPickleball

5 ай бұрын

If you are consistent with your aggressive game, yes continue with it. If not you may want to consider an alternative.