Hitting the Return of Service

Return of Serve: Know Your Options

Whether you're hitting the second shot, the return of serve, or even the third shot — you always have options. And every one of them comes with a trade-off worth thinking through before you commit.

On the return of serve, you've generally got three choices: hit it long, low, and hard; hit a long, slow, higher lob; or drop it short. But before you pick one, analyze what you're actually trying to accomplish.

Here are a few things to think through for each option.

1. Long, low, and hard

If you go with this option, think about your target — a backhand, or the middle "red zone" at the service T. Against a less agile player, consider going straight at the body, or a low, hard shot that bounces right at their feet. And if there's a clearly weaker player on the other side, that's your target too.

A fast-paced attack like this can genuinely give a less-skilled player trouble returning a controlled third-shot drop back to your NVZ. And if you're normally a slower-paced returner, throwing in this variation can catch the serving team completely off guard. Changing your expected pattern keeps opponents guessing — always.

But remember: the faster you give your opponent the ball, the faster it may come right back at you. A hard, fast return can also work against your own footwork, since you're now racing to the NVZ to set your defensive wall at the same time the ball's already coming back. And if you pinch too far toward the middle or the service line as you're moving forward, a line drive down the sideline becomes very hard to track down — an easy winner for them. So if you're going to return hard and fast, you'd better be moving just as fast to claim your net position.

Now here's the real trap to consider: if you rip the ball and immediately sprint to the net, who's covering the lob? If the serving team notices you crashing the net after a hard drive, they may counter with a well-placed, deep lob — and catching you mid-charge, with your momentum already moving forward, that lob can be a real surprise.

2. Long, slow, higher lob

This option can disrupt the serving team's rhythm in a different way. Bangers want to bang — they like pace, and they like to play fast. Plenty of former tennis players in particular struggle with pickleball's two-bounce rule and the patience it demands. They tend to rush the shot, and lower-skilled players especially will often error under that pressure.

The team hitting the third-shot drop might not mind the slower pace much, but the higher bounce can still throw off their timing — catching it cleanly at the right height isn't always easy. This slower ball forces your opponent to pause and wait for the bounce, which can be genuinely frustrating for a banger-style player.

The real advantage for you, though, is time. While they're waiting on that bounce, you've got extra time to get to the net yourself. (Read a book, have a chat with your partner — kidding, obviously.) But seriously, if you're less mobile or slower getting to the net, this is often your best shot at claiming a solid net position in the ready stance.

3. Short drop shot

Dropping the second shot short can be a great way to change the pace — but know your opponent's skill level first. Rushing a fast, agile player to the net that much sooner can backfire if you can't match their level once they're there.

A short drop return essentially invites the serving team up to the NVZ, and that's not always in your best interest if they're capable of doing damage from that position. Use it if you're confident they won't match up well at the net, if you want to mix things up for fun, or if you know their footwork tendencies well enough to exploit them. Otherwise, proceed with caution — this one can backfire if you're not careful.