Tips and Advice
A few fundamentals to take to the court and the course, from the Serve For Strength team. Want to work on them in person? Join us at an upcoming clinic.
Pickleball Tips
Respect the kitchen
The non-volley zone is the 7 feet on each side of the net. You can step in to play a ball that has bounced, but you cannot volley with a foot in it or on the line, and that includes your momentum carrying you in after the shot.
Let it bounce twice
The serve has to bounce, and so does the return. Only after those two bounces can anyone volley. Staying back on the serve and the return keeps you from giving away easy points.
Learn the third-shot drop
After the return, the serving team is usually stuck at the baseline. A soft third shot that lands in the kitchen buys you time to move up to the net together.
Move up as a team
Pickleball doubles is won at the kitchen line. Move forward with your partner and stay side by side, so you do not leave a gap down the middle.
Keep your paddle up
Between shots, hold your paddle out in front around chest height. Fast exchanges at the net happen too quickly to lift a paddle from your knees.
Be patient in the dink rally
Dink cross-court when you can. The net is lower in the middle and the cross-court ball has more room to land. Wait for a ball that sits up before you speed it up.
Golf Tips
Grip it lighter
A tight grip locks up your wrists and forearms. Hold the club firmly enough to control it, but loose enough that your arms can swing freely.
Check your alignment
Before you swing, set your feet, hips and shoulders parallel to your target line. Laying a club on the ground along your toes during practice makes it easy to check.
Tempo beats power
A smooth, unhurried backswing and a full finish produce more consistent contact than swinging as hard as you can.
Play to the scramble
In a scramble, everyone on the team hits and the team plays from the best shot. That frees you to swing with confidence, and it makes every chip and putt from the chosen spot count.
Putt for speed first
On longer putts, focus on distance more than line. Getting the ball close takes the pressure off the next putt and cuts down on three-putts.
Warm up before you tee off
A few minutes of stretching and some easy swings with a short iron loosen you up and make the first hole feel a lot less like the first hole.
Play With Us
The best way to put these tips to work is on the court with people who love the game. Serve For Strength runs pickleball clinics, golf fundraisers and community events all year, and every event raises money for medical research and families facing health challenges.