I’ve been coaching pickleball for over ten years and have seen countless players struggle on their return of serve. They either bunt the ball back softly or get caught behind the baseline, unable to recover. Through my experience, I’ve identified two key areas to focus on so students can start gaining that all-important real estate after serving.
Top tips I share with my students:
- Make aggressive contact with the ball out in front of your body
- Transfer your weight fully into the shot
- Extend your follow through toward your target
- Aim to return the ball deep in the court, near the baseline if possible
Swing Through the Ball
When I’m working with students on their return, the very first thing I emphasize is swinging through the ball to create depth. I often see beginners simply blocking the ball back. While they may get it in play, this leads to the serving team teeing off on a weak return.
Swinging through the ball versus bunting it back gives you a chance to actually win the point outright or at least put the serving team on the defensive.
Quickly Recover to the Kitchen
The second key component I constantly remind students of is immediately returning to the non-volley zone line after returning serve. I can’t tell you how often I’ve seen players pause to watch their return or flat-foot it after contact. This cedes all the momentum to the serving team.
Here is what I instruct for proper recovery footwork:
- Propell yourself forward the instant after returning the serve
- Do not pause to watch the ball
- Have your momentum carry you swiftly to the kitchen line
- Arrive inside the non-volley zone as the 3rd shot comes to you or partner
During drills, I remind students to treat the area behind them like a wall. Don’t allow yourself to get pushed back from the ideal court position. Keep recovery steps compact and efficient.
Mastering this quick assertive footwork sequence enables students to seize control of points. It also immediately puts pressure on the serving team. I love seeing that lightbulb moment when a student successfully starts gaining real estate!
Getting Back to the Kitchen: Mental Strategies and Drills
Returning to the kitchen line quickly after hitting your return is critical in pickleball. However, it’s common to see players pause or fail to move up decisively. Here are some mental techniques and drills to break this habit.
Visualization
Visualizing proper footwork and court position is an excellent mental strategy. Before matches, picture yourself hitting assertive returns and immediately recovering forward to the ideal court position. See your quick reactions and transition steps in your mind’s eye. Reinforce the muscle memory.
During play, visualize the kitchen line boundary. Mentally see yourself sprinting forward after each return. Create images of attacking the ball once inside the non-volley zone. This visualization primes you to execute.
Affirmations
Affirmations combined with visualization are powerful. Tell yourself “Quick feet!” right before serves. Say “Attack!” as you recover forward. Repeat cue words that reinforce your movement goals. Affirmations boost consciousness and provide motivation.
Intentional Focus
Being intentional about your focus is key. Lock in on recovery footwork and kitchen line position rather than ball results. Dwell on execution, not outcomes. This puts attention on the process so your body reacts properly. Don’t let your mind wander after the return.
Partner Drills: Race to The Kitchen
Set up drills with a partner where you continuously return serve and recover to a cone or line. The focus is accumulating reps of the footwork pattern, not rally-outs. Take turns serving and returning. Move the cones or tape lines closer and closer to the non-volley zone to increase pressure.
Solo Training
Use solo training to ingrain returning forward. Set up a ball machine or rebounder to deliver serves. After returning, sprint to touch a line or cone, then reset. Perform the drill in intervals, recording how many quality repetitions you complete. Challenge yourself to beat personal bests.
Implementing these strategies and drills can reprogram your muscle memory. You’ll soon find yourself automatically recovering forward without thinking. Don’t let bad habits deter you. Commit to the training and transform your return game.
Conclusion
Getting inside the kitchen line quickly after returning serve is a fundamental yet often overlooked pickleball tactic. I teach both the aggressive swing technique and urgent footwork pattern outlined here to help students turn defense into offense. Try it out yourself and watch your win percentage climb!
I played D3 college tennis, so I thought transitioning to pickleball would be a breeze. Boy, was I wrong! The game is similar but has its own unique challenges that I've been excited to tackle. I've been playing for a few months now, and I'm completely hooked.
What I love most about pickleball is the community. It's a mix of competitive spirit and camaraderie that I haven't found in any other sport. Whether it's a casual game or a more intense match, the atmosphere is always welcoming.
When I'm not assisting in surgeries or chasing after pickleballs, I enjoy hiking, reading up on animal behavior, and trying to perfect my pickleball serve. If you're up for a game or just want to chat about the latest in veterinary medicine or pickleball strategies, feel free to reach out. I'm all ears!
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