The Accidental Pickleball Revelation: Unleashing the Power of the Backhand Serve

The adage that “necessity is the mother of invention” resonates deeply with me, especially in relation to my pickleball journey. While most pickleball players, including myself, initially gravitated towards the traditional forehand serve, life had other plans for me. In the face of adversity – a painful biceps tendon injury – I discovered a new way to serve, and it’s a technique that has since revolutionized my game: the backhand serve.

My Tryst with Injury and the New Dawn

In my early pickleball days, my game strategy hinged significantly on the forehand serve. Specifically, I built a deadly topspin lob serve. It felt natural, comfortable, and I had honed my skills to a point where I was almost cocky about it. However, everything took a dramatic turn when I decided to try and do some pullups at the park with my son. I thought I’d show off a little, but instead of busting out some smooth pullups, all I did was rupture my poor biceps tendon(note to self: always, always, always warm up before doing physical activity). The pain was excruciating, making my dependable forehand serve a painful impossibility.

Pausing my beloved game was unthinkable, and in this trying period, the backhand serve presented itself not just as an alternative but as a beacon of hope. Switching to the backhand serve allowed me to keep playing while reducing the strain on my injured arm. The unexpected bonus was the unique spin it added to the ball, a right-to-left spin, that turned out to be a game-changer.

Mastering the Mechanics of the Backhand Serve

Initially, the backhand serve felt unusual, but once I understood its mechanics, the process became almost intuitive. Here are the specifics that helped me execute a powerful backhand serve:

1. The Ball Toss: The difference in the ball toss between a forehand and a backhand serve is fundamental. For the backhand serve, the tossing arm stays closer to the body, sometimes even obstructing the view of the ball. Overcoming this requires practice and comfort with the swing. Some players prefer holding the ball above the paddle; I found it more effective to keep it below. The key is to allow the arm to ‘vanish’ as you swing through, establishing a seamless, fluid motion.
2. Shoulder Engagement: It’s important to engage your shoulder during the swing. A shoulder-driven swing not only brings strength to the serve but also reduces the strain on your arm, particularly vital if you’re nursing an injury like I was.
3. Stepping into the Serve: Adding a step forward as you strike the ball is a powerful technique. This action transfers your body weight and momentum into the serve, allowing you to generate power without swinging too hard.
4. Paddle Face Positioning: Keeping your paddle face open upon ball contact is crucial. An open face paddle helps lift the ball, propelling it over the net and deep into the opponent’s court.

Strategic Advantages of the Backhand Serve

Mastering the backhand serve not only meant I could continue playing despite my injury, but it also opened up new strategic opportunities:

• Utilizing the Unique Spin: The unique right-to-left spin of the backhand serve can be challenging for opponents to predict and react to. Especially in windy conditions, this spin can move the ball significantly, catching your opponents off guard and scoring easy points.
• Overcoming Stacking: If I’m up against someone stacking on the ‘do side’, I can now use the backhand serve to hit the ball deep into the corner. This move can take them off the court, forcing them to scramble back into position, often resulting in an advantageous situation for me.
• Adding Variety to Your Game: The backhand serve brings a distinct flavor to the game. It adds unpredictability to your serves, disrupting opponents’ rhythm with its different spin and bounce.

Embracing the Backhand Serve

Although my journey to the backhand serve began as a workaround to an injury, it has now become an integral part of my playing style. It has added a new layer of strategy and variety to my game, challenging my opponents in unexpected ways.

The backhand serve not only saved my pickleball career during my injury, but it also evolved my game to new heights. It is easy on the arm and shoulder, making it a safe and powerful serve to rely on. In addition, it’s a fantastic tool to throw your opponents off their game, making you a less predictable player.

Conclusion

My tryst with the backhand serve started as a necessity, but it swiftly transformed into a formidable asset. It’s more than just an alternative to the forehand serve; it’s a strategic technique that has significantly enriched my pickleball experience. Regardless of whether you’re nursing an injury or just looking to add some variety to your game, I wholeheartedly recommend embracing the backhand serve. Remember, the joy of pickleball, like life, is all about adapting and making the best out of every situation!

Be Sure To Check Out Our Carefully Curated Series on Serving for Beginners

• Author
• Recent Posts

Social FTW!

Mikhail Ricci

Dink Evaluator at Pickleballologist

Hey there, I'm Mike. I'm a pickleball aficionado by day, pickleball dreamer by night, and honestly, the only thing I'm probably worse at than avoiding tripping over my own shoelaces is resisting the addictive allure of pickleball.

I hail from the picturesque landscapes of Denver, Colorado, where the pickleball scene is as vibrant as our city's sunsets. The game has changed my life in ways I never thought a sport could. You see, before I got hooked, my closest encounter with a racket was a fly swatter.

As far as my coaching credentials go, well, it's a classic underdog story. I was once the guy who couldn't tell a pickleball paddle from a pizza peel, and now I'm proudly sporting the title of Master Teaching Professional from the IPTPA. If that doesn't give hope to all my fellow klutzes, I don't know what will!

My love for pickleball goes far beyond the court. I run the In2Pickle YouTube channel, which is a blend of pickleball tactics, bloopers (mostly mine), and heartfelt stories from players whose lives have been touched by the sport. If you're more into listening than watching, you can catch me chatting about everything pickleball-related on my Pickleball Therapy podcast. And if that isn't enough, I've also penned a book titled "Play Pickleball", where I share everything from basic rules to advanced strategies, and of course, anecdotes of my own hilarious mishaps.

Social FTW!

Latest posts by Mikhail Ricci (see all)

• Paddle Review: The Selkirk VANGUARD Power Air Invikta - September 15, 2023
• Keep Your Achilles Tendons Dancing on the Pickleball Court! - August 31, 2023
• Maui Strong Pro-Am Event: A Pickleball Fundraiser You Don’t Want to Miss! - August 23, 2023