VARIATIONS ON THE BACKHAND SERVE

As pickleball attracts more and more players from other sports, those new players bring shots from their former sports. There is much greater shot variety in pickleball than ever before. Some of the shots even have names, like reset, Erne, and dink. As overall play gets better, the need for variety, change of pace, additional spin, and deception increases.

Why would you want to use a backhand serve? In the past, I have seen several players switch to a backhand serve when they got the yips. They couldn’t control their forehand serve, so they relied on keeping the swing close to the body with a backhand serve. It was an alternative.

But now I see it used for variety, to mix things up and to catch an opponent off guard, as well as for strategic placement purposes. It changes the angle of delivery. It allows for a reverse spin. It can be deceptively short.

Here are four variations of backhand serves, including how to create them and when and why you would use them.

SIDESPIN

If you are serving to a left-handed player who is receiving on the right side of the court, your sidespin serve will draw her off the court and the ball will “drift” as it continues wide. Many players do not have powerful backhands while on the run, and even if the receiver hits a good return, she has left the middle wide open. Spin adds a dimension that makes an opponent have to think and use judgment.

To hit heavy sidespin, you must go across the ball from the inside to the outside of your paddle. You draw the paddle across the ball. Your arm’s force goes across the ball as your body and your swing go forward toward the opponent’s court.

SHORT UNDERSPIN

If your opponent has mobility issues and/or a weak backhand, you can pull him off the court serving to his backhand when he is receiving in the left court. The ball will stay low, forcing him to hit up.

You can guide the ball wide. You are not looking for pace here. You are slicing the ball as if you’re peeling an orange—under, around, and up over the net. It is almost a “carry.” You want the ball to stay on your paddle for as long as possible. Extend your follow-through.

FLAT DRIVE

If your opponent has moved up a bit for your short spin serves, you need to counter with a deep, flat, no-nonsense drive down the middle. You give no angle. Players with good groundstrokes want you to serve them an angle so they can pound it back with a sharper angle.

Your depth is important here and pace is helpful. Shift your weight into the ball, and keep your knees flexed. You are pitching a fastball right down the middle as you look for a weak return.

Signaling in advance to your partner is a good idea so she is not caught off guard. Table tennis players signal under the table, tennis players behind their backs, and pickleball players hold their paddles in front of their faces as they talk. Whatever works without revealing your plan will help you keep your opponents guessing.

TOPSPIN

So many players think topspin is hit by rotating your wrist. I believe good topspin is generated by the legs, and the wrist is a smooth roll over the ball from low to high. The pace, the action, and the effectiveness of the shot depends on the legs. Low to high. This serve takes muscle. Pros love it. Seniors have to work very hard.

Only you can decide if your topspin is worth the expended energy. Is it effective? Depth is crucial. Otherwise, you have a cupcake inviting your opponent to rush forward and get to the NVZ line ahead of you. Keeping the serve deep makes topspin very effective.

Variety Pack

Pace, spin, placement, and your court position are all factors in mixing up your service delivery. Adding a backhand serve gives you a new look. There must be a purpose to your change. Even a high, deep, nothing ball can be an effective backhand serve.

All of these serves require practice. Remember to put the stress on your legs, not your arm, when using a backhand serve. Go across your body back to front with the power generated by your legs. The backhand is a natural shot. Think about rolling forward as you strike the ball and continue your forward momentum. Vary the spot on your paddle where you make contact to add various spins. •

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Alice Tym was ranked 13th in the world for tennis in the ‘60s. She’s been named USPTA Coach of the Year and is a USPTA Master Professional. As a 4.5 pickleball player, she has won gold in Huntsman, NSGA Nationals, US Open, and USA Pickleball events around the country. Alice is an IPTPA member, SSIPA founding board member, Bainbridge Cup Originator and gold medalist in Spain, Italy, and Germany.

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