Technique Overview of the Sidespin and Topspin Serves in Pickleball

Description:

Jerry Jayapal 

Learning how to put spin on the pickleball can make you more dangerous from the serving line. This video explains how to execute sidespin and topspin serves.

Your swing path is what helps you create sidespin when serving. Swing using your shoulder, not your wrist, and contact the ball on the bottom and side as you swing through it. This causes the ball to curve as it travels forward into your opponent’s court. To maintain control and keep the ball from going out, you’ll need to reduce the pace on the ball. Hitting a sidespin serve requires more finesse than other types of serves, but as you practice over time you’ll develop the right motion and feel. 

At higher competition levels, you’ll see more players serving with topspin. That’s because advanced players tend to prefer hitting the ball hard rather than imparting sidespin on the ball when serving. To do this, contact the ball above the midline and follow-through over the top. The ball will leave the paddle at a higher arc but will dive downward at the end of its flight. 

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