Coach Mary’s Tip of the Week
The focus this week is to encourage players to weaponize their serves, without giving up consistency. I am offering several good video lessons, from Ed Ju, the Pickleball Journey boys, Callie Smith and Jordan Briones.
Be sure to watch each of the videos.
Callie Smith: Short and sweet, but she demonstrates how you can just use your arm and step in (she shakes her finger, NO), and then compares to a dynamic serve with her hips, shoulders and body creating power.
Ed Ju: Here are five key points.
** Depth, height, power.
** Lob serves are great! Deep with topspin. Low to high.
** Follow-through, noodle arms, if you are going to miss, miss deep. Load your legs, and piston up.
** Feed yourself low, just let go of the ball below your waist.
** Closed versus open stance: see the video. I like that he suggests a hybrid, between the two. Be conscious of where your toes are pointing.
Justin from Pickleball Journey Boys: The videos where the pro teaches a student are helpful. He takes Jess from just getting it in, to really creating power with her walk up, her follow-through and using her hips and shoulders.
Elijah from Pickleball Journey: The serve is an opportunity to either win an easy point or create a weak return from your opponent. Do not just “get the ball in”.
** Elijah demonstrates two advanced serves. You can do them too. He shows the walk up serve, weaponizing his serve by moving into it and using his hips and shoulders to almost jump into the court. Check it out.
** Be patient, practice it
** Dominant foot, non-dominant foot, hit the ball. Keep your paddle high, then bring it down on contact.
** He demonstrates the cut, spin or banana serve next. This is tricky, but one of my favorite serves. Be sure to watch this video several times. Pay attention to how he explains the paddle start, follow-through and finish. This ball will spin away from your opponent!
Jordan Briones: Open versus closed serves
** First, get a routine prior to your serve. One bounce, two bounce, etc.
** Grips: Continental or Eastern (Shake Hands, versus move your hand behind the grip for Eastern.) Western is more advanced but check out the video. This is from tennis.
** Jordan has a great teaching tool with his ball holder. Compare the Continental, Eastern and Western grips.
** Toss or release – in front of your right leg if right -handed with the open stance. Contact out in front, and low, for both open and closed stance.
** Open helps you incorporate your hips and shoulders! Power and rotation from your core. Tennis players will like this.
** Closed stance – Benefit is the weight transfer. Check out where his toes point. See his hips come through. Notice how his back leg comes into the court on follow-through to weaponize the serve.
** Really trying to generate topspin. His tool is called the “Topspin Pro”. Low to high, brush over the ball, and finish with your knuckles facing the sky, finishing high.
** Drop serve – drop in front of you.
** Soft grip, 4 out of 10.
Upcoming event
It is my pleasure to promote a new local round robin event: the Palm Springs Hospitality Association First Annual Pickleball Tournament.
The event begins at 8:30 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 16 at Demuth Park in Palm Springs. Events include singles/skinny singles, rotating partners, men’s doubles, mixed doubles and women’s doubles. All skill levels from beginners (2.0) to advanced (5.0) are welcome.
Entry fee is $50 for the first event, $25 for second event, $15 for third and $10 for a fourth.
All entry fees are tax deductible, and the proceeds will go to the PHSA Scholarship Fun as well as the Palm Springs Boys’ and Girls’ Club.
I am the tournament director so contact me for additional information via email at mgbarsaleau@gmail.com or click on this link to register.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Pickleball: Serving tips to create power
