Building a Strong Serve Routine
Dylan Lewis, who competes in PPA and AVP tournaments, highlighted the importance of a pre-serve routine. “For example, Tyson McGuffin does a little pallet tap with the ball,” Lewis explained. He added, “One of my things that I like to do is bounce the ball once.”
Having a good base is another critical step. Lewis said, “Getting low so that you’re able to use your core and your legs… you can create the most power into your serve.”
He also stressed correct paddle positioning. “Putting your paddle right in front of you and just twisting your body here… will make sure that you don’t bring your paddle too far back or too far forward,” Lewis said.
Perfecting the Ball Drop and Follow Through
Lewis shared new rules for 2025, saying, “One thing that you cannot do is throw up in the air or put spin on the ball.” He advised practicing a consistent drop to avoid faults. On stance, Lewis noted, “Really it’s just preference,” mentioning how players like Tyson McGuffin and Ben Johns stand differently.
He warned players about a common mistake: poor follow-through. “If people go like this and cut off, they’re not going to be able to get like full extension and increase their power,” Lewis said. Instead, players should “come through and all the way through.”
Learning About Wrist Lag and Staying Low
Lewis described wrist lag as a tricky but essential technique. “The best way to do it is using your wrist the whole time while you’re swinging,” he said. This keeps the motion smooth and powerful. Staying low throughout the swing is also key.
Lewis observed, “One thing that you want to do is just stay low through the entire swing.” If a serve goes long, adding topspin with a “low to high motion” can help keep the ball in bounds.
Slow-Motion Breakdown of Dylan’s Serve
The video broke down Dylan’s serve in slow motion to highlight key elements. He kept a wide base, rotated his chest aggressively, and showed strong wrist lag.
As seen, Dylan’s paddle tip started facing sideways, then lagged backward before swinging forward with the paddle tip pointed down at contact. This helped maintain power and accuracy.
Practicing with a Fun Drill
Lewis recommended a water bottle drill to improve serve accuracy. Players score points by hitting in specific zones and extra points for hitting the bottles. The drill helps build consistency and targets key areas to serve strategically.
Feedback and Improvements
After giving tips, Dylan also helped the video creator improve his serve. He pointed out, “You go like this in the middle of it… you throw the ball up and you go boom boom.” He also advised, “Sit down a little bit,” and “twist your body a little bit more” for better power. The creator noticed real improvements, saying, “I actually felt like that made a huge difference.”
News in Brief: Tips for Building a Powerful Pickleball Serve
Pro pickleball player Dylan Lewis shared his top tips for a powerful pickleball serve in a new Learning from the Locals lesson. He emphasized routines, low stances, proper ball drops, and follow-through techniques. Lewis also demonstrated drills and gave personal feedback to improve serve strength, accuracy, and overall confidence.
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