Top Effective Pickleball Serves Ranked: Pickleball players use many types of serves, but not all are equally useful. A recent guide ranked the seven most effective serves, explaining how to hit them and when to use them. Each serve has strengths and weaknesses, making it important to know the right one for the right moment.
1. The Lob Serve
The lob serve is unusual because it sends the ball very high, often 10 feet or more above the net. This can surprise opponents and force awkward returns. However, the serve is slow, giving skilled players a chance to attack. It is best used sparingly against players who struggle with high bounces.
2. The Banana Serve
The banana serve curves like a banana by mixing topspin and sidespin. It can be hit hard and even bend around the middle line. The key is tossing the ball slightly behind and brushing around it. Pros such as Annalie Waters have used this serve, but it is difficult to master, making it a lower-ranked option.
3. The Short Angle Serve
This serve angles the ball sharply toward the sideline near the kitchen. It works best against slower players or those standing in the middle of the court. The risk is high since it can easily go into the net or wide. It is most effective on the server’s dominant side and should only be used occasionally.
4. The Looper Serve
The looper serve looks like a normal topspin serve but is hit higher, about four feet over the net. The extra topspin creates a high bounce that can be tricky for opponents moving forward. The serve is more powerful than a lob serve but less risky, making it a reliable mid-level option.
5. The Fade Serve
The fade serve mixes topspin and sidespin, but unlike the banana serve, it curves in the opposite direction. The ball spins diagonally, allowing players to hit hard without the shot sailing long. The serve fades away from opponents and is considered one of the best options for advanced players above the 4.0 level.
6. The Screwball Serve
The screwball serve uses heavy sidespin to curve sharply, even around the center line. Most players at the 3.0 to 4.0 level struggle to return it, making it a strong choice at that range. To execute it, the ball is tossed near the front knee and cut across the side. Its main weakness is lack of topspin, which makes it risky and less powerful.
7. The Heavy Topspin Serve
The heavy topspin serve is considered the most effective serve in pickleball. It allows players to hit hard without the ball going out, creating unpredictable bounces. Many top-level players use only this serve because it forces mistakes and weak returns. To perform it, players brush up on the ball like a tennis forehand, aiming about one foot above the net.
Why These Serves Matter
Each serve offers different ways to challenge an opponent. While some are risky or tricky to master, others, like the heavy topspin serve, are reliable and powerful at all levels. Choosing the right serve can create weak returns, force errors, and provide a strong advantage in competitive play.
News in Brief: Top Effective Pickleball Serves Ranked
A ranking of the seven most effective pickleball serves highlights their strengths and weaknesses. The list names the heavy topspin serve as the best, followed by the screwball, fade, and looper. Trickier serves like the banana, short angle, and lob are useful in certain cases but less reliable overall.
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