Callie Jo Smith’s Game-Changing Tips: Professional pickleball player Callie Jo Smith recently addressed a common challenge faced by players at all levels—the return of serve. In a video shared on Instagram, Smith offered two simple yet highly effective strategies to help players manage even the toughest serves. With her approachable teaching style, Smith broke down the mechanics behind a consistent and reliable return, emphasizing precision and focus.
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The Challenge of the Return
Returning a deep, hard serve can be intimidating for players, especially when faced with skilled opponents. Smith acknowledged the difficulty of this crucial shot, explaining how players often make unforced errors by overthinking or losing focus during execution.
“A lot of times, people feel overwhelmed on the return of serve. If that’s the case, there are two things I would think about to help simplify the process.” – (Callie Jo Smith)
Her advice focused on building consistency and confidence through proper technique and mental discipline.
Tip 1: Aim for the Middle of the Pickleball Court
Smith’s first tip was to aim for the middle of the court, particularly when dealing with deep and hard serves.
“If you’re having a hard time just hitting it in, go for the middle. That way, even if you mishit the ball, it’s still going to go left or right—and it’ll still be in.” – (Callie Jo Smith)
By targeting the center, players reduce the margin for error and increase their chances of keeping the return in play. This strategy allows players to focus on maintaining control rather than attempting risky, precise placements near the sidelines.
Tip 2: Watch the Ball Closely
The second tip centered on watching the ball as it comes off the opponent’s paddle, a detail that many players overlook in the heat of the moment.
“Sometimes we like to watch where our return is going, so we take our eye off the ball a little bit. When that happens, your chest lifts, your paddle lifts, and the ball comes up off your paddle.” – (Callie Jo Smith)
She advised players to maintain focus on the ball throughout the return motion. By keeping their chest and paddle down, players can execute a controlled shot that stays low and consistent.
Putting It All Together: A Smooth, Controlled Return
Callie Jo Smith emphasized that these two adjustments—aiming for the middle and watching the ball—work together to create a reliable return. She demonstrated how keeping her chest and paddle low allowed her to maintain control and hit through the ball with precision.
“As I make contact, my chest stays down, everything stays down through the ball.” – (Callie Jo Smith)
This posture helps ensure that the ball travels in the intended direction without popping up, minimizing the risk of giving opponents an easy opportunity to attack.
News in Brief: Callie Jo Smith’s Game-Changing Tips
Callie Jo Smith shared two essential strategies for improving the return of serve in pickleball. She recommended aiming for the middle of the court to reduce errors and advised players to keep their focus on the ball to ensure better control.
By maintaining proper posture, with the chest and paddle down, players can execute smoother, more consistent returns. Callie Jo Smith’s tips emphasize mastering the fundamentals to boost confidence and consistency in return play.
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