Drills Recap

June 26, 2025
Ace Your Game: Mastering the Serve

Hey BYC Pickleball & More crew!

Another fantastic day on the courts here in sunny Chiang Mai, and today’s focus was all about the serve – the often-underestimated yet absolutely crucial first shot in pickleball. It was great seeing everyone out there, putting in the effort to elevate their game. Whether you’re a seasoned player or relatively new to the joys of pickleball, a solid serve can make all the difference.

Today, we dove into four key serve types, each with its own unique purpose and technique. Let’s recap what we covered:

Underspin Serve

So, the underspin serve. It’s a classic for a reason, right? When you brush that paddle down and under the ball, you're putting backspin on it. What happens then? The ball kind of floats, then it just skids low after it bounces. And that makes it really tricky for your opponent to get a clean third shot. We really focused on keeping that swing smooth and controlled, making sure we hit the ball low. Just remember that slightly downward, forward motion. It’s what gives you that effective underspin. Think about slicing right under it, almost like you’re trying to peel something off the bottom. It can take a bit to get the feel for it, but it’s so worth it.

Topspin Serve

Then we switched gears to the topspin serve. This one's pretty much the opposite. You're brushing up and over the ball. That forward rotation makes the ball dip quickly and then, importantly, it bounces higher and faster. A solid topspin serve can really push your opponent back, perhaps making their return shot just a little more awkward than they'd like. We worked on that slightly upward swing path, almost a little snap of the wrist right when you hit the ball. It might feel a bit odd at first, a bit like you're trying to scoop the ball, but trust me, with practice, you’ll find that spot where the ball just jumps off your paddle. It's satisfying when it clicks.

Sidespin Serve

Now, the sidespin serve. This one is fun because it makes the ball curve sideways. It can, you know, pull your opponent way out wide or just set them up for a really weird, awkward return. For this serve, we practiced brushing the paddle across the side of the ball. You can go right to left for a curve one way, or left to right for the other. It really depends on what you're aiming for. The trick is adjusting your body a bit and where you hit the ball to get just the right amount of spin and direction. It’s all about finding that precise angle, that subtle touch.

Lob Serve

Finally, the lob serve. When you hit this one just right, it’s a real game-changer. It's a high, deep serve, and the main idea is to buy you and your partner precious time to get right up to the net. Plus, it forces your opponents to hit an overhead, and, well, those can go wrong pretty easily, right? We emphasized a nice, smooth, upward swing for this one, making contact a little lower on the ball to get that height and depth. The main thing is to get it high enough to clear the net easily, but also deep enough so it lands somewhere near the baseline. It’s a strategic serve, one that sometimes catches people off guard.

Pickleball Serve Rules

We also went over some of the basic rules of serving today. It’s probably good to just quickly recap them, so you've got them clear in your head. Think of it as a little Q&A:

Where do I stand when serving? You've got to be behind the baseline, within the lines of your serving side of the court.
Which side do I serve from first? Okay, so at the very start of the game, the first server on the first team serves from the right-hand court. If you score a point, you switch to the left-hand court for the next serve. You just keep switching courts after each point you score, until you lose the rally. Then, the other team gets to serve.
How do I actually hit the ball? It has to be an underhand serve. Your paddle needs to hit the ball below your waist. And get this: the top part of your paddle head can't be higher than your wrist when you hit the ball.
Can I bounce the ball before serving? Yep, you totally can. Just one bounce, though.
What if the ball hits the net on the serve? If your serve hits the net but still lands in the right service court, that’s called a "let." No big deal, you just serve again. You can have as many "let" serves as you need.
Where does the serve need to land? It has to land in the service court diagonally across from you, and it absolutely must clear the non-volley zone, what we call "the kitchen."
What's a fault? A fault is when something goes wrong with the serve. Like if you miss the ball entirely, or it hits the net and doesn't land in the right spot, or it lands out of bounds. Also, if the ball hits you or your partner, or if you don't hit it underhand and below the waist, that's a fault too. If you get two faults in a row, you lose your serve. (Just a quick note: this two-fault rule is a bit different for the very first serve of the game for the starting team).

Anyway, just keep working on these serves. It’s all about consistent practice, right? That’s how you build a serve that you can really count on, one that will definitely help your game at BYC Pickleball & More here in Chiang Mai. I’m looking forward to seeing what everyone brings to the courts next time!

June 19, 2025
From Baseline to Kitchen + Mastering the Offensive Volley

At BYC Pickleball & More, we believe that progress comes from purposeful practice — not just playing games, but taking time to build muscle memory and sharpen techniques.

In our recent 2-hour drill session, we focused on one of the most critical transitions in pickleball — moving from the baseline to the kitchen — and introduced three offensive volley techniques to elevate your offensive play. These aren’t just fancy moves; they’re essential tools that will help you stay in control, surprise your opponents, and win more points.

Drill Focus 1: Moving from the Baseline to the Kitchen

We kicked off with drills that emphasized court positioning — learning when and how to move safely and effectively from the baseline up to the non-volley zone (NVZ or “kitchen”).

Why it matters:
Controlling the kitchen is essential in pickleball. The sooner you and your partner can move up — without getting punished by deep shots — the more control you’ll have in the rally.

Learn how to make your move from the baseline to the kitchen as you transition from tennis to pickleball. It's not about your speed, it's about the shot that will allow you to move forward.

How to avoid "no man's land," find the perfect shot, and teach yourself not to rush the net during every rally.

Drill Focus 2: Mastering Offensive Volleys

We worked on three offensive volleys that elevate your attacking game while keeping the ball low and unpredictable.

1. Poke Volley (Punch)

A short, punchy volley that neutralizes your opponent’s pace and keeps the ball low over the net.

Learn how this compact motion can frustrate attackers and reset tough rallies.

2. Roll Volley

A topspin volley that “rolls” off your paddle — dipping fast and forcing awkward returns.

Perfect for offensive setups at the NVZ line.

Practice Tip: Drill, Rest, Repeat

But here’s the key: one session isn’t enough.

To achieve real improvement, practice these drills consistently.

Even 20–30 minutes with a partner or a training wall can make a big difference. Better yet, invite a buddy to BYC during off-peak hours and turn your casual hit-around into a skill session.

Each of the techniques we covered — transition movement, poke volleys, and roll volleys — can transform your game when executed with intention and confidence.

What’s Next?

We’ll be running more focused drill sessions in the coming weeks. Are you interested in defensive resets, lobs, or doubles strategy? Let us know what you want to train next!

📍Come join us at BYC Pickleball & More — where we grow, grind, and giggle through every game.

💬 “More than a game. It’s BYC.”

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