Serve, Stay and Step Back
Why Pickleball Players must break the habit of stepping into the Court after serving!
One of the most common habits I see across all levels of pickleball—beginners, intermediate players, and even experienced competitors—is stepping into the court immediately after serving. It happens repeatedly, like an in-built muscle memory. Yes, players with a tennis background tend to do it the most, but this isn’t exclusive to them. Even seasoned pickleball players fall into the same trap without even realising they are doing it. Of course you do need to be on your guard in case they drop it short, but it’s unlikely they’ll be able to execute that shot often.
For a long time, I taught a simple mantra: “serve and stay back”. It was meant to remind players not to drift forward after serving. But what I kept noticing was that even with this mantra, many players would finish their serve with momentum that carried them right onto or just inside the baseline. They believed they were “staying back,” but their feet told a different story.
That small movement matters, and to understand why, we need to revisit one of pickleball’s non-negotiable rules: the double bounce rule. After the serve, the receiving team must let the ball bounce before returning it. Then the serving team must also allow that return to bounce. Only then can the rally progress into volleys and faster exchanges.
This means that the serving team’s next shot—the third shot of the rally—must be played off the bounce. And because more players are learning to return deep and consistently target the baseline, the server and their partner need to be positioned to handle those deep returns comfortably.
If you’ve stepped inside the court, even by a small amount, you’ve created a problem for yourself. When that deep return lands on or very close to the baseline—as it often does—you are suddenly forced to backpedal. Back-pedalling under pressure is one of the easiest ways to become off-balance, rushed, and unable to execute a controlled third shot. Whether you’re trying to hit a drop, a drive, or a reset, poor footwork here usually leads to poor outcomes. Pop-ups occur too as a result of this action, handing your opponents and easy put-away. You really don’t want to do this ever!
This is why simply “staying back” is not enough. Players of all levels need a more deliberate cue. You must not only avoid stepping forward—you should actively step back after serving. This gives you extra room to react, lets you see the return more clearly, and allows you to set up with balanced, stable footwork instead of scrambling backwards.
Because this issue is so widespread, I’m updating my mantra and will recommend it to every player, regardless of level:
“Serve, Stay, and Step Back"
Serve: Deliver with confidence and repeatable technique.
Stay: Do not drift forward into the court after serving.
Step back: Create space behind the baseline to prepare for a deep return.
This small adjustment in both language and habits will have a massive impact. Players who adopt it will instantly feel more composed on the third shot. They stop getting caught by deep returns, they move with intention rather than reaction, and their overall rally control improves noticeably.
So whether you’re on your first week of pickleball or your fifth year, remember my new mantra: ”Serve, Stay and Step Back”. Your balance, your timing, and your third shot will all improve because of it.
More information via: stayingalivepickleball.com
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