The game of pickleball is evolving rapidly, and staying competitive means constantly adding new tools to your arsenal. To help you keep up and reach the next level, here are four essential shots to master in 2026.
1. The Lob Serve
The lob serve is gaining significant popularity among professionals because of its ability to disrupt an opponent's rhythm.
- The Strategy: This serve targets the back of the court and uses heavy topspin to make the ball "kick" into the opponent. This often forces them onto their back foot, making it difficult for them to move forward and allowing you to drive the next ball to keep them off balance.
- The Technique: Slide your hand to the very bottom of the handle to create extra wrist lag. Bend your knees, hit under the ball, and brush upward to impart topspin.
- The Pro Tip: Once you have established the lob serve, you can use the same setup to surprise your opponent with a quick, flat serve.
2. The Drop Volley
This "high risk, high reward" shot is most effective when your opponents are pinned back at the baseline or if they struggle to move quickly toward the kitchen.
- The Technique: Use an open paddle face and a light grip. Instead of swinging, "stop" the paddle on contact to create backspin, which helps the ball die in the kitchen or even kick back toward the net.
- The Deceptive Variation: If you receive a floating ball, set up as if you are going to hit a powerful smash. At the last second, open the paddle face and cut across the ball to land a soft drop volley instead.
3. The Corkscrew (Screw Ball) Serve
The corkscrew serve uses extreme side spin to pull your opponent off the court, opening up space for your next drive.
- The Strategy: By catching the inside of the ball with an open paddle face, you create a side spin that moves the ball away from the receiver. This is legal as long as you maintain a low-to-high motion.
- The Technique: Use a continental "hammer" grip, perhaps even placing your thumb on the paddle face for better control. Keep your toss close to your body so you can easily swing across the ball.
4. The Inside Out Forehand Dink
This is a deceptive shot designed to catch opponents off guard and create opportunities for sneaky speed-ups.
- The Strategy: This shot is most effective when you have time to run around a ball to use your forehand or when dealing with a "dead" dink in the middle of the court.
- The Technique: Early preparation is vital. Position your paddle-side leg behind the ball and "cock" your wrist inward.
- The Deception: Close the paddle face initially to make it look like you are dinking cross-court, then open the face at the last second to push the ball "inside out" to the sideline. You can also do the opposite — starting with an open face and then pulling a speed-up down the middle.
By practicing these four shots and focusing on your wrist placement and body movement, you can keep your opponents off balance and take your game to the next level.