Return Like a Pro: The Deep Science of the Pickleball Return

If you’re not prioritizing your return of serve in pickleball, you’re missing one of the game’s most critical shots. The main goal? Hit it deep. The deeper your return lands, the farther back your opponent is forced to hit their third shot, buying you time and increasing their difficulty. But while that sounds easy in theory, poor footwork, mistimed contact, and trying to rush to the kitchen too soon are what derail most returns. A great return isn’t about power—it’s about placement, spin control, and staying grounded through the shot.

The most common killer of good returns? Standing up too early. Players get into a low, athletic stance, then pop up right at contact, losing stability and often sailing the shot. Add to that the impulse to sprint to the kitchen before you’ve even finished your swing, and it’s no wonder so many returns float short or into the net. Smart returners start behind the baseline, make contact in front of the body—ideally just outside the lead foot—and stay low through the motion. If you need to delay your kitchen charge to get that deep return, it’s worth it every time.

Beyond mechanics, elite returners play chess, not checkers. They vary placement, spin, and target depending on who’s on the other side. Slicing to absorb heavy top spin, using short-angle returns to draw aggressive players out of position, or simply targeting the better poacher to limit their movement—all of it matters. And even when you’re not the one returning, you still have a role: call the line, adjust your court position based on the return direction, and never, ever block your partner’s vision. Master these principles, and the return becomes more than just the first hit—it becomes your silent setup for point domination.