You want a fun pickleball party trick AND a reliable serve?

Learn to serve with your eyes closed.

Ok, I’m not actually suggesting you do this in a game, but the concept holds.

The serve is the one shot in pickleball where you have control over all the variables. No one is attacking you. No weird spin is coming at you. You’re not late or off balance. You have the ball, you choose when to start, and you get to execute the exact same motion every single time.

And yet I frequently see players change those variables from serve to serve without even realizing it.

The variables:

• How you face the line and set your stance.
• Where and how you toss or drop the ball.
• The path your paddle takes through the ball.

Those things should be predictable.

In clinics, I’ll actually put a tube on the ground to give players a visual for their swing path and where to place the ball toss or drop. We’re basically just drawing a line: once you know the line your paddle needs to travel on, your job is to repeat it.

I want your serve to be so locked in that you almost don’t need to see the ball.

For newer players, that means consistency — getting 10 out of 10 serves in the court without having to think about it. Once that foundation is automatic, we can start adding power through better weight transfer, biomechanics and acceleration.

But consistency comes first.

Get the variables boringly predictable. Then make the serve dangerous.

I did a video a few months ago on using a ball tube to assist with consistency (and ultimately power). Check it out here:

[WATCH MY SERVE VIDEO]

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(Ha, this thumbnail was from the early days)
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And if you really want to test yourself, try hitting a few with your eyes closed. You feel really cool when it works :)

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Come train with me in Wyoming and Idaho!

OPTION 1: JACKSON HOLE — 2 Women's Clinics at The Pickleball Garage (only 4 spots left for each)

Monday, September 21

8:00 am–10:00 am
3.25–3.75: Win More Matches Without Hitting Harder
​REGISTER HERE​

10:15 am–12:15 pm
3.75–4.5+: Advanced Match IQ: Patterns That Win Points
​REGISTER HERE​

COEUR D’ALENE, ID

Friday, September 25 — Half-Day Intensive at Memorial Field
9:00 am–12:00 pm
3.0–4.0: Be a Better Player by Noon: Strategy & Skills to Level Up
Open to all genders!

I’m teaming up with Dana Raugust, a fantastic coach, pro player and CDA local for this one.

​REGISTER FOR COEUR D’ALENE​

If you’re in either area — or have a pickleball friend who is — I’d love to see you there! Respond here with any questions.
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See you on the courts!
Coach Jess
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RESOURCES: ​
​Get 10% off CRBN gear with code: COACH JESS at www.crbnpickleball.com​
Pu​sh Dink Cheat Sheet Push Dink Cheat Sheet.pdf​
Split Step Cheat Sheet: ​​Split Step Cheat Sheet.pdf​
​6 Decisions Cheat Sheet: 6 Pickleball Decisions Cheat Sheet.pdf​