Shots & strokes
Return
The shot that responds to the serve. Almost always hit deep to push the serving team away from the kitchen line.
The return of serve is one of the highest-leverage shots in pickleball. A deep return forces the serving team to hit their third shot (drive or drop) from the baseline, where they're at maximum disadvantage.
Most strong returners aim for the back-third of the court with a slice — high margin over the net, low and slow off the bounce. The returner then sprints to the kitchen line while the serving team is still recovering.
Related terms
Serve
The shot that puts the ball in play. Must be hit underhand, below the waist, and land diagonally in the receiver's service court.
Drop
A soft, arcing shot that lands in the opponent's kitchen — typically the third shot, used to safely move the serving team to the kitchen line.
Drive
A flat, hard shot hit with little arc — typically off a bounce. Used to push opponents back or set up a third-shot transition.
Double-bounce rule
The serve and the return must each bounce before being struck. After that, players may volley.