Pro Coach Reveals How to Hit 60+ MPH Pickleball Serves

Get low, take your time, and focus on driving forward. Add the mental edge once the mechanics feel natural.

Ed Ju recently sat down with pickleball coach Jordan Davis to break down the mechanics behind a seriously fast serve.

If you've been stuck at the same serve speed for months, this coaching session reveals the mental and physical tweaks that can unlock real power gains.

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The Three Pillars of a Powerful Serve

Jordan Davis's serve isn't just about arm strength. It's built on three core elements that work together: leg loading, forward momentum, and paddle contact point.

The first thing Ed noticed was how low Jordan gets before exploding upward. It's not a casual crouch; it's a deliberate coil that stores energy like a compressed spring.

Load Your Legs Like You Mean It

This is where most recreational players miss the mark. Jordan emphasizes bending your knees significantly and taking your time during the loading phase.

Think of it as a mental gathering moment. You're not rushing into the serve; you're preparing your entire body to fire at once. Jordan describes it as "load, load, load" followed by an explosive "boom."

Bend lower than feels natural at first; your legs are your power source.
Take a breath or pause at the bottom to mentally prepare.
Feel your weight shift as you coil, ready to transfer that energy forward.

Forward Motion Beats Height Every Time

Ed's initial serves were going high, which isn't wrong, but it wasn't maximizing power. Jordan's key insight: direct your energy forward, not upward.

When you hit the ball too high on your paddle, the energy goes up instead of through. By hitting lower on the paddle and driving forward, you transfer more force into the ball while still getting the depth you need.

This doesn't mean hitting a flat serve. You can still add topspin, but the primary direction should be forward momentum.

The Sweet Spot Matters More Than You Think

Jordan talks about aiming for the emblem on your paddle, essentially hitting deeper on the strings rather than near the tip. This creates a longer lever, which means more force.

It's a mental cue that works. By thinking about hitting lower and deeper, your body naturally adjusts your swing path to be more efficient.

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The Mental Game Is Half the Battle

Here's something that separates good serves from great ones: the mindset going in. Jordan recommends imagining there's five million dollars on the line and you just need to hit the ball as hard as possible.

That mental intensity changes everything. Your body responds to what your brain is telling it. If you're thinking "don't mess up," you'll tense up. If you're thinking "crush this," your muscles engage differently.

Ed noticed an immediate difference once he shifted his mental approach. The serves got faster, more consistent, and more confident.

Putting It All Together

The coaching session shows that serve improvement isn't about one magic fix. It's about combining leg loading, forward momentum, proper contact point, and mental intensity.

Start with the fundamentals: get low, take your time, and focus on driving forward. Add the mental edge once the mechanics feel natural. Most players can see noticeable speed gains within a few practice sessions by focusing on these elements.

If you've been feeling stuck with your serve, this is worth watching. The video shows real-time coaching with immediate feedback, so you can see exactly what adjustments look like in action.