Return Masterclass: Day 9 of 10 days to 100k
by Austin Hardy on July 7, 2026
First off – reply to this email to let me know you got it. I read every reply. It helps your inbox know were friends.
The return of serve is the most underrated shot in pickleball — and most players are leaving easy points on the table by defaulting to the same return every single time.
Day 9 breaks down everything you need to know about the return. We cover the slice return (underspin), the topspin return, when to use each one, and whether the slice is actually dead in the modern game or just misunderstood.
Plus, we put it all together with drills you can take straight to the court to level up your return game immediately.
If your return has ever felt like a liability, this video fixes it.
- Austin
Ps. look for a big update on the Pickleball Drills app soon. If you’ve struggled finding drilling partners, this may solve your problem :).