The Racquetball Drive Z Serve [Make the Ball SPIN!]

The Racquetball drive Z serve is an aggressive serve used to mislead your opponent. This can lead to your opponent making an error resulting in an ace or moving your opponent towards the rear of the court where an offensive return shot is much more difficult. The drive Z serve can be used to replace a regular drive serve when your opponent is least expecting it. When this serve is performed right, it can catch your opponent off guard and if they are not familiar with how to play this serve, it can easily result in an ace. This serve is effective because of the speed, direction, and action of the ball. When the ball finally contacts the side wall near or at the back of the court, the ball will bounce off the side wall parallel to the back wall. This is what makes this server hard to predict. The closer the ball ends up to the back wall, the more difficult it is for the returner to make a good return shot. This serve forces your opponent to the rear of the court allowing you to take a much more offensive position in center court. In this article, we will discuss how to pull off a good Z serve to the returner’s forehand and the backhand sides.

***The shots in this article will be discussed as if the player is right-handed. A left-handed player should use the same techniques but in the reverse direction.***

 

When Do I Use The Drive Z Server

I find the Z shot is best utilized when your opponent isn’t expecting it. But even if they see it coming, they will still have to deal with defending a difficult serve if performed correctly.

 

Why is the Drive Z Serve Effective?

If your opponent is doing a good job of anticipating if the direction of your serve is to their forehand or backhand when using the drive or lob serves, the Z serve will slow down their reaction.

This is where the Z serve becomes a viable weapon. For whatever reason, the server is picking up on a movement or a lean or a step that tells them where your drive serve is going.

The Z serve starts out going in one direction and winds up on the opposite side in the back of the court. Considering the speed of the ball this serve is performed with, even a slight lean or step the returner makes in the wrong direction is an advantage to the server.

 

The Science behind the Drive Z Serve

When a ball hits the front wall and then the side wall within a few feet of one another, the ball picks up a spin that makes it bounce unpredictably when it makes contact with the wall near the back of the court.

When you perform this serve, you are using the spin on the ball to your advantage and catching your opponent off guard or putting them in a very defensive position.

 

Where Should I Hit The Drive Z Serve From?

The Z serve is best used from the same place on the court where you perform your drive serves and lob serves.

This is usually close to the middle of the service area from the left wall to the right wall. It is a good idea to be able to pull off a number of serves from the same place in the service box as a way to keep your opponent guessing.

It is also a good idea to keep your serve approach the same for all your serves in order to disguise them and not tip off the returner.

 

Drive Z Serve To The Right Rear of the Court (Forehand Side)

You serve the ball forehand from the center or near the center of the service area into the left corner area of the front wall about 3 to 5 feet above the floor at a good pace.

After the ball contacts the front wall, it then contacts the left wall just a few feet from the corner.

In most cases, the ball will bounce on the floor past the short line or the encroachment/receiving line and continue on at an angle toward the rear of the court, making contact with the right wall near the back wall.

When the ball contacts the right wall, the ball decelerates and changes direction to softly drift towards the back wall. This is a perfect Drive Z Serve and how you want the ball to react.

This makes it very difficult for the returner to make a good return shot.

 

 

 

Drive Z Serve To The Left Rear of the Court (Backhand Side)

You serve the ball forehand from the center or near the center of the service area into the Right corner area of the front wall about 3 to 5 feet above the floor at a good pace.

After the ball contacts the front wall, it then contacts the Right wall just a few feet from the corner.

In most cases, the ball will bounce on the floor just past the short line or the encroachment line and continue on at an angle toward the rear of the court, making contact with the left wall near the back wall.

When the ball contacts the left wall, the ball decelerates and changes direction to softly drift towards the back wall. This is a perfect Drive Z Serve and how you want the ball to react.

This makes it very difficult for the returner to make a good return shot.

 

 

 

How Do I Get Good At Hitting The Drive Z Serve?

This shot definitely takes practice to learn where to hit it, how hard to hit it and so you do not hit yourself as you move out of the service box and into center court.

If the ball should hit you when performing a serve, this is considered a hinder and loss of serve.

You may find the drive Z serve to the returners’ backhand side will take more practice because the motion of hitting the ball away from you towards your right feels awkward.

You have to learn to trust this shot.  Spend time practicing these serves so you are proficient at them when they are needed. It will pay off.