The return of serve is the second shot of every rally, and it's the friendliest shot in pickleball: the serve has to bounce before you hit it, so you have time. A good return is hit deep — landing near the baseline, ideally at the server's feet or backhand — and the moment it's away, you run forward to your kitchen line. Deep return plus fast feet means the serving team has to hit their third shot from deep, with you already set at the net.
When you use it
Every single rally starts with one, which makes it the highest-value habit in the game. No other shot repeats this often or costs this little to improve. A deep return doesn't win the point by itself — it makes your opponents' hardest decision (the third shot) even harder.
What it looks like at each level
At 2.5, the return just needs to go in — and too often it lands short, handing the server an easy ball.
At 3.0, returns are deep most of the time, but the run to the line is slow or forgotten.
At 3.5, returns are aimed — at the weaker backhand, at the feet of the player moving the wrong way — and the returner is at the kitchen before the third shot is hit.
At 4.0 and up, depth, pace and placement vary on purpose, because at that level the third shot is good enough that the return has to be better.
The mistake almost everyone makes
Standing still to watch it. Players hit a decent return and admire it from the baseline while the rally moves to the net without them. The return isn't finished when the ball leaves your paddle — it's finished when your feet are on the kitchen line. Hit it deep, then run. Every time.