It’s a term that shows up in multiple racket sports. You’ll hear about “lets” in both tennis and badminton, but we all know that’s not what Pickle Goddesses is all about! It’s there, in the name, after all! We’re all about pickleball!
So, what is a “let” in pickleball?
This blog post outlines the term, its uses, and — most importantly — its definition.
What Is a Let Serve in Pickleball?
A let is any serve attempt that hits the net before landing on the opposite side of the court. Essentially, it’s any serve that grazes the net.
In earlier iterations of the sport, a let was considered a fluke, and players were allowed to make a second serve attempt. However, modern rules dictate that there are outcomes for a let serve in pickleball:
- A let is a legal pickleball serve if it meets all the appropriate serving rules. That means it must land in the opposite diagonal court area. Moreover, the player’s momentum cannot carry them beyond the baseline. (If you’re still confused or want more specifics, be sure to brush up on your pickleball rules!)
- A let is a fault for the serving team if it fails to meet any serving rules. In singles, this means the opposing team gets to serve. In doubles, the ball may pass to the opposing team or stay on the serving side by going to the second server.
Where Did the Term Come From?
As we noted earlier, “let” is a common racket sports term. We won’t ever know its true origins, but many pickleball players think the term came from tennis. Like a let in pickleball, the tennis equivalent signifies a ball that hits the net.
A more creative interpretation suggests it comes from line calls, wherein players would demand to “let it play” or “let play continue.”
A Quick Review of the Legal Pickleball Serve
It’s a straightforward idea.
There’s not much more to say about a let serve in pickleball!
However, we can still review some key rules. After all, practice makes perfect!
We’ve already established what we’ll call the “let rule”: If a ball hits the net but still meets all other requirements of a legal serve, it’s a live ball. Thus, the ball must be returned appropriately. Failing to do so is a fault and a point for the serving team. Likewise, any rule violation invalidates the serve and counts as a fault for the serving team. Notably, this will not add to the opponent’s score.
So, what else should you know?
1. The Correct Service Court
It’s the first rule many pickleball players learn, but it bears repeating.
All legal serves must land in the appropriate service court area. Failure to do so means the service passes to either the second server or the opposing team, and you lose the serve and volley advantage.
As an example, let’s assume you’re serving from the left side’s left service court. Firstly, this means your team’s score is an odd number, and you’ve already scored a point. (Otherwise, your score would be zero. As the goose egg is considered an even number in pickleball, you’d be serving from the right service area.) From your perspective, looking at the opposing side of the court, you must ensure your ball lands on the right side.
2. Watch Your Momentum
Players must also watch their momentum. It’s easy to get caught in the moment, but your movement can count against you.
Players must have at least one foot behind the baseline throughout any serve attempts. So, if a player’s momentum carries that second foot beyond the baseline, they’ve committed a fault.
Again, this means the serve passes to the other team’s court or the second server.
Fortunately, you can eliminate this risk by practicing often. Solo drills are a great way to perfect your serving form and boost your ability to score points. Similarly, partner drills improve your teamwork abilities and open more opportunities for scoring points.
3. Know the Two-Bounce Rule
Often confused with the similarly-named double-bounce rule, the two-bounce rule stipulates that players cannot volley until the third shot of the game. (It also gave rise to a wide range of plays, like the “third shot drop” and “third shot volley.”)
In more illustrative terms, both teams must hit the ball once before volleying.
Players must also adhere to all volleying rules. Volleys must stay within the court’s boundaries, clear the net, and be taken behind the non-volley zone line. A rule violation on the serving team’s side will not affect their score, but it will grant the receiving team service rights.
4. Know When to Swap Sides
Finally, we want to reiterate a point we mentioned earlier.
In pickleball, the server switches sides in accordance with the serving team’s score. Odd scores are served from the left; even scores (including zero) are served from the right.
This rule applies to both singles and doubles games. In a doubles game, both players must swap sides. Likewise, every player gets only one serve attempt.
Again, allow us to explain with an example. Let’s assume you’ve just scored a point. Your score is now an even number. If you’re serving, you’ll move to the right side, and your partner moves to the left. The only exception to this rule is stacking, wherein your partner stands just beyond the boundary line on your side of the court. As the game progresses, the server continues switching accordingly.
Learn Even More About Pickleball
These are just basic rules, and there’s more to learn before you’re a master of pickleball!
Fortunately, Pickle Goddesses is here to help. Our mission is to empower women everywhere by encouraging a love for America’s fastest-growing sport. We cover everything you need to know — from that first service sequence to those tricky late-game dinks.
Knowing the difference between a legal and illegal serve is just the beginning! You’ve learned the basics of a let serve in pickleball. Now, it’s time to conquer the court!
First, we want you to share this post to spread the fun of pickleball far and wide.
Then, you can come back and browse the rest of the Pickle Goddesses blog. You’ll find plenty of tips, tricks, and pickleball news. You’ll learn a bit of everything, including mastering those tricky serving techniques!
