We’ve covered the basics, but we’ve never put it all together!

Today’s blog post is dedicated to the delicate art of the pickleball serve. What is it, what are the rules, and how do you nail the perfect pickleball serve? Keep scrolling to learn more!

The Basics of the Pickleball Serve

Let’s start with the basic pickleball serving rules.

There are two pickleball serves. The first, the drop serve, is considered the easiest. The player drops the ball from either their hand or the paddle face, then allows it to bounce before hitting. Notably, drop serves ignore the paddle and wrist height rules. Thus, players have slightly more freedom when performing a drop serve.

The second serve, known as the “volley serve,” is more complex. In this variation, players drop the ball and hit it before it bounces off the court.

Regardless of which style of pickleball serve you choose, you must abide by eight rules:

• Foot Placement: Both feet must be behind the baseline during a service attempt. Informal play may allow at least one foot ahead of the line.
• No Force: Players cannot throw or propel the ball. This applies to both the drop and volley serve.
• No Spin: Players cannot intentionally impart additional spin. This rule was added in 2022 to curtail the aggressive “chainsaw” serve.
• Positioning: Players cannot pass the baseline at any time during a serve attempt. Officially, players are expected to stay behind the baseline until the “third shot drop.”
• Proper Serving Order: The proper server must serve from the appropriate side. Serve from the left for an odd score and from the right for an even score (including zero).
• Serve Placement: The ball must land in the diagonally opposing service court. If, for instance, you serve from your right court, the ball must bounce within the opponent’s right court (or left, judging from the server’s view).
• Serving Motion: The serve attempt must use an upward arc. Players cannot hit the ball from above or from the side (like a baseball).
• The Drop: The ball must be dropped with one hand or from the flat paddle face. Like the spin rule, this addition to the pickleball rulebook nullifies the chainsaw serve.

Knowing the Score

Knowing the order of each serving team is simple enough in a singles match. However, things get complicated in doubles! We don’t have time to explain the specifics of knowing who serves. However, we can explain the scoring system.

During a pickleball serve, players must call the score. In singles, the score is straightforward: your team’s score, followed by the opposing team’s score. In doubles, a third number is added. This number indicates the serving player; it will always be one or two.

Failing to call the score before serving is considered a fault, for which the serving team will be appropriately penalized. In singles, the ball passes to the other team. In doubles, the ball may pass to your teammate before your team’s service attempts end.

 

 

Knowing the Faults

This is just one of many reasons a fault occurs. The official rulebook has an entire section dedicated to serving faults! However, we’ve narrowed those down to four common pickleball serving errors:

• Foot Placement: Failing to keep at least one foot behind the baseline is a common mistake. Remember that you must remain in this position throughout the serve. Moving forward may help you serve deep, but it’s against the rules!
• Improper Server: Is it your turn to serve? Keep track of who’s serving! After the first serve, the initial serving player goes after “server one.” In other words, the server’s partner goes first initially but serves second for all subsequent matches.
• Out of Bounds: Did the ball land in the diagonally opposing service court? Whenever the ball bounces outside of the diagonally opposing service court, it’s considered a fault!
• Serving Motion: Nailing the iconic upward arc is more than showmanship; it’s a necessity! An improper pickleball serving motion is grounds for a fault. When all else fails, build your drop serve skills. It’s a very basic shot that helps you master key pickleball skills.

Know What Happens After a Fault

And what happens when a fault occurs?

We mentioned this, but we want to clarify the matter.

There are two possible outcomes.

It’s straightforward in a singles match. The ball passes across the net, and the opposing team serves.

In doubles, it’s trickier. While the first fault of a game changes the serving sequence, subsequent faults are situational. If the first server — server one — is serving, a fault passes the ball to the team’s second server. However, when the second server commits a fault, the ball passes to the opposing team.

Notably, these must be committed by the serving team. Faults by the opposing team add to the serving team’s score.

Understanding the Pickleball Serve

Now, let’s bring this information to its logical end.

We understand the basics. We know how to serve in pickleball. Congrats! These are the essential must-know points of serving under USA Pickleball rules. However, there’s more to learn! Now, let’s briefly dissect the serving motion.

Again, both drop serves and volley serves use an upward movement, and many players prefer using a backhand motion. (Though this is not strictly necessary!) For the best serves, focus on the ball’s point of contact. Every pickleball paddle has a “sweet spot” (usually near the center) where the hit generates the most power.

The Drop Serve

Unlike the formal volley, a drop serve can use an underhand motion. In some games, players allow the drop serve’s point of contact to extend beyond USA Pickleball’s formal range, though this is not necessarily a universal truth.

Need some pointers? Check out this handy video courtesy of Pickleball Clinic.

The Volley Serve

Comparatively, serving a volley-style hit is more complex. It’s all about your timing and control; your point of contact makes a massive difference in your success. You may hear this is for intermediate players, but don’t let that discourage you!

Now, we said that you cannot propel the ball downward when you serve. However, you can toss the ball upward for a volley serve. Many intermediate and advanced players prefer this method, as it creates space to hit the ball after the initial drop.

3 Tips to Make the Next Shot a Perfect Serve

Great!

We understand how to perform a proper pickleball serve.

You probably won’t nail it on your first try. That’s okay! Everyone starts somewhere, and practice makes perfect. Don’t beat yourself up for little mistakes. Take those lessons and grow with them! And — before you go — we want to hand out three amazing tips to help pickleball players of all skill levels up their serving game.

1. Keep Your Eye on the Ball

Our first tip is something you’ll hear across every sport: Keep your eye on the ball!

It may seem like a no-brainer. “Duh!” you’re probably thinking, “Who doesn’t keep their eye on the ball?”

Well, here’s the trick! Many people naturally follow the trajectory of the ball. It may feel as if this is the same as watching the ball, but it’s not! That path is little more than an imaginary extension of its movement. It’s handy to know, but it won’t help you improve your service motion.

Instead, focus on the actual pickleball. This will help you land in the sweet spot and pull off that perfect ace serve.

2. Switch It Up

Once you’ve found the perfect rhythm, you may be tempted to keep at it. Those beautiful, deep serves come naturally now. Why waste them?

Well, here’s where the next tip comes into play. While the serving team may enjoy plenty of consistency, the receiving team can (and will) take advantage of it. Don’t make your moves so predictable! Think of pickleball as a chess game. It’s nice to play the same tried and true moves over and over, but it’s better to keep opponents guessing.

Any serve that clears the non-volley zone line is legal. Use that knowledge to your advantage! Hit a few serves near the center line, then switch it up with some short pops. Follow that lob serve with a sneaky low-profile shot.

These variations will help you score points and ensure the pickleball game starts in your favor.

3. Know Your Competition

At the same time, take a moment to watch the receiving team.

Are they more comfortable near the kitchen line? Maybe they’re avid fans of doubles stacking! Or perhaps they’re consistent dinkers. Whatever the case may be, remember those tactics.

Yes, it’s nice to hit the perfect ace serve every time. However, a “sloppy” serve can handily throw off an otherwise indomitable team.

Again, like our last tip, this is all about ensuring the pickleball game starts in your court. (So to speak. The ball must land in the opponent’s service area, of course!) You’re playing a game of tactical domination, and that means the “wrong” serve can be your ticket to an easy point.

Ultimately, every serve in pickleball aims to benefit the serving team. Find the perfect landing spot and hit!

Learn More About Pickleball

Regardless of your style, a pickleball serve is a basic shot. It’s easy to learn but tough to master. It can make or break a game. But don’t worry about it too much! Remember to have fun as you play. Pickleball is all about friendly competition and camaraderie.

So, find a court and play!

In the meantime, be sure to look through the rest of the Pickle Goddesses blog to find more tips, tricks, and pickleball hints. We also encourage you to share this post if it helps you improve your serving skills!