Is that a legal serve?

Serving in pickleball has been one of the most changing aspects of the game over the years.  From the birth and death of the chainsaw to the addition of the drop serve, it can be hard to know what is allowed and what isn’t.

There are two types of serves that can be slightly modified to fit the player, but it is important to note the key points that keep a serve legal.

I’ll start with the drop serve.  It is exactly as it sounds.  A player must “drop” the ball and let it bounce before hitting it.  No extra motion can be put on the ball in a drop serve.  Hold the ball at the desired height and release it.  Some players prefer to drop it from as high as they can so that they get the highest bounce.  However, since pickleballs aren’t particularly bouncy, I don’t think it makes much difference.  The main takeaway is “The ball can be dropped from any height but cannot be thrown, tossed, or otherwise released with any added force to bounce it.” (USA Pickleball)

With the proper drop technique, you can successfully drop serve.  All other rules basically go out the window.  It can bounce more than once, the motion does not matter, and it is easy to put a slice on the ball.

A regular serve is the most common and is simple enough to do.  However, there are a few specifics that can make the serve become illegal. 

For starters, an upward motion is required.  The paddle most move from a low to high position.  No side arm or overhand hits. Usually, players have the most trouble with this when they want to try to spin the ball.  I see a lot of people try to serve and do top spin like on a tennis drive.  But the better option is to cut the ball on the inside.  This keeps an upward motion but gets a good spin and kicks when it bounces.  (Make sure you master a straight swing serve before trying to spin it.  Points aren’t won on missed serves!)

Another key aspect of this serve is wrist and paddle position.  The paddle needs to be pointing down.  Your wrist and hand should be perpendicular to the ground.  This should feel natural when doing a proper low to high swing.  According to USA Pickleball rules, “…the highest point of the paddle head shall be below the wrist when it strikes the ball.”

The final key component to this swing is contact below the waist.  Again, an upward motion with the wrist down makes it hard to not do this correctly, but it is important to note.  Hitting below the waist ensures that it is an underhand serve.

Key components of the serve:

·        Upward motion

·        Paddle head below wrist

·        Contact beneath waist

It is worth noting that a forehand and backhand swing are legal for both serves, as long as they follow all other rules.  I highly suggest sticking with the forehand, since it is much easier to aim and provide the most power.

Make sure to serve diagonally and clear the kitchen line.  If it hits the kitchen line, it is considered in the kitchen and is a fault.  If the ball hits any of the other lines (side, middle, base) the ball is in and the serve is good.  It is also playable off the net (known as a let serve).

Lastly, positioning is important.  The server must serve from behind the baseline.  They must also be within the sidelines. 

As you progress with a consistent (legal) serve, you can begin to add power and spin.  You can also adjust height, such as a lob serve, or aim for different areas of the court.  In conclusion, players have a couple options when it comes to serving.  Having multiple serves in your arsenal is a great way to elevate your level of play.