Pickleball Serving Rules: Volley Serve, Drop Serve, Faults

In pickleball you serve from behind the baseline, diagonally into the opponent's service box, and the ball must clear the kitchen and its line. There are two legal serve types: the volley serve, hit out of the air with an underhand motion where the paddle contacts the ball below the waist and the paddle head is below the wrist, and the drop serve, where you drop the ball and hit it after it bounces with no restriction on the stroke. You get one attempt, a serve that clips the net and lands in is live, and the server must call the score before serving. The official rulebook has refined the serve rules several times in recent years; check the current edition for exact wording.

Where to stand

At the moment you strike the ball, at least one foot must be on the ground behind the baseline, and your feet must be within the imaginary extensions of the sideline and centreline for the side you are serving from. You may not touch the baseline or the court until after contact. Serving from the wrong side (right/left) or the wrong server serving is a fault; see scoring for who serves from where.

Where the serve must land

Diagonally, into the service box opposite you: the area between the kitchen line and the baseline, between the centreline and the sideline. The serve must clear the net and must not land in the kitchen or on the kitchen line. It may land on the baseline, sideline or centreline of the correct box; those lines are in.

The volley serve

The traditional serve, hit out of the hand without a bounce. Requirements:

1. Underhand motion. The arm moves in an upward arc at contact.
2. Contact below the waist. The paddle must contact the ball below the navel.
3. Paddle head below the wrist. At contact, the highest point of the paddle head must be below the highest part of the wrist where it bends.

All three conditions must be met. The tossing hand releases the ball; the ball may not be propelled with spin by the hand (hand-imparted spin on the volley serve has been prohibited in recent rulebook editions; confirm current wording).

The drop serve

Introduced as a permanent alternative:

1. Drop the ball from any natural height, from the hand or the paddle face, without throwing it downward or upward.
2. Let it bounce once (it may bounce more than once, and may bounce anywhere, including outside the court).
3. Hit it with any stroke. The underhand, below-waist and paddle-below-wrist restrictions do not apply.

The positional rules (behind the baseline, within the extensions) still apply. The drop serve is easier to learn and removes the risk of an illegal motion call; many beginners and some advanced players use it.

One serve, no lets

You get one attempt per point. A serve that touches the net and lands in the correct box is a legal serve and play continues; there is no let on serves. A serve that touches the net and lands in the kitchen or out is a fault.

Calling the score

The server must call the full score before serving, loud enough for all players. In doubles that is three numbers; in singles, two. Serving before calling the score or during the call can be a fault in officiated play; in recreation, just call it every time.

Service order and sides

• The first server of a service turn serves from the right side if the serving team's score is even, the left if odd.
• After a point, the server switches sides and serves again.
• When the first server faults, the partner serves (server two).
• When server two faults, it is a side out.
• At the start of the game the first team gets only one server (0-0-2).

Full details with examples: scoring explained.

Receiving the serve

The correct receiver is the player diagonally opposite the server. The receiver must let the serve bounce (the two-bounce rule), and the receiver's partner must not return it. The receiving team's positions do not change during a service turn.

Serve faults

• Ball lands out, in the kitchen, on the kitchen line, or in the wrong box.
• Ball hits the net and does not land in the correct box.
• Foot on or over the baseline, or outside the extensions, at contact.
• Illegal volley serve motion (above the waist, paddle head above the wrist, not underhand).
• Throwing or spinning the ball on a drop serve, or propelling it on a volley serve.
• Wrong server or wrong side.
• Ball hits the server's partner.
• Serving before the score is called (in officiated play).

Strategy

A deep serve pushes the returner back and gives you a better third shot. Consistency beats pace: a faulted serve loses the chance to score. Aim for the middle-to-deep part of the box with margin over the net. Vary depth and direction once consistent. Spin from the paddle (not the hand) is legal and useful.

Common beginner mistakes

• Serving too hard and missing.
• Stepping on the baseline before contact.
• Contacting the ball at chest height on a volley serve.
• Landing the serve in the kitchen.
• Forgetting to call the score.
• Serving to the wrong box after a side change.

Related guides

• Pickleball rules
• Pickleball scoring
• How to play pickleball

FAQ

Can you serve overhand in pickleball?

Not with a volley serve, which must be underhand with contact below the waist and the paddle head below the wrist. With a drop serve, any stroke is allowed after the bounce.

Is a serve that hits the net a let?

No. If it lands in the correct box, play on. If it lands in the kitchen or out, it is a fault.

Can the serve land on the line?

Yes, on the baseline, sideline or centreline of the correct box. A serve touching the kitchen line is a fault.

How many serves do you get in pickleball?

One per point.

What is a drop serve?

A serve where you drop the ball, let it bounce, and hit it with any stroke. The underhand restrictions do not apply.