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In-depth guide to essential serves and expert tips for pickleball players
If you’re ready to get active by playing pickleball, mastering the serve is crucial, as it starts every rally. While the sport shares some similarities with tennis, it comes with distinct serving rules and restrictions that you must understand, such as where to stand and how to make an effective serve. Whether you're new to the game or simply need a refresher on the rules, this guide will walk you through everything from legal serves to expert strategies for serving your best throughout the match.
Key Points to Remember
- Position yourself behind the baseline on your side of the court, ensuring at least one foot remains on the ground throughout the serve.
- You can use either a volley serve, where the ball is struck before hitting the ground, or a drop serve, where the ball bounces before hitting it. For both types of serves, a forehand or backhand swing is acceptable.
- Serve the ball diagonally, aiming for the opposite side of the court, ensuring it lands beyond the non-volley zone near the net.
Steps to Follow
Essential Rules for Serving in Pickleball
Position yourself behind the baseline on your side of the court. The baseline marks the farthest edge of the pickleball court, and you cannot cross it during your serve. For the first serve of a game, position yourself behind the baseline on the right side of the court, which is also referred to as the 'even' side.
- All serves start behind the baseline in pickleball, with the first serve for each team beginning on the right side of the court.
- Decide which team serves first with a method like a coin toss or another approach.
Ensure at least one foot stays on the ground during your serve. You are not allowed to step over the baseline or cross it while serving. At least one foot must remain grounded for the entire serve, so jumping before hitting the ball is prohibited.
- Similarly, crossing the centerline or sideline results in a fault, leading to the loss of your serve.
Use a forehand or backhand motion to hit the ball. Both the volley serve and the drop serve are allowed in pickleball. In the next section, we’ll explore both types in greater detail. You can hit the ball using a forehand (palm facing the direction of the swing) or a backhand (palm facing away from the swing direction). While the forehand serve is more common, the choice of motion ultimately depends on your preference.
- In official pickleball games, the ball must be served within 10 seconds after the referee announces the score.
Serve the ball diagonally to the opposite side of the court. When serving from the right side of the pickleball court, aim to send the ball over the net to the opposite end. The ball should cross the 'non-volley zone'—a 7-foot (2.1 m) rectangular area near the net—and land within the court to be considered a legal serve.
- This non-volley zone is also known as the 'kitchen.'
- If the ball lands outside the court or within the non-volley zone, it results in a fault.
- You are only allowed one attempt to serve. If the ball is out of bounds or you break another serving rule, it is considered a fault.
- In doubles, only the player diagonally opposite to you can return the serve.
Adhere to the 2-bounce rule at the beginning of each rally. Once you serve the ball, the receiving team must let it bounce on the ground before they can return it. After their return, your team must also allow the ball to bounce before you can hit it back. This rule ensures a longer rally and prevents either team from gaining an unfair advantage.
- Once the 2-bounce rule is completed, players may hit the ball either before or after it bounces.
Alternate between the left and right sides of the court after each serve. If your team scores a point after serving, you continue serving. When you have an odd number of points, serve from the left side, also known as the 'odd' side. For an even number of points, serve from the right side.
- If a serve strikes a player on the receiving team before it hits the ground, it’s considered a fault on the receiving team. The serving team then earns a point and continues to serve.
Change servers when your team commits a fault. A fault happens when a team breaks a rule, stopping play. If the receiving team commits a fault, the serving team scores a point. If you're on the serving team and commit a fault, the other player on your team gets a turn to serve. Once both players on the serving team commit faults, the serve switches to the opposing team, beginning on the even side of the court. Faults include:
- Breaking a service rule
- Serving out of bounds or into the non-volley zone
- Hitting the ball into the net without clearing it
- Allowing the ball to bounce twice on your side
- Hitting the ball while in the non-volley zone
- Volleys occurring before the 2-bounce rule is completed
- Touching the net during play
- At the start of a doubles game, only one player on the serving team gets a chance to serve before a fault is committed. After their fault, the serve goes to the receiving team.
Legal Pickleball Serves
Volley serve A volley serve occurs when you hit the ball before it bounces on the ground. You can either toss or drop the ball straight down and hit it with your paddle before it hits the surface. When performing a volley serve, you must keep the ball below your waist, using an underhand swing. The paddle’s highest point should not rise above your wrist joint as you strike the ball.
- You’re allowed to toss the ball upward to give yourself extra time to strike it.
- Avoid hitting a poorly executed toss or drop. Once the referee announces the score, you have 10 seconds to hit the ball, so if needed, just grab it and try again.
Drop serve A drop serve is when you release the ball from any height, letting it bounce on the ground before you hit it. Once the ball has bounced, you can strike it with your paddle using either a forehand or backhand motion. Unlike other serves, it’s fine for the paddle to rise above your wrist joint or for you to strike the ball above your waist during a drop serve.
- Do not throw or toss the ball while performing a drop serve.
- It’s best to strike the ball at its peak bounce for a higher point of contact, which will give it more power from your swing.
Serving Strategies
Follow through after your shot to maximize power. Once you’ve completed your serve, continue swinging your arm toward your target to propel the ball further. This will add height and depth to the ball, making it harder for the opposing team to return it.
- Adding height to your serve not only increases the distance but also causes the ball to bounce higher, making it more challenging for the receiver to anticipate or strike the ball.
Get ready immediately after serving. After serving the ball, position yourself near the baseline to prepare for the return. Keep your elbows and paddle in front of you, with your feet shoulder-width apart. Stay on your toes, ready to quickly move toward the ball and return it.
- Remain behind the baseline after serving and only move forward when the third shot is played. This ensures you’re in a strong position when the ball bounces.
Serve deep to push the receiver further back. When serving, hit the ball firmly with the center of your paddle so it lands closer to the baseline. This forces the receiver to stand farther back, opening up the front of the court for your next shot.
- If you struggle with serving deep, take a bigger backswing and keep your head down as you hit the ball for better control and power.
Target the receiver's backhand with your serve. Aim to place your serve around 8 inches (20 cm) inside from the centerline, directing it toward the receiver’s backhand. Since backhand shots are often trickier to handle, this strategy can help you score an easy point.
- In doubles, hitting near the centerline can also create confusion, potentially causing the wrong player to return the ball first.
Rotate your paddle upon contact to create spin. When you strike the ball, twist your wrist toward your body so the paddle stands vertical rather than horizontal. This motion adds topspin to the ball, increasing its distance and causing it to bounce unpredictably, making it harder for the receiver to return your serve.
