You’re standing at the baseline. The score is tied 9-9. Your heart is thumping against your ribs like a trapped bird, and suddenly, you can’t remember where your feet are supposed to go. You swing, you connect, and the opponent screams, "Foot fault!"
It’s the worst feeling. Honestly, pickleball is supposed to be the "friendly" sport, but nothing starts an argument faster than someone bending the pickleball serving rules to their advantage—or just flat-out not knowing them.
Most beginners think serving is just about getting the ball over the net. Easy, right? Not really. Between the 2021 ban on the "chainsaw" serve and the specific mechanics of the drop serve versus the volley serve, there is a lot of room to mess up. If you’ve ever watched a pro match and wondered why they didn't get called for a high contact point, or if you’ve been scolded by a local veteran for "spinning" the ball with your hand, this is for you.
The Volley Serve: The Classic (and Most Policed) Way to Play
Most players use the volley serve. This is the traditional "hit it out of the air" move. Because you aren't letting the ball bounce, the USA Pickleball Association (USAPA) has some very strict guardrails to prevent people from turning a serve into a 100 mph tennis ace.
First off, your arm must move in an upward arc. You can't come over the top of the ball like you’re smashing a fly. It has to be an underhand motion. If your paddle head is higher than your wrist at the moment of impact? That’s a fault. If you hit the ball above your waist (specifically your navel)? Also a fault.
The "waist" rule is the one that causes the most shouting matches. Everyone's belly button is at a different height. In recreational play, people are usually chill about it unless you're clearly "head-hunting" with a flat, chest-high drive. But if you want to play in a sanctioned tournament, you better get used to hitting low.
Hand-to-Ball Contact: No More Funny Business
Remember when Zane Navratil used to spin the ball off his paddle like a magician? That’s gone. The rules changed specifically to stop the "chainsaw" serve. Now, when you release the ball for a volley serve, you can’t use your hand or your paddle to impart any spin. You have to just drop it. Or toss it. But it has to be a "visible" release with no extra torque.
Just let it go. Simple.
The Drop Serve: A Loophole for the Rest of us
If the volley serve rules feel like a math equation you can't solve, the drop serve is your best friend. Introduced as a provisional rule and later made permanent, the drop serve lets you—you guessed it—drop the ball and hit it after it bounces.
The beauty here? None of the volley serve restrictions apply.
- You don't need an upward arc.
- The paddle head can be above the wrist.
- You can hit it as high as you want (as long as it bounced first).
There is a catch, though. You cannot throw the ball down. You can't give it extra height by tossing it up. You have to simply let it fall from your hand or your paddle. If you "push" the ball down to make it bounce higher, the serve is illegal.
It’s a great option for players with shoulder issues or those who struggle with the timing of a mid-air strike. Plus, it’s much harder for an opponent to call a fault on a drop serve because the "waist-high" rule doesn't exist here.
Where Your Feet Live: Baseline Boundaries
Let's talk about the floor. Foot faults are the "speeding tickets" of pickleball. You’re usually doing it by accident, but they still count.
When you serve, at least one foot must be on the ground behind the baseline. Neither of your feet can touch the court or the baseline itself until after you’ve struck the ball. Furthermore, you have to stay within the imaginary extensions of the sideline and the center line.
I’ve seen guys try to "sideline" their serve by standing way out wide, almost off the court. If your foot crosses that imaginary plane of the sideline before you hit the ball, you're done. The point goes to the other team before it even starts.
The "Let" Serve is Dead
This is a big one for people coming back to the game after a break. In the old days, if your serve clipped the net but landed in the correct service box, you’d yell "Let!" and do it over.
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Not anymore.
Since 2021, the "Let" serve has been removed from the official pickleball serving rules. If the ball hits the tape and rolls over into the correct box, it is a live ball. Play on. If it hits the tape and lands in the kitchen (the Non-Volley Zone) or out of bounds, it's a fault.
This change was made to stop people from arguing over whether they heard a "clip" or not. It speeds up the game. It makes it more "pro-like." It also makes for some really lucky points that will probably frustrate you to no end.
The Score is the Signal
You cannot serve until the entire score has been called. If you’re a "fast-server" who tries to catch people off guard, be careful. If the referee (or the server in rec play) hasn't finished saying "10-10-2," and you swing, it’s a fault or a dead ball.
The sequence matters.
- Server calls the score.
- Receiver gets set.
- Serve happens.
If the receiver isn't ready, they should put their hand up or turn their back. But once that score is called, the clock starts ticking. You have 10 seconds to get that ball into play.
Targeting the Right Box
You have to serve diagonally. Everyone knows that. If you’re the first server at 0-0-2, you’re on the right side, and you're aiming for the opponent's right side (your left).
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But here’s the detail that trips people up: the lines.
The sidelines and the baseline are "in." If your serve hits the back line, it’s good.
The Non-Volley Zone (Kitchen) line is "out."
This is the only time in the game where the line is treated differently. During a regular rally, if a ball hits the kitchen line, it’s a fair ball. On a serve? If it touches that line—even by a hair—it’s a fault. The kitchen is lava during the serve.
A Quick Nuance on the "1" and "2"
In doubles, you'll hear the score called with three numbers. The last number (1 or 2) tells you which partner is serving. Except at the very start of the game, where the score is 0-0-2.
Why 2? Because the starting team only gets one server to keep things fair. It’s a quirk of the game designed to prevent the starting team from having too much of a "first-move" advantage. Once that first server loses the point, the ball goes to the other team, and from then on, both partners get a turn to serve.
Real-World Tips for Staying Legal
If you want to make sure you're never the person getting called out for illegal serves, focus on your "toss" or "drop" first.
- For Volley Serves: Keep your palm completely flat. Don't grip the ball with your fingers. This proves to everyone watching that you aren't spinning the ball.
- For Drop Serves: Hold the ball high and just open your hand. Let gravity do the work. Don't try to add juice to the bounce.
- For Feet: Practice standing about two inches behind the line. There is no benefit to being closer, and those two inches give you a "buffer" so you don't accidentally slide onto the white paint.
Dealing with "Rules Lawyers"
You’ll eventually run into a player who treats every Saturday morning game like the finals of the PPA Tour. They will call you on every "waist-high" serve.
If this happens, honestly, just switch to a drop serve for the rest of the match. It takes the power away from the "referee" across the net. Since the drop serve has fewer mechanical restrictions, they can't complain about your wrist position or your contact point. It’s the ultimate "peace of mind" move.
Summary of Actionable Steps
- Check your contact point: Ensure you hit the ball below your navel if you aren't letting it bounce.
- Verify your feet: Look down before you serve. Stay behind the line and inside the imaginary center/sideline extensions.
- Ignore the net tape: If it hits the net and goes in, keep playing. Don't stop and wait for a "let" call that isn't coming.
- Wait for the score: Never swing before the third number of the score is spoken.
- Master the drop: Keep a drop serve in your back pocket for when you’re tired or when opponents start getting picky about your volley form.
Pickleball is a game of inches and "kitchen" lines. Knowing the nuances of the serve doesn't just keep you out of trouble—it gives you the confidence to start every point on the front foot. Grab a bucket of balls, head to an empty court, and practice dropping that ball without a "toss" until it feels like second nature. Your game (and your opponents) will thank you.
Next Steps for Your Game
- Film your serve: Use your phone to record five minutes of your serves from the side. You might be surprised to see your contact point is higher than you thought.
- Review the official rulebook: Visit the USA Pickleball Rulebook for the most recent updates on wording and technicalities regarding the 10-second rule.
- Practice the "Silent Release": Work on releasing the ball for a volley serve with a completely still hand to avoid any "spin" accusations.