Pickleball Serve Rules

Volley serve (standard)

Ball hit from the air, not bounced first

• ✓Paddle must be below wrist level at contact
• ✓Contact point must be below the navel
• ✓Arm must be moving upward at contact
• ✓Ball released from one hand, hit before it bounces

The most common serve type. Subject to stricter contact rules.

Drop serve (bounce serve)

Ball dropped and hit after one bounce

• ✓Ball must be dropped from any natural height (not tossed up)
• ✓Ball can only bounce once before contact
• ✓No restrictions on paddle height, wrist, or arm direction
• ✓Ball must still land in correct service box

Easier to learn and legal at all levels. Relaxes motion restrictions.

Both feet must be behind the baseline until contact

Feet can be anywhere behind the baseline, within the center line and sideline extensions. You cannot step forward until after contact.

Serve diagonally to the opposite service box

From the right side: serve to the opponent's right box. From the left side: serve to the opponent's left box. Serving straight (not cross-court) is a fault.

Serve alternates sides on each point scored

Score an even number of points: serve from the right. Score an odd number of points: serve from the left. Your partner serves from the side you'd be on if you scored on their side.

Call score before serving

The server must call the full score (server score – receiver score – server number in doubles) before serving. Playing without calling the score can result in a technical warning.

What are the pickleball serve rules?

Pickleball serve rules: (1) The serve must be hit underhand with the paddle below wrist level at contact. (2) The ball must be hit below the navel. (3) The arm must move upward at contact. (4) The serve must land in the diagonally opposite service box. (5) The server must keep both feet behind the baseline. (6) The serve cannot land in the kitchen (NVZ) or on the NVZ line. Alternatively, players may use the drop serve, dropping the ball and hitting after it bounces, which relaxes the arm motion rules.

What is the drop serve in pickleball?

The drop serve (officially called the bounce serve) allows the server to drop the ball from any natural height and hit it after it bounces. Unlike the volley serve, the drop serve has no restrictions on paddle height, wrist position, or arm motion direction at contact. The ball must be dropped (not tossed upward) and can only bounce once. The ball must still land in the correct service box. The drop serve is legal at all levels of play.

What are the most common pickleball serve faults?

Common pickleball serve faults: hitting the ball above the navel (volley serve), upward wrist position at contact (volley serve), foot fault (toes touching or crossing the baseline), serving into the kitchen or on the kitchen line, serving out of bounds, wrong service box (serving cross-court is required), and not calling the score before serving. A fault on the serve results in a side-out, the serve transfers to the opposing team.