How do you serve in pickleball?

Stand behind the baseline and serve underhand and diagonally into the opposite service court. With the traditional volley serve, contact must be below your waist with an upward motion and the paddle head below your wrist. The newer drop serve lets you drop the ball and hit it after the bounce with no motion restrictions.

What is the drop serve in pickleball?

The drop serve lets you drop the ball from your hand (no toss or throw) and hit it after it bounces. Because contact is after a bounce, the underhand/below-the-waist motion requirements don't apply — which is why many players find it easier and more consistent.

Does a serve have to be diagonal in pickleball?

Yes. The serve must travel diagonally and land in the service court on the opposite side, clearing the net and the kitchen. A serve that lands in the kitchen (Non-Volley Zone) or its line is a fault.

What happens if the serve hits the net in pickleball?

Under current rules there are no let serves — if the serve clips the net but still lands in the correct service court, it's live and play continues. Only a serve that hits the net and lands out (or in the kitchen) is a fault.

Pickleball Rules Guide

Serving

Pickleball Serving Rules

The serve starts every point, and it’s the one shot with the most rules. The good news: you have two legal options — the classic underhand volley serve and the easier drop serve. Here’s how to serve legally and avoid the common faults.

Where to stand

Serve with at least one foot behind the baseline, and neither foot touching the baseline or the court until after you hit the ball. You serve diagonally, into the service court on the far side.

The volley serve (traditional)

Hit the ball out of the air with an upward, underhand motion. Three things must be true at contact: the ball is struck below your waist (navel level), your arm is moving in an upward arc, and the highest point of the paddle head is below your wrist.

The drop serve (easier)

Added to the rules to make serving simpler, the drop serve lets you drop the ball from your hand and hit it after it bounces. You can’t toss or throw it down — just release it. Because you’re striking after the bounce, the below-the-waist and paddle-angle requirements don’t apply, which makes it the most beginner-friendly serve.

Where the serve has to land

The serve must clear the net and the entire kitchen, landing in the diagonal service court. A serve that lands in the Non-Volley Zone or on the kitchen line is a fault. The sidelines and baseline of the service court are in.

The let rule & common faults

There are no let serves anymore — a serve that ticks the net and lands in the right box is live. You lose the serve (a fault) if you: miss the correct service court, foot-fault on the baseline, or break the volley-serve motion rules. Remember too that the receiver must let the serve bounce before returning it (the two-bounce rule).

Know the rules? Now find a game.

Rules are easy — the hard part is finding people to play with. VolleyForge matches you with players near you at your level, so you can put these rules into practice. Free to join.