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.
By the VolleyForge team · Reviewed August 2026
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).
Frequently asked questions
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.
Where do you serve from in pickleball?
You serve from behind the baseline, on the correct side for the score. With at least one foot behind the baseline and no foot touching the baseline or court until after contact, you hit diagonally to the service court on the far side. In doubles, the serving side starts on the right (even) side at the score of 0-0.
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.
Drop serve vs volley serve — are both legal?
Yes, both are legal and you can switch between them at any time. The volley serve is struck out of the air and must meet the below-the-waist, upward-motion, and paddle-below-wrist requirements. The drop serve is hit after a bounce and has no motion restrictions, so it is the more forgiving option.
Do you have to serve underhand in pickleball?
For the volley serve, yes — contact must be below your waist with an upward arm motion and the paddle head below your wrist. The drop serve is the exception: because the ball bounces first, those underhand-motion rules do not apply.
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.
Can a serve land in the kitchen in pickleball?
No. A serve that lands in the kitchen (the Non-Volley Zone) or touches the kitchen line is a fault. The serve must clear the entire kitchen and land in the diagonal service court. The service-court sidelines and baseline are in.
Who serves first in pickleball doubles?
At the start of a doubles game the first serving team gets only one server (the second-server exception at 0-0). After that, both players on a side serve in turn before the serve passes to the opponents. The player on the right (even) side serves first each time their team wins back the serve.
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 (start here)
The complete beginner's guide to pickleball rules — scoring, serving, the kitchen, the two-bounce rule, and faults.
How to keep score
Traditional side-out scoring, the three-number doubles call, games to 11 win-by-2, and rally scoring explained.
The kitchen rule
What the kitchen is, why you can't volley in it, and the momentum rule that trips up new players.
Singles rules
How singles differs from doubles — two-number scoring, the serving-side shortcut, and why the court stays the same size.
Doubles rules
The two-server sequence, the three-number score call, the second-server exception at 0-0, and when partners switch sides.
Court dimensions
The exact measurements — a 20-by-44-foot court, the 7-foot kitchen, net height, service courts, and the space you need around it.
How to play (beginners)
The complete beginner's start — the object of the game, the serve, the two-bounce rule, the kitchen, and how to win, in one place.