How to serve (volley serve and drop serve)

There are two ways to serve: the volley serve and the drop serve (7.C, 7.D). A volley serve must be hit below the waist with the paddle swinging upward, so you cannot hit down on the ball from above like in tennis (7.C.1, 7.C.3).

Releasing the ball (same for both serves)

• Release the ball from one hand, or drop it off the paddle (7.B.1)
• When you release it, you must not put spin on the ball with your hand or paddle (7.B.2)
• The receiver must be able to see you release the ball (7.B.3)

Spin that comes from the moment the paddle hits the ball is fine. What is not allowed is spin you put on the ball when releasing it (7.B.2).

Volley serve (hit before it bounces)

At the moment you hit the ball, all three of these must be true (7.C).

1. The paddle is moving upward in an arc (7.C.1)
2. The tip of the paddle (its highest part) is not above the wrist (7.C.2)
3. The ball is hit below the waist (7.C.3)

You may use a forehand or a backhand (7.C.4). If even one of the three is not met, it is a fault (7.C.5).

In the 2026 edition, all three conditions now include the word "clear" or "clearly" (7.C.1, 7.C.2, 7.C.3). USA Pickleball explains that adding this word makes the rule stronger and easier to enforce (USA Pickleball).

Drop serve (bounce it once, then hit)

• Drop the ball from a natural height and hit it after it bounces (7.D, 7.D.1)
• You must not throw it down, push it, or toss it up (7.D.2)
• There are no rules on how many times it bounces or where it bounces (7.D.3, 7.D.4)
• You may use a forehand or a backhand (7.D.5)

Common mistakes

• Twisting the ball with your hand as you release it, to put spin on it → not allowed (7.B.2). Before returning, the receiver can ask for the serve to be replayed (7.B.2.a)
• In a volley serve, the paddle swings sideways → if the upward motion is not clear, it is a fault (7.C.1, 7.C.5)

FAQ

Q. In a drop serve, can I lift the ball up just a little before letting it fall?

No, that is a fault (7.D.6). In a drop serve, there is a rule that you must not push the ball in any direction when you release it (7.D.2). Lifting it up also counts as pushing it. Just let go of the ball, without pushing it (7.D.2).

Q. Is there a rule about how high to drop it from?

The rule is to drop it from a natural height (without help from a tool or device) (7.D.1). The rulebook does not give a specific number, such as a certain number of centimeters.