pickleball serving rules
Pickleball Serving Rules
The serve starts every rally and must be legal before anything else matters.
What this page covers
Serve diagonally cross-court into the correct service box.
Use an underhand volley serve or a drop serve.
Keep both feet behind the baseline until contact.
The serve must clear the kitchen and land in the service court.
Plain-English rules
- Serve diagonally cross-court into the correct service box.
- Use an underhand volley serve or a drop serve.
- Keep both feet behind the baseline until contact.
- The serve must clear the kitchen and land in the service court.
- Call the score before serving so players know the server number.
Examples
Legal: you drop the ball, let it bounce, and hit it cross-court past the kitchen line.
Fault: the serve lands on the kitchen line or inside the non-volley zone.
Quick answers
Can the serve hit the net?
Yes, if it lands in the correct service court beyond the kitchen.
Can you spin the ball on the serve?
Do not rely on pre-spun tosses. A simple legal drop serve or underhand serve is safest for rec play.