The pickleball serve is the only shot where you control every variable before the rally starts.
Your position, your timing, your target.
It is also the only shot governed by a specific set of rules, and falling outside them hands your opponent a point before the ball has been returned once.
There are two legal serve types in pickleball, a clear set of requirements that govern whether a serve is valid, and several common faults that cost new players points far more than they should.
This guide covers all of it: the rules, the technique for both serve types, the mistakes to avoid, and the serve tips that make the biggest practical difference to your game.
The two serve types in pickleball
Official pickleball rules recognise two approved serve types: the volley serve and the drop serve.
They work differently and suit different players and skill levels, so knowing which one you’re using matters before you start working on your technique.
The volley serve
The traditional pickleball volley serve is still by far the most common serving style at every level of play, on local courts and at the professional pickleball level alike.
You hold the ball in your non-paddle hand, swing the paddle in an upward arc, and make contact with the ball while it is in the air, before it touches the ground. Unlike padel or tennis, there’s no overhand swing and no bounce required before you make contact.
The volley serve gives more control over pace and placement once you have practised it.
The drop serve
The drop serve is the newer of the two legal options.
Instead of striking the ball from the air, you drop the ball from any height, let it bounce on the playing surface, and hit it after the bounce.
The drop serve removes the wrist position and upward arc requirements that apply to the volley serve.
The drop serve is more suited to beginner and intermediate players who want to make sure their serves are legal while they develop confidence in their serving motion.
Because the ball loses some pace on the bounce, the drop serve also tends to produce a slower, higher delivery than the volley serve, which suits players who prefer performing backhand serves.
Legal pickleball serve rules
Every serve in pickleball must meet a set of specific official requirements to be valid.
The following requirements apply to every serve, regardless of type:
- Your feet must be behind the baseline when the ball is struck. At least one foot must be touching the ground behind the baseline. Neither foot can be touching the baseline or the playing surface inside the court at the moment of contact.
- The serve must land in the diagonally opposite service box, inside the imaginary extension of the sideline. The ball must land inside the center line and sideline boundaries of that box.
- Only one serve attempt is allowed. If the ball hits the net on a legal serve and drops into the correct service box, it is a let and the serve is replayed. If it goes anywhere else, it is a fault.
- In pickleball doubles, the incorrect player serving results in a side-out. Knowing the rotation matters.
For the volley serve, there are additional requirements:
- The paddle must be moving in an upward arc when it makes contact with the ball.
- Contact with the ball must be below your waist at the moment of striking the ball.
- The highest part of your wrist at contact must be below your hand.
- The serve must be underhand.
How to execute the volley serve
Your pickleball serving stance should place your non-dominant foot pointing slightly towards the net, with both feet planted clearly behind the baseline.
Hold the ball in your non-paddle hand at around hip height.
Swing the pickleball paddle from low to high in a smooth underhand motion, watching the ball as the paddle makes contact.
Wrist at contact must stay below the highest part of your hand, and the paddle head must be below the wrist at the point of contact.
Follow through naturally across your body after striking the ball, and keep your eye on the contact point throughout the swing.
Aim for the back of the service box.
A deep serve pushes your opponent back from the kitchen line. That gives you more time to prepare your third shot and reduces their ability to attack the return.
How to execute the drop serve
For the drop serve, release the ball using your hand rather than dropping it with a push or throw.
Drop it from any comfortable height directly in front of your body.
Allow the ball to bounce on the playing surface, then hit it as it rises back up.
Because the ball is struck after it has been touching the ground, the wrist position and upward arc rules that apply to the volley serve do not apply.
The ball must bounce on the playing surface before you hit it. That is the one rule specific to this serve type.
You still must be behind the baseline and the ball must land in the correct service box, but you have more freedom in your serving motion.
Watch the ball carefully as it comes back up from the bounce, and make contact at a height that feels natural for your swing.
The drop serve is well suited to players who want a legal, consistent serve without the wrist mechanics.
It is a good option while you are still developing your overall pickleball serve technique.
Common serving faults
Even experienced pickleball players hit an illegal serve from time to time. These are the faults that come up most often.
Wrong contact height or wrist position
If the paddle makes contact with the ball above your waist, or the highest part of your wrist is above your hand at contact, the serve is illegal.
This fault usually comes from winding up the swing too high.
Keep the paddle low throughout the serving motion and focus on the upward arc from a low starting position.
Foot faults
Your feet must be behind the baseline throughout the serve.
Step on or over it before the ball is struck and it’s a fault.
Some players drift forward as they load up for pace.
Plant both feet clearly behind the line and keep them there until after you have finished striking the ball.
Landing in the wrong box
The ball must land in the diagonally opposite service box, inside the sideline and centerline boundaries.
Serves that fall short into the kitchen, land wide of the sideline, or cross the centreline are all faults.
During practice, aim at specific targets in the back of the service box to train your placement accuracy.
Wrong server in doubles
In pickleball doubles, the incorrect player serving results in a side-out.
Track the rotation carefully, particularly at the start of a game or after returning from a side-out.
If you’re genuinely unsure in a match situation, ask the referee or check with the other team before you serve.
Pickleball serve tips to improve your game
Once you’re hitting legal serves consistently, these are the serve tips that make the most difference at club level.
Serve deep
A deep serve lands near the back of the service box and limits your opponent’s ability to attack the return.
It keeps your opponent back from the kitchen line and gives you time to get into position.
Depth is worth prioritising in your serve practice before adding placement work.
Target the backhand
Most players’ backhands are weaker than their forehands, and placing your serve to your opponent’s backhand side consistently makes their return harder to control.
Once you can hit your serve deep reliably, begin adding placement variation to your pickleball serve practice.
Add variety to keep your opponents guessing
A predictable serve is easy to anticipate and easy to attack.
Mixing your placement, adding some spin on a serve occasionally, and sometimes going short all make it harder for your opponents to settle into a return rhythm.
Build your serve through a drill
Repetition builds a consistent pickleball serve faster than any other approach.
A simple drill is to place a target in the back corners of the service box and work through 20 serves to each side per session.
Deliberate practice like this builds consistency faster than any other approach, and consistent serving is when you play your best pickleball.
Control paddles suit beginners best because clear feedback on contact is what helps you notice and fix pickleball serve technique issues quickly.
Ask at our pro shop if you want a recommendation on the right pickleball paddle for your level.
Can I practise my pickleball serve at The Court?
Of course you can!
Here at The Court, we have two professional standard-sized pickleball courts in Glasgow. No need to buy your own equipment beforehand either!
With racquet hire available and pickleballs provided, we accommodate to absolute beginners and seasoned-pros in the same shot! And if you wish to give padel a try, we have the facilities for that too!
Book a court on Playtomic and you can start working on your serve from your very first session.
