A strong serve is crucial in pickleball. It not only sets the pace for the rally but can also be the deciding factor between winning and losing. While technique and practice are essential, even the most powerful shot won't help if your serve isn't legal. An invalid serve gives your opponent an unnecessary advantage — and it's entirely avoidable.

In this guide, you'll learn what makes a pickleball serve legal, the difference between a volley serve and a drop serve, and an overview of the most important serving rules for 2025.

The 2 Legal Pickleball Serve Types

As of now, there are two officially allowed serving techniques in pickleball:

• The volley serve
• The drop serve

Let’s break down how each one works and when to use them.

What Is a Volley Serve in Pickleball?

The volley serve (also called the “out-of-the-air” serve) involves dropping the ball and striking it before it hits the ground. The contact must be below waist level, and your arm must move in an upward motion when hitting the ball. For many years, this was the only legal serve in pickleball.

Advantages:

• Allows for more power in your serve
• You can hit from a higher point, giving better angles and placement

What Is a Drop Serve in Pickleball?

The drop serve was initially introduced for players with physical limitations, but it is now allowed for all players.

In this serve, you let the ball fall from any height (without throwing or pushing it), let it bounce at least once, and then hit your serve. The ball may bounce more than once, and the drop can occur anywhere on the playing surface. The drop serve is slightly more forgiving when it comes to the technical rules.

Advantages:

• Ideal for beginners
• Lower risk of committing a serve fault

Rules for a Legal Pickleball Serve

To be considered valid, a pickleball serve must follow these six basic rules:

1. Upward Swing Motion:

The serving arm must move in an upward arc when contacting the ball. Overhead or sidearm swings are not allowed.

2. Contact Point Below Navel:

The ball must be struck below your waist — specifically under the navel. Taller players will naturally have a slightly higher contact point.

3. Paddle Below the Wrist:

At the moment of contact, the paddle head must be below the highest point of the wrist.

4. One Serve Attempt Per Turn:

You only get one serve per rotation. If you don't score, the serve goes to the next player.

5. Feet Behind the Baseline:

At the moment of serving, both feet must be behind the baseline, and you must stay within the imaginary extensions of the center and sidelines.

6. Serve Must Land Diagonally:

The ball must land in the diagonally opposite service box — similar to tennis.

Pickleball Serving Rule Changes (2024–2025)

The official serving rules are evolving. Here are the most important updates to keep in mind:

Key Rule Updates for 2025

• Volley serve release allowed with paddle (new): Previously, the ball had to be released with one bare hand. In 2025, you're also allowed to release the ball with your paddle — as long as you don’t add spin.
• Drop serve can roll off the paddle face by gravity only:
• You may let the ball drop from your paddle passively, but you’re still not allowed to push, toss, or spin it.
• Clearer definition of the correct server:
• In doubles play, the correct server is now explicitly determined by the current score and starting position, reducing confusion about server rotation.

Rule Changes from 2024 Still in Effect

• Chainsaw serve is banned: No spin may be applied during the serve, whether by hand or paddle. Only a bare hand can be used to release the ball.
• Drop serves can bounce anywhere, and multiple times. No restrictions on how or where the ball bounces before hitting it during a drop serve.
• Ball release must be visible to receiver and referee. During a volley serve, the receiver must be able to see the ball drop, to avoid sneaky spin techniques.
• Players can ask about score and server position before the serve. If you're unsure who's supposed to serve or what the score is, you can now confirm it before the point begins.
• Incorrect score call? Rally plays out. If the wrong score is announced, the rally continues. The score is corrected afterward, not during the point.
• Ball can touch a permanent object before the serve — if within 10 seconds. If you accidentally drop the ball and it hits a fence or wall before the serve — as long as you serve within 10 seconds, it’s not a fault.

Why Don’t Pro Players Use the Drop Serve?

The drop serve is especially useful for beginners, casual games, or practice. It offers more forgiveness and ensures you stay within the rules. However, professional players prefer the volley serve for its power, precision, and angle — especially at competitive levels.

Will the Volley Serve Be Banned?

There was a proposed rule change that would have banned the volley serve, making the drop serve the only legal option. The argument: volley serves are harder to regulate and easier to abuse.
But that proposal was rejected. As of 2025, both serve types remain legal under official USA Pickleball rules.

Want to Improve Your Pickleball Serve? Practice Is Key.

Knowing the rules is important — but mastering them comes from consistent practice.
Turn your serve into a weapon instead of a weakness, and step into your next game with confidence.