Feb 16 / Carlos Rodriguez

How to Serve in Pickleball: Rules of Service

Learning how to serve in pickleball is essential for improving your game. 

Serving in pickleball sets the tone for each rally, and understanding the rules helps you serve with confidence. To serve legally, the ball must be struck underhand with the paddle below your waist, and it should land in the opposite diagonal service court. 

Visualize a smooth, relaxed motion as you serve, focusing on both accuracy and power while following these key guidelines.

First, let’s review the rules of a proper pickleball serve.

Do You Have to Serve Underhand in Pickleball? 

Yes, pickleball rules require all serves to be made underhand, and the paddle must make contact with the ball below your waist. 

The Six Rules of a Legal Pickleball Serve

According to the USA Pickleball Association, these are the five rules for a legal pickleball serve:

  1. Underhanded Contact: When hitting the serve, The head of the paddle must not be above the highest part of the wrist at contact.

  2. Upward Motion The paddle must move in an upward arc when it hits the ball.

  3. Paddle Below Waist: At the moment of contact with the ball, the paddle must be below the server's waist (specifically, the navel).

  4. Feet Position: The server must have both feet behind the baseline (the back line of the court) when serving. Neither foot can touch the court or the baseline before the ball is hit.

  5. Ball in the Air or Dropped: The ball can be either tossed in the air or dropped (for a drop serve). For the traditional serve, the ball must be hit out of the air without bouncing.

  6. Diagonal Direction: The serve must travel diagonally across the court, landing in the opponent’s service box (the area between the baseline and the non-volley zone line).

Drop Serve vs. Volley Serve


There are two main serve methods that follow legal rules: the traditional volley serve and the drop serve.

Volley Serve

This is the classic method where you hit the ball directly out of the air before it bounces. The serve must be made with an underhand stroke, keeping the paddle below your waist, and you must stay behind the baseline until contact. The volley serve allows for faster, more dynamic shots (such as a flat serve or a heavy topspin serve) with the potential to generate significant spin and power—but it requires a consistent toss and precise timing.

Drop Serve

With the drop serve, you simply drop the ball and let it bounce once before striking it. This method gives you more time to line up your shot and can be easier to control, especially if you struggle with a consistent toss. While it may not allow for the same level of spin or speed as the volley serve, the drop serve can be an easy pickleball serve for beginners, helping to reduce errors.


Both serve types are legal as long as they follow the rules set by organizations like USA Pickleball. 


Pickleball Serve Visualized: Flat Serve vs: Heavy Topspin

Here’s an example of flat serve from Ben Johns:


This technique uses your body weight to drive through the ball to create power that sends the ball in a flat trajectory.

And here’s an example of heavy topspin serve from Tyson McGuffin:

This technique, in contrast, explodes upwards at the ball and using topspin to get the ball to traject downward once it gets over the net. 

Level Up Your Serve with Drills and Techniques 

In the Paddlespeed Program, we cover seven pickleball serve drills to help you improve your power, spin, and accuracy while ensuring you're following the correct pickleball serve rules. You’ll also learn how to apply the 4 main concepts of your swing to best place the ball where you want it to go.

If you want to learn more techniques and drills to get a more consistent serve, I explain more strategy, technique, and even preview some drills in my other post on Pickleball Serve Technique.

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