Pickleball Serves

In pickleball, there are two main legal serves: the volley serve and the drop serve. It is important to understand how to execute each pickleball serve correctly or you might be called for a fault. We’ve summarized the basics of both legal pickleball serves below, but for more information, you should consult the USA Pickleball Rulebook – USA Pickleball.

Pickleball serves: Volley Serve | Drop Serve |

No Soft Serve Here!

Are you ready to add a little flavor to your game? If you’re like us, you know that in pickleball, there’s more than one way to serve up success on the court. We’re serving up some serious fun with our designs featuring the cheeky saying, “If you wanted a soft serve you should have gone for ice cream.” Whether you’re a fan of strawberry, chocolate, or classic vanilla, our colorful graphics are sure to add a dash of sweetness to your game-day gear.

Now, let’s talk about those pickleball serves. We all know that in pickleball, there’s no shortage of opinions when it comes to the perfect pickleball serve. Some players prefer a hard and deep serve right to the back line, while others may prefer a softer touch. However you like to serve, it’s important to understand the mechanics of the two legal pickleball serves.

Volley Serve

This pickleball serve is made with an underhand motion, and the paddle must contact the ball below the waist level in an upward tick. You can not spin the ball with your hand when releasing. When making contact with the ball, the highest point of the paddle head cannot be above the server’s wrist.

Drop Serve

The server can drop the ball from any height, but can not move the ball in an upward or downward motion. Basically, hold your arm at whatever level you wish, and without moving your arm or hand, open your fingers to drop the ball, that’s it. After the ball is dropped and bounces on the playing surface, it can be struck however you wish.

Both serves must be executed with both feet behind the baseline, and the ball must land in the opposite diagonal service box. Remember, the serve sets the tone for the point, so mastering both types will give you a strategic advantage in the game.

Controversial Serve

The chainsaw serve was a controversial serving technique invented a few years ago. It created so much spin and unpredictability, it was virtually unreturnable. However, due to safety concerns and the potential for injury to players or spectators, the chainsaw serve was banned by the USA Pickleball Association (USAPA). While it may have been an intriguing tactic for some players, the ban ensures fair and safe gameplay for all participants.

Killer Serve Complaints

If you have a pickleball serve that is hard to return, super-fast, and always hits deep right on the baseline this graphic is for you. Next time your opponents complain about your killer, totally legal serve tell them – If You Wanted a Soft Serve You Should Have Gone For Ice Cream.