Pickleball Serve 101

The serve in pickleball is an underhand motion with several nuance rules to prevent players from gaining an advantage from serving.

Here are some of the basic rules:

  • Contact must be below the waist or belly button
  • Players aren’t allowed to impart spin on the ball prior to contact
  • The arm/hand must move upwards to contact
  • Only one try per player
  • The ball must land past the kitchen line and within the court boundary opposite of the server
  • Feet must be behind the baseline at contact

Progressing Serve Mechanics

As players progress in skill level, you’ll refine your aim to target the weaker side of your opponent. The deeper and faster the serve, the more likely you’ll receive a return that you can attack. It is very important to not miss your serve because you can only score points as the serving team. In the video below, start with your belly button facing the net post then finish towards your target, note the upward trajectory of the arm, hand and paddle. Also note the handle leads to contact and contact is in front of the body. The paddle face is slightly open and angled towards the target. There are a number serve techniques that can be successful. The most basic technique, you can hold the paddle with your palm up and paddle facing up, such that you can hit the ball similar to how you toss in corn hole. Boots and adult beverage not required! This is a basic pendulum motion, arm back, arm forward.  Once the hand passes in front of the shoulder joint, the hand automatically rises and that is where contact is made [upswing]. Players coming over from tennis backgrounds will likely be more comfortable with a semi-open topspin serve. Either way, review the examples below and see which technique works best for you.

Slice Serve

Slice Serve
Advanced Topspin Serve
Topspin Serve Slow Motion

Common issues and resolutions

  • Serve goes into the net or short
    • Try contact more in front of the body and swing upwards more
  • Serve goes to the left
    • Keep the palm facing forward by bending the wrist back at contact
  • Serve goes to the right of target
    • Extend toss arm more into the court and drop the ball more inside the court
  • Serve goes too high or too long
    • As you raise the arm through contact, keep the palm forward instead of allowing the palm to face upwards at contact.