While pickleball rules don't explicitly forbid jumping during a serve, they imply restrictions that make it difficult. Serving rules demand the paddle stays below the waist and the ball is struck in an upward motion, which can be challenging to achieve mid-jump.
Is a jump serve allowed in pickleball?
In the 2024 USA Pickleball Official Rulebook, it’s made clear that when you’re serving, you need to keep at least one foot touching the ground behind the baseline.
If you are a beginner, make sure your feet don’t cross over or touch the baseline or go beyond the imaginary extension of the sideline and centerline.
There is no specific mention that jumping is prohibited during the serve, but the rules around the serve’s mechanics imply that the server must maintain certain conditions that might be difficult to adhere to if jumping. Specifically, keeping the paddle below the waist and ensuring the upward arc motion might be challenging if a jump is involved.
Therefore, while not explicitly stated, the nature of the serving rules suggests that a traditional jump serve, as seen in sports like tennis or volleyball, would not comply with the official pickleball serving guidelines.
Make sure also to read our article on Understanding the New Beta PPA Serving Rules in Pickleball. Our article includes a video on how to perform a serve following the beta PPA rules.
Can you bounce the ball during a pickleball serve?
Yes, in pickleball, you have the option to bounce the ball before serving. This technique involves dropping the ball onto the court and hitting it after it bounces.
However, it’s important to note that when you choose to serve this way, the ball must be allowed to fall naturally to the ground without being thrown, tossed, or released with any added force.
Can you jump over the baseline while serving?
The service motion must begin with at least one foot behind the baseline, and the server must not step forward over the baseline until after the ball is struck.
However, the rules do allow for the server’s momentum to carry them past the baseline after the ball has been hit. This means that while a player cannot start their serve with a motion that carries them over the baseline before they hit the ball (such as jumping forward over it), they can move forward after the ball has been served.
This aspect of the serving rule ensures that the serve is initiated from a consistent position while still allowing for natural movement and follow-through after the serve is executed.
Watch how Dekel Bar does it at the MLP in Atlanta:
What is an illegal serve?
In pickleball, a serve is illegal if it breaks certain official rules. Focusing on the most common mistakes that lead to illegal serves can help players avoid common pitfalls and improve their game.
Here’s a bullet-point list highlighting these mistakes:
- Hitting Above Waist Level: Serving the ball while making contact above the waist (navel level), which is a violation of the serve motion rules.
- Incorrect Paddle Motion: Not maintaining an upward motion of the paddle when hitting the ball during the serve.
- Foot Faults: Stepping on or over the baseline before the ball is struck.
- Serving Out of Turn: Not following the correct serving sequence as per the game’s rules, leading to serving when it’s not one’s turn.
- Wrong Service Court: Serving the ball into the incorrect service court (it must land in the diagonally opposite service box).
- Non-volley Zone Faults: The serve landing in the non-volley zone (the kitchen) or on its line, which is not permitted.
- Double Hits or Carries: Accidentally hitting the ball twice or scooping it during the serve, which is not allowed.
- Not Meeting Drop Serve Requirements: When opting for a drop serve, failing to drop the ball without imparting spin or violating other specific conditions related to this serve type.
- Premature Movement: Moving the feet or stepping forward before the ball is struck, especially relevant for traditional serves where foot placement is strictly regulated.
- Serving Before the Receiver is Ready: Initiating the serve before the opponent is in position and ready, which is against the etiquette and rules of the game.
These rules help make sure serves are fair and follow the official pickleball legal serve guidelines.
Here’s a short video showing what you can’t do when serving.
@everydaydink Is the last serve legal? #pickleball#pickleballeules#pickleballserve ♬ original sound – Braeden
So what is not allowed when performing a serve in pickleball?
When serving in pickleball, you cannot:
- Step on or over the baseline, sideline, or centerline extensions with your feet when you hit the ball.
- Hit the ball before it touches the ground if you are doing a pickleball drop serve.
- Serve the ball so it touches a wall, ceiling, the server, their partner, or any of their equipment before landing.
- Let the ball land in the non-volley zone (including the lines), outside the correct serving area, or hit the net and then fall into the non-volley zone or out of bounds.
- Use an incorrect serving motion not allowed by the rules.
- Call a time-out right after serving.
- Break any serving rules about where to stand, how to hit the ball, or how to release the ball.
Do these pickleball serving rules apply to singles and doubles?
Yes, these serving rules apply to both singles and doubles serving teams in pickleball. The principles of legal serving, including foot placement, ball trajectory, and serve execution, are consistent across both formats of the pickleball game.
Whether you’re playing a singles match or a doubles match, you need to follow the same serving guidelines to ensure your serve is legal according to the official rulebook.
