The serve must never land in the non-volley zone (kitchen), even if it hits the net beforehand. If it does, it's an automatic fault, and you lose the point or serve. But it's also a fault if it hits one of the kitchen lines. This can be the kitchen line itself or any of the side kitchen lines.
If the return of serve is a slow long lob, it gives you that bit more time to get to the kitchen line. Of course if one of your opponents is weaker than the other or you have the opportunity through a poor serve to create a better pickleball return of serve shot, then do so as you see fit.
When you are serving, the ball must clear the kitchen line. If the ball hits the kitchen or the kitchen line, it's a fault. Even if it hits the net beforehand. Also, it used to be that grazing the net then landing in the serving box was a let, but that is no longer the case!
During a game of pickleball you must stand behind the baseline when serving, but you can stand on the baseline when receiving the serve. Finally, stand behind the non-volley zone when volleying at the net.
The ball must be served into the diagonal court. The receiver in that court is the only one who can return it.
If you're here for a quick answer, the kitchen rule states that you cannot be touching the kitchen zone or kitchen line while volleying a ball. Any object that is physically connected to you counts, including your partner. This also includes your momentum that landed you in the kitchen after volleying a ball.
Backhand serves are difficult to perform legally under the serving rules of the International Pickleball Federation. Illegal backhand serves are usually performed high above the waist and/or with a cocked wrist so that the top of the paddle head is above the wrist.
A cut or slice shot will see the ball struck on more of a high to low side swipe on the ball with the paddle. Pickleball Spin Serves might be difficult for some to master, particularly a top spin when serving underhand and complying fully with pickleball serve rules, however it can be mastered with practice.
Serving Basics
The ball can be dropped from any height but cannot be thrown, tossed, or otherwise released with any added force to bounce it. Serve to the diagonally opposite service court from behind the baseline and on or within the imaginary extension of the sidelines and centerline.
Spinning the ball on a serve.
The intense spin on the ball can make it kick left, right, up or down. In 2022, this move has been banned. But you can still put “finger spin” on a serve. The new rules say server can use only one hand to release the ball to perform the serve.
An underhand stroke means that your arm is moving in an upward arc. This simply means that you cannot swing overhead or sideways to serve.
In 2021, the provisional rule on drop serve was adopted. Drop serve is now a full rule after a year of probation. This serve is no longer considered a "provisional" serve. From 2022 onward, this option will be permanent.
Pickled: When a team scores zero points in a whole game. You've been pickled. Pickledome: The court where the championship match in a pickleball tournament is played.
When the first server loses the serve the partner then serves from their correct side of the court (except for the first service sequence of the game*). The second server continues serving until his team commits a fault and loses the serve to the opposing team.
Ace: A serve that is not returned by the opponent. Point is won on serve without being returned. Approach Shot: Ball is hit while moving in forward motion towards the pickleball net.
Kitchen: Slang term for the Non-Volley Zone. OPA: Sometimes shouted out after the third shot has been hit, open volleying has begun. Pickle: Warning shouted out by the server to alert all players on the pickleball court that they are about to serve.
Flapjack: A shot that must bounce once before it can be hit.
You only score points while serving. RULES UPDATE (1/25/2021) - A new provisional rule allows for a "drop serve". You can now drop the ball and hit it after the bounce while serving. You can drop the ball from any height but you can't throw it with any force to bounce it.
Based on these official pickleball serve rules, there are 3 criteria to having a legal serve: (1) arm must be moving in an upward arc – or, in other words, the paddle needs to be going in an upward motion, (2) contact with the ball must be made below the waist and (3) the highest part of the paddle cannot be above the ...