Pickleball Serve Rules – 2021 Style

On January 25, 2021, the new pickleball rules for 2021 took effect – including the introduction of the drop serve as a provisional rule in 2021.

It’s important to note that the drop serve is simply an additional option to the current, “traditional” serve. The traditional serve is neither being removed nor replaced. The pickleball rules committee simply added another serving option in 2021.

The “Traditional” Pickleball Serve

The traditional serve is the one that we have all been hitting, pre-2021.  It’s a serve that one hits without letting the ball bounce before striking it. To be considered legal when hitting a traditional serve, three criteria must be met:

1. The server’s arm must be moving in an upward arc at the time the ball is struck… (4.A.3)
2. The highest point of the paddle head must not be above the highest part of the wrist (where the wrist joint bends) when it strikes the ball. (4.A.4)
3. Contact with the ball must not be made above the waist. (4.A.5)

In addition to these three criteria, the rulebook specifies where your feet must be positioned when serving. Specifically, at the moment the ball is served, “at least one foot must be on the playing surface behind the baseline” (4.A.2.a), “neither of the server’s feet may touch the court on or inside the baseline” (4.A.2.b) and “neither of the server’s feet may touch outside the imaginary extensions of the sideline or centerline” (4.A.2.c).

2021 Modification to the “Traditional” Serve – Legalizing the Slinging of the Ball in the Air with your Paddle Face

In 2021, the rules committee modified the “intentional carry” rule to accommodate those concerned about touching the ball with their non-paddle hand when serving in the era of Covid-19. Specifically, the rule book was modified to disallow an intentional carry “after” the serve. Which means you may now legally intentionally carry the ball during the serve.

In the “Fault” section (section 7), rule # 7.N states that [it is a fault in the following situation:] “After the serve, a player deliberately carrying or catching the ball on the paddle while the ball is live/in-play.”

So with the intentional carry fault rule removed during the serve, you are now allowed to legally carry the ball on the face of your paddle and sling it up into the air – and use that slinged ball as your ball “toss” when hitting the traditional serve.

To be crystal clear, all criteria must still be met when executing this serve – including arm movement in an upward arc, paddle below the wrist at contact and contact below the waist – as well as the feet positioning requirements detailed above.

FAQ’s – The “Traditional” Pickleball Serve

Question: How high can you toss the ball – or sling the ball upward with your paddle face – when hitting the traditional serve?
Answer: There is no limit to how high you can toss the ball (or sling the ball with your paddle face) when serving. As long as all 3 criteria (and feet positioning requirements) are met, it will be considered a legal serve.

Question: Are you allowed to add spin to the toss?
Answer: Yes, you can add spin to your ball toss. As long as all 3 criteria (and feet positioning requirements) are met, it will be considered a legal serve.

Question: Can you impart spin on the ball as you sling the ball in the air with your paddle face?
Answer: Yes, you are also allowed to add spin when slinging the ball in the air with your paddle face. As long as all 3 criteria (and feet positioning requirements) are met, it will be considered a legal serve.

Question: If you don’t like the toss – or the paddle sling – can you let the ball drop without hitting it and do it again?
Answer: Yes, as long as the serve is struck within 10 seconds of the score being called.

Question: Are you allowed to lean over the imaginary extensions of the centerline or sideline when serving?
Answer: Yes, you are allowed to lean over the lines with your body. The feet positioning is what is important. As long as – at the moment the ball is served – at least one foot is on the playing surface behind the baseline (4.A.2.a), neither foot is touching the court on or inside the baseline (4.A.2.b) and neither foot is touching outside the imaginary extensions of the sideline or centerline, then it will be considered a legal serve. Lean all you want.

The Drop Serve

As most of you likely know by now, the drop serve was included as an additional service option (as a provisional rule) in the 2021 Official Rulebook. (Rule #4.A.8)

The Drop Serve – What is It?

The provisional drop serve allows a player to drop the ball and hit the serve after it bounces. As long as your feet are appropriately positioned at the moment the ball is served, and – as long as you did not propel the ball downward or upward as you “dropped” it – the serve is considered legal.

With the drop serve, you do not need to adhere to the three criteria of the arm movement in an upward arc, paddle below the wrist at contact and contact below the waist like you do with the traditional serve.

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Heck, you can even drop the ball, get to your knees and hit the ball overhand if you’re able. Because the ball won’t bounce very high, however, your attempt may be rendered impossible.

FAQ’s – The Drop Serve

Question: What does it mean that this is a provisional rule in 2021?
Answer: As a provisional rule, it simply means that the rule is in “beta testing” and will be reviewed to determine if it will, indeed, be made permanent. The rule will be evaluated for unintended or unexpected outcomes over the course of 2021.

Question: Can you push or propel the ball downward in an effort to get a bigger bounce?
Answer: No. Before bouncing on the ground, the ball may not be propelled (thrown) downward or tossed or hit upward with the paddle. Failure to drop the ball properly will result in a fault.

Question: Can you toss the ball upward, let it bounce and hit a drop serve?
Answer: No. Before bouncing on the ground, the ball may not be propelled (thrown) downward or tossed or hit upward with the paddle. Failure to drop the ball properly will result in a fault.

Question: Are you allowed to add spin to the drop?
Answer: No. The ball can simply drop from your hand and let gravity do its thing.

Question: Can you let the ball bounce more than once before executing the serve?
Answer: Yes, you can let the ball bounce as many times as you want before hitting the serve. The serve simply has to be hit within 10 seconds of the score being called.

Question: Can you catch/pickup the drop and begin again?
Answer: Yes. The serve simply has to be hit within 10 seconds of the score being called.

Question: Can you alternate serves between the drop serve and the traditional serve?
Answer: Yes. When it’s your turn to serve, you may elect to do either a conventional serve or drop serve.

Question: Can you drop the ball so it bounces inside the court or beyond the boundary extensions?
Answer: Yes. As long as your feet are correctly positioned, the serve will be considered a legal serve.

Question: Can you drop the ball with your paddle?
Answer: Yes. You are allowed to let the ball roll off your paddle and drop.

Question: Can you drop the ball from your tippy-toes?
Answer: Yes. The server is allowed to release the ball from one of the server’s hands or dropped off the server’s paddle face from any natural (un-aided) height. You are not allowed to jump, however, and drop the ball.

Final Thoughts about the 2021 Pickleball Serve Rule Changes

These are the 2021 pickleball serving rules. Not sure if these rule changes will be beneficial to the game or not. How these rule changes impact the game remains to be seen.

Nevertheless, we are, no doubt, going to continue to see significant innovation with the pickleball serve. It’s no longer just a matter of getting the ball in and starting the rally.

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What serve has worked best for you? Please let us know in the comments below.

See you on the courts.