Pickleball is one of the fastest-growing sports in the world, and every day, more and more new players step onto the court. Whether you’re a beginner or a more experienced player, there’s always room for improvement, especially when it comes to the pickleball serve. 

In this article, we’ll cover pickleball serving rules and basics, our top pickleball techniques, mistakes to avoid, and the best courts in Chicagoland where you can play. 

Pickleball Serving Rules and Basics 

Pickleball is played on a badminton-sized court with a net that’s similar to tennis, only lower. It can be played in singles or doubles, with the objective being to score points by hitting the ball over the net and into the opponent’s court in a way that they can’t return. 

There are several pickleball serving basics that you’ll want to understand before you play. Here, we cover some of the main pickleball serving rules. 

Starting the Serve

When starting a serve, the server must stand behind the baseline and between the centerline and sideline, with at least one foot behind the baseline. The serve should always be underhand, and the paddle should contact the ball below the waist level.

Additionally, the serve must go diagonally across the court, landing in the opposite service box. In order for the serve to count, the ball has to clear the non-volley zone (also called the kitchen) and its line to be valid.

There’s one serve attempt allowed per point, except in the case of a “let” serve, which is when the ball touches the net on the serve but still lands in the correct service box. If this happens, the server can redo the serve without penalty.

Double Bounce Rule

After the serve, each side must allow the ball to bounce once before beginning to volley. This is called the double bounce rule, and it applies only to the initial serve and return shots.

Serving Rotation in Doubles

In doubles, each player on a team has a chance to serve before the serve goes to the opposing team, except at the beginning of a game when only one player from the first serving team serves initially.

The server continues serving until they commit a fault, at which point the other teammate serves. When both teammates have lost their serve, it’s called a “side-out,” and the serve moves to the other team.

The Best Pickleball Serving Techniques

After you’ve mastered pickleball rules and understand serving basics, you can start to focus on improving your pickleball serving technique. Here, we cover a few of the best pickleball serves.  

The Basic Power Serve

The power serve is a type of serve where you hit the ball with force, making it hard for the opponent to return. It’s often aimed deep in the service box to push the receiver back. This serve is great for when you want to take control of the rally early by forcing a weak return.

The Topspin Serve

When using a topspin serve, the paddle brushes up on the ball to create a topspin, causing it to dip quickly after clearing the net. This serve is great for when you want the ball to bounce high in the service box, making it harder for the receiver to return aggressively.

The Slice Serve

By hitting the ball with a slicing motion, typically from high to low, you can generate sidespin. The ball curves in flight and skids low on the bounce. This type of serve is good for catching the receiver off-guard, especially if you target the sideline or mix up the spin with other types of serves.

The High, Soft Serve

This serve involves hitting the ball high and deep into the service box with a gentle, slow arc. It’s effective against players who like fast-paced serves or struggle with high bounces. It also gives you time to get into position.

Understanding Pickleball Serving Mistakes 

Making mistakes while serving in pickleball can cost you valuable points. Here are some common serving mistakes and tips on how to avoid them. 

Foot Faults

A foot fault can happen when you step over the baseline before hitting the ball or step into the court too early. To avoid it, make sure at least one foot is behind the baseline until after you’ve hit the ball. 

Hitting Above Waist Level

If you hit the ball above waist level, you’ll violate pickleball’s underhand serving rule. To avoid this, focus on keeping your paddle low and starting your swing below your waist. Practice a smooth, low-to-high motion to get the technique down.

Incorrect Paddle Angle

If you tilt the paddle too high or low, your serve will either go out or hit the net. To fix this mistake, work on controlling the paddle angle to make good contact. Try adjusting your grip and experimenting with the paddle position until you can reliably control your serve height.

Poor Serve Placement

Serving directly to your opponent or too shallow will make it easy for them to return the ball. To fix this mistake, aim for deep serves that land close to the baseline to keep your opponent back. 

Too Much Spin or Power

Adding too much spin or power can lead to more faults, especially if the ball goes out of bounds. To avoid this, start by mastering a simple, controlled serve before experimenting with spin or power. 

Failing to Clear the Non-Volley Zone (Kitchen)

If your serve lands short and falls into the kitchen, this is a fault. To avoid this, focus on aiming deep with a slight upward trajectory. Visualize hitting over an imaginary line a few feet beyond the kitchen to avoid short serves.

Tips for Better Pickleball Serves 

Developing a variety of serve types can keep opponents on their toes and give you an advantage right from the start of each rally. Our team at Wintrust Sports Complex recommends mixing up your serve speeds and adding spin to keep opponents guessing. You should also try to be strategic about where you aim your serves, going for your opponent’s weaknesses, like their backhand or specific positioning tendencies. Finally, practice is key. Understanding pickleball rules and mistakes comes with experience, so consider playing local pickleball pickup games or participating in tournaments to improve your skills.

Improve Your Pickleball Technique at Wintrust Sports Complex 

No matter if you’re playing for fun or aiming to compete at a higher level, understanding pickleball techniques will help you become a more well-rounded player.

Ready to start practicing? Wintrust Sports Complex is a multi-purpose sports and entertainment facility located in Bedford Park, Chicago with pickup games of pickleball every week. We welcome players of all levels, so come check us out to start improving your pickleball technique today.