How to Serve in Pickleball: The Rules, the Mechanics, and the Strategy

The serve is the one shot you have total control over — nobody's hitting it back at you, and you start every point with it. Most rec players treat it like an afterthought. Here's how to serve legally in pickleball, the two legal serves, and how to use placement to start points on your terms.

The Pickleball Serve Must Be Underhand

A legal serve is underhand. At the moment you strike the ball:

• Contact must be below your waist.
• Your arm must move in an upward arc.
• The highest point of your paddle head must be below your wrist.

No overhand serves, no big tennis motion. The serve is about placement and consistency, not raw speed.

The Two Legal Serves

1. The Volley Serve

The traditional serve: you strike the ball out of the air — before it bounces — following the underhand rules above.

2. The Drop Serve

You drop the ball, let it bounce once, then hit it. Because you're not striking out of the air, the drop serve is a forgiving, repeatable option — especially for beginners.

Where to Stand

• Both feet behind the baseline (don't touch the line until after contact).
• Stay between the extensions of the centerline and sideline on your side.
• Serve diagonally into the service box across the net, past the kitchen.

One Serve, One Attempt

You get one serve attempt. Since the let-serve rule was removed, a serve that clips the net and lands in the correct box is live — play it.

Serving in Doubles

In doubles, both partners serve before the serve passes to the other team — except the very first service turn of the game, when only one player serves. When your team wins the serve, the player on the right serves first. Bigger picture: see our scoring guide.

Serve Placement That Wins Points

• Serve deep to push the returner off the kitchen line.
• Target the backhand — usually the weaker return.
• Change it up — vary depth, pace, and angle.
• Prioritize consistency — a serve in play beats a flashy serve in the net.

New here? Start with the 5 rules of pickleball.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the pickleball serve underhand?

Yes. Contact the ball below your waist with an upward arc, and keep the top of the paddle head below your wrist.

Can you serve overhand in pickleball?

No. Overhand serves are illegal. The serve must be underhand, or you can use the drop serve.

What is the drop serve?

You drop the ball, let it bounce once, then hit it. It's fully legal and easier to repeat, which makes it popular with beginners.

Do you get two serves in pickleball?

No — you get one serve attempt, and a net serve that lands in is live (no let re-serves).

Where do you stand to serve?

Behind the baseline, between the centerline and sideline, serving diagonally into the opposite service box.

Serve in Style

Every point starts with your serve — so look the part. The gold chrome High Roller paddle and our glitter-infused pickleballs turn heads from the baseline. Browse the full Dope Pickleball collection.