You failed to mention other rules about the drop serve. Your paddle doesn't have to be below your wrist and it doesn't have to be an upward motion, a sidearm motion is ok. At least I'm pretty sure I'm correct about that.
Hi Patrick, Let's make sure we clear up any misconceptions about the serve. Where is there incorrect information? There are two types of serves in pickleball: (1) Volley Serve and (2) Drop Serve. For the "DROP" serve, you cannot toss the ball upward. You can only drop it without propelling it upward or downward. For the "VOLLEY" serve, however, you can toss the ball in the air as long as the 3 criteria (that only apply to the volley serve) are met.
Nope I would be wrong I have dropped served from the beginning but was under the impression you could only drop from the waste or below! I was wrong sorry
There are two types of serves in pickleball: (1) Volley Serve and (2) Drop Serve. For the "DROP" serve, you cannot toss the ball upward. You can only drop it without propelling it upward or downward. For the "VOLLEY" serve, however, you can toss the ball in the air as long as the 3 criteria (that only apply to the volley serve) are met.
You forgot something.... you are allowed to put the ball on the paddle, flip it up, and then serve. This allows spin, and this rule was made for one handed players, but it doesn't say a two handed player can't do it. This is how I serve.
I agree with your interpretation of the rule change, and this is how I understand the rule as well. I prefer to toss the ball 6-12 inches holding the ball in the palm of my hand making it clear without adding spin (like in table tennis). However, I've been receiving a lot of feedback from many pickleball players that you can't even toss the ball in the air period, and that these serves are illegal. Hoping to get some clarification on this as well as how to approach pickleball players when I'm challenged during a game.
Also i noticed most of the players, their ball toss move upward when it leave their hands = ball toss in the air. On youtube and in real life. Why are they legal and my toss (no spin) is not legal.
If it's the volley serve, you can, indeed, toss the ball in the air and hit it. If it's the drop serve you're hitting (letting the ball bounce first and then making contact with the ball), then you cannot toss the ball in the air. Hope that helps.
thks for explanations..question..i came across an opponent in rec play who when serving does all kinds of dancing..fakes and shuffling of feet before serving..its kind of comical but is it allowed..just curious
Great clip....thanks. Was wondering about the upcoming "no spin" rule change 1/1/23. Is 'top spin' also being included in that description....or just 'side spin'?
When the ball leaves the hand and goes upward- how is that not a toss? Or is tossing "a little bit" legal? and the penalty is to re-serve the ball if the opponent complains? How many times in a row can you serve incorrectly? I really like his serve; I just am a little confused over the wording of the rules. Especially after they just fixed them with the confusing "no spin" rule that means you cannot prespin the ball; but spin it with your paddle as much as you want.
You cannot toss the ball or propel it downward on the drop serve. Tossing the ball upward is definitely legal on the volley serve as long as the 3 traditional criteria are met.
The ban of the upward/downward propelling of the ball only applies to the drop serve (one that bounces before striking the ball). It's to prevent a bounce that goes "too high."
The thought process for not allowing the server to propel the ball upward or downward with the drop serve is to prohibit a bounce that goes "too high." For the volley serve, the rule clearly states that you must strike the ball below the waist. And as we've seen, it looks like the imparting of pre-serve spin on the volley serve will be banned for 2023. Hope this helps.
I have a question about 4.A.5: All my serves are volley serves. I hold the ball in my left hand with the back of my hand perpendicular to the court surface. This means you can see my hand holding the ball, but you cannot see the ball (because you're looking at the back of my hand). All my serves consist of essentially holding the ball in that position and swinging my paddle forward. The instant before the paddle hits my hand, I let go of the ball and make contact with my paddle. I am not imparting any spin or upward/downward force. It's almost as if I were to execute a drop serve, but hit the ball right after I release the ball. In a recent recreational game with some strangers, I got a complaint that I was breaking rule 4.A.5. Specifically, the part that says "The server’s release of the ball must be visible to the referee and the receiver." I was told that the orientation of my hand (i.e. back of my hand perpendicular to the court surface) was illegal. My opponent couldn't see the ball before I hit it (because I'm hitting it practically in the same instant that I release the ball). I temporarily modified my grip to use a pincer grip between my thumb and middle finger, so that the back of my hand was parallel with the court surface. This meant that my opponent could see the ball before, during and after my release. This grip is a little bit uncomfortable for me, so I'd prefer not to use it if I don't have to. But I want to comply with the rules. Was I breaking 4.A.5?
God bless you. This can't be easy for you. My wife is immunosuppressed and was in the hospital for a month with covid. She also was on hi-flow oxygen. I don't know how close she came to a ventilator because I had covid also and was not able to see her. She got out of ICU and was put on 2 liters of oxygen in a regular room. Soon she was on room air and finally was able to come home. We also keep supplemental oxygen handy but she doesn't use it. She still feels fatigued and is not 100% but she's getting there. My bout with covid was extremely mild. I quarantined for 10 days but never had any symptoms. The day after I tested positive I got monoclonal antibodies and now take Vitamin C, zinc and vitamin D3. I play pickleball 3-4 times a week. Best of luck with your recuperation and I'm sure you'll be back on the courts very soon Al Berotti Wantagh, NY
