New Pickleball Rules for 2024! 

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The definition of the court layout should include sufficient space to the side and back. Some courts are so tight within fences that it can become dangerous pursuing a ball. Also, the ATP should always be an option.

0:44 Rally scoring for singles (Doubles) 1:34 Live ball and In Play 1:56 Appealing line calls before the next serve 2:57 Acceptable court attire 3:32 Penalty for failure to give your best effort 4:14 Broken/Cracked ball 5:51 Time out being called 6:23 Two-handed shot 6:56 Failure to change ends on a third game at either 6 points, 8 points or 11 points 7:43 Nets that go all the way to the ground 8:30 Honorable Mentions Change NVZ to 8 feet Add mini-singles into sanctioned event tournaments Wires on net posts Paddle color The carry rule Drop serve

Favoring rallies and long points over quick points is one of the major reasons pickleball is so fun. I'm not surprised many of the comments here reflect a complete lack of understanding of that simple idea. Pickleball purposely supresses hard serves and it should stay that way. The most common infraction i see in public rec play is illegal serves above the waist.

As for nets draping on the court, there are a few instances of that. Sometimes, the velcro around the net pole stretches and the net drapes the ground. This is only one portable nets . I also prefer nets with a space between the court and the net so a ball cane go under but some nets being manufactured are almost on the ground

thanks. I kinda hope the drop server stays as optional. I agree that there are some players that try to cross the line with the traditional serve, usually they are not high skilled players anyway. not a fan of Rally scoring. but like in MLP format it does generate a high energy environment.

Thank you, great video and explanation of the rules.

Great piece. Thank you.

I think the ebb and flow of momentum in Pickleball is more exciting for fans and players with side-out scoring. Rally scoring takes some of those momentum shifts away, from a sport that is struggling to draw fans at the highest level. Likewise the variance in serve technique is entertaining. Who said you have to all serve in exactly the same way? I know that consistency wins games, but it does that at the sacrifice of entertainment.

Great explanations of the rules. Thank you

I agree with rally scoring on singles. But with two chances to serve with doubles, rally scoring might tilt the scale on evenly matched games.

I like moving to the drop serve only as I agree, many times my opponent looks like the are serving from above their waist and I don’t want to say anything. I currently do not use a drop serve, so I would have to change and it would be worth changing my serve if the drop serve became the standard.

Thank you for clarifying the new rules - it made it easier to understand.

The Drop serve only is a great idea. No mistake about it, it would be a legal serve.

I'd like to see the drop serve clarified as palm facing down, no spin, no upward or downward motion of the hand, just release the ball and hit it in the air or on the bounce. I'm still seeing a lot of players toss the ball upward with spin on their serve often striking the ball well above the waist and things get ugly quickly when you challenge the legality of their serve.

I looked at some mathematics that purports to analyze rally scoring, but it completely ignores that the players must choose to play differently to remain competitive. There's empirical data that the games average the same number of rallies, but with less variance for the rally scoring. However, what they don't say is that the larger variance might be the _reason_ that standard scoring more reliably sorts the cream to the top. Players who are close together in skill will need longer to sort the matter out. A scoring system that reliable separates players closer to the same skill level _should_ have more variance, as I see things.

PPA should be able to continue playing pure pickleball: side-outs are a fundamental part of the game. Changing it would be like changing baseball games to 7 innings. If you like rally scoring, watch the MLP. It's fun and basically a different sport. I like it. But this should be a choice per the tournament. Changing the actual rule seems really wrong to me.

I think that the carry rule needs to be clarified more though. Like how long does the ball need to stay on the paddle for it to be a "carry"? Technically speaking, most shots have instantaneous contact only but there are three types of shots that may cause some confusion due to the ball having much longer "dwell time" on the paddle face: 1. The type of shot where the ball falls just over the net and a player uses their paddle to push the ball up and back over short to the other side of the net is also technically a carry since the ball dwells on the paddle for a significantly longer time than just an instantaneous hit. During this shot, the pros typically will use their paddle to "escort the ball" just over the net and short in order to avoid a pop up. 2. Overhead smashes where a player contacts the ball really high (like with their arm straight up in the air) and the ball stays on the paddle (because that player is pushing the ball downward as they are swinging downward with the paddle) before the ball leaves the paddle. 3. The lob attempt where a player might use their paddle to lift the ball into the air (as the ball is going up, it is stays on the paddle because the paddle is pushing up the ball). I think that they should really clarify what constitutes a carry (like a full second or it is obvious that the ball was "Jai Alai-ed"). Maybe have it so that if there is any doubt or question, the benefit of the doubt goes to the person hitting the ball (like most of the other rules in Pickleball are laid out). Either way, more clarity is often better.

Love this recap. Thanks Austin. Also, I remember the play where Anna Leigh missed a deep and hard drive by James Ignatovich and complained that the ball was deflated. It’s was ridiculous imo. It was a pivotal game point, and he hnd Anna had a great chance of winning, but they replayed the ball after taking a review of something that hadn’t ever been called as a penalty of any kind except for a change of ball. Also, the ball was not deemed [deflated].

There is Rally Scoring in Doubles Beach Volleyball, even indoors 6's. I am having a hard time believing that it will not work in Doubles. Change the 2 serve rule to one. The receiving Team will always have the advantage. I say make it optional, especially if folks are pressed for time.

Excellent presentation

Drop serve: probably not a issue for pros but at the amateur level, using the drop serve in windy conditions is more difficult than a volley serve. The bounced ball has more chance to move unexpectedly in a gust. Both serves should be allowed.

Rally scoring speeds up games and makes every rally and point scored or lost more important. In recreational play, rally scoring lets more players play with far less waiting time. Rally scoring in tournaments will add suspense and exciting new tactics to games for players and spectators alike.

Does the carry rule include anything about a double hit where it doesn’t necessarily carry or roll on the paddle but you hear it hit the paddle twice even though it’s one motion on the swing?

Please standardize ball colors. Yellow 26 Yellow 40s

Hey, very interesting video. The scoop/double hit rule change is a really good one. Have that issue in our group. Do you have a link to the official rule change so I can share it. Thanks.

I agree.... I dislike having to challenge the server, when their serves are borderline side arm and above the bellybutton. They always say.... No it wasn't or so 'n so serves that way. Then they get butt hurt😮

Like Rally scoring, that’s all we use where I play. We are seniors, just trying to get another game in before we have to go. Rally scoring is more fun to watch on RU-vid or TV. Thanks for making this video, it’s much needed.

I'm use to the drop serve as I played pro Racquetball for many years in Canada and the US Pro tours. As I mentioned, I think the refs can make the right call. I like the variety offered in Pickleball to volley serve or drop serve. It adds to the complexity of the game. And as I'd mentioned previously I think the serve should definitely be part of the arsenal a player develops. I'm not sure what the speed on a hard hit serve is in pickleball but in pro Racquetball it's somewhere up near the speed of lightning (joking). This all makes for a fantastic game of pickleball.

Thanks for the great video, Austin. I do disagree with your opinion about the drop serve. I feel the serve is just another part of the game in which players can excel and for which the receiving team needs to be prepared.

On tournaments that have prize money, line officials and replay used!

Why do no pros and hardly any high level players hit a drop serve? Two main reasons, #1 you are dealing with a bounce before the serve and that bounce will vary depending on wind, temperature and surface of the court. #2 When you hold the ball and hit it as it drops in the air you can be more precise with your aim, power, and direction. I can hit it exactly where I want within inches of my target. If you have a weaker backhand you are are going to see a lot of hard topspin serves to your backhand.

Deflection off your Body back over the net. When is it considered loss of Rally (Doesn't hit any part of Paddle, Other,) and could it be considered a Carry at any time?

Early on when pickleball courts started to be constructed every where, the rules for the net only included a required mid-strap. Then they changed the rule to “no strap”. Along the way they produced nets that were shorter. Now they are manufacturing the correct prototype. Nets that drag, are old ones.

When you said deflated I pictured a flattened out ball - similar to a rubber ball that has lost its air and it’s shape.

Curious about a “double hit”? Not sure how to exactly describe it, but when the ball hits your paddle “twice” on a volley or general play of the game?

We should have the option to serve the ball the way we want. Keeping in mind to connect with the ball below the wrist in an upward motion.

The net to the ground is slightly better for game play as it stops the shake of the net when the ball hits it.

if you practice a carry, then you are extremely skilled...I did one he other day and it was totally unintentional....sometimes I don't even know how it happens but I have seen it a few times...it should be one continuous motion and it is OK since it is so difficult to replicate

I have a Rules question/issue with opponents calling balls out, that is “loudly” enough for players to hear. That word (loudly) should be added to the Section 4 rules bc we’ve been unable to hear an out call due to wind, neighboring games, or softly spoken ppl and not being able to hear their call. It leads to a debate once the ball is dead bc a receiver will return the ball so play continued. There have been instances where even the partner didn’t hear the out ball call and continued play. This is similar to opponents not calling out the score loud enough prior to serving. Perhaps ppl’s hearing and vocal skills are on a decline but maybe not😊. btw your content and videos are great! Thx again & Merry Christmas 🎄🎁 🎄

I am not a fan of rally scoring only because it leaves one to eventually play just a very conservative game, you are just playing to keep the ball in and wait till your opponent makes a mistake.

Can you clarify the ball dropping over the net and hitting the net or bar on the other side. It was point number 10. I have a shot that rolled over the top of the net onto my side and hit the cross bar. Does that change or just the next catching the ball on the ground because the net is longer then the ground

Regarding the drop serve, you didn't mention the MOST IMPORTANT REASON that it will reduce conflict over legality: when a player uses a drop serve, the rules governing the positions of the arm and the ball at the moment of contact (ball must be below the waist, paddle must be moving upward, entire face of paddle must be below the wrist) are dropped. So the ref and the opponent needn't worry about trying to observe something that is nearly impossible to see. And the server can hit the ball however they wish.

the carry rule, does that apply to the double hit rule? like if you accidentally double hit a pickleball but it was deemed as one motion its legal correct? you're talking about an actually carry where the ball is practically stuck to the paddle for the whole shot?

As a former serve and volley tennis player, I find it very difficult not to enter the kitchen. Given the different dynamics of pickleball I don't disagree with the concept, but it's very hard for tennis players not to try and get closer to the net, or to step into the kitchen after a volley.

I think the points to win should be based on if you are playing traditional scoring or rally scoring. In traditional scoring keep it at first to 11 must win by 2 and for rally scoring they should make it 21 must win by 2

Eh... also not sure I agree with your point on approving the Drop only rule. As others said, Pickleball serving aces are very rare, and since the serving team/player is forced to let the ball bounce on their side as well, a forced drop serve sort of gives full advantage to the defending team. A great volley serve can give the serving team a better chance at getting a decent 3rd shot/transition shot in.

Item 7. Glad to see this change. Had an opposing player call "time out!" between a referee called score and my striking the serve.

Wondering... Is a ball that is double hit (by the same player) in a single continuation swing, considered a carry/throw under the new rules?

Completely disagree with your take on the drop serve. The serve should absolutely be a weapon. It’s not like tennis at all. Even someone with a fast, deep serve will rarely get an ace, but it will potentially give the serving team an advantage in the point. If you take the volley serve out of the game, then what is the point of serving at all besides just starting the point? It would make the game less dynamic.

I was surprised and pleased to hear that it's a do over if the ball hits the center post during play.

Rally scoring is so much better for keeping tournaments moving.

Good luck trying to determine which shots are a carry. Sure it's often obvious, but there is a huge gray area which will be impossible to determine. Re. a drop service rule: I think that's absurd. Many of us have worked hard to develop an effective and legal volley serve. This rule will be a totally unfair advantage to those who have worked on only the drop serve.

The enforcement of effort rule only makes sense if a team was trying to get a lower seeding if they saw doing so as an advantage, or to manipulate standings. That’s my best guess as to why it was even a thing.

Billowing nets... there are a lot of courts out there in park districts with pickleball lines inscribed in tennis courts. Nets have to be lowered 2 inches and that leads to some billowing and gathering.

So hw does rally scoring work for doubles? Can someone please explain it to me? Would it be like tabletennis where they take turns for few services and then opponent serves?

pro tourneys usually accept a let serve as a do-over. should be a rule that let serves are always re-done IMO

The other day I won 10 points in a row with my serve. I've also won an entire 12 point game against 4.0 players with just my serve alone. That drop serve rule would definitely change pickleball for me.

My biggest pet peeve everywhere I play is illegal serves (sidearm motion, mostly). Forcing serve to be on the bounce would take care of that for the most part. It would be better if people learned how to serve on the volley legally but that ship has sailed. Illegal serves is a real problem and if adopting a rule that requires serving off a drop is an effective way to deal with it, I’m ok with it.

Soooo like what's the recommended psi on these balls? cuz cuz I'm so tirade of losing those dang inflater thingys, they just always just like fall into the holes. jus sayin

I'm confused because I just read that mini singles was approved in 2022. Is mini the same thing as skinny singles?

On skinny singles, Ive always wondered how the call is made for centerline in the NVZ?

Can you clarify the rule about the carry. What happens if you were mid swing and accidentally skips on your paddle and it’s all one continuous motion. Is that still a fault? This issue came up in a game I played today .

I'm watching people hit what looks like illegal volley serves all the time. Going to a drop serve only rule would eliminate a lot of ambiguity. And I like the current side-out scoring

I was at the match with James Ignatowich/Anna Bright in Kansas City August of 2023 where the ball deflated. The reason it deflated was due to the heat and humidity. It was over 100 degrees on the court with really high humidity and in the blazing sun. One side of the ball flattened when it hit the ground and didn’t bounce. It was unreal.

Can you explain the “carry rule” that got approved? Does it include if you kind of double hit unintentionally off the paddle?

I find that in order to time my serve with good rhythm I toss it ever so slightly maybe an inch or two up in the air. I see this frequently by other players. I think the pros do it sometimes but only a little. It's usually hard to detect if the ball went up slightly. I propose it is still in the spirit of the no undo acceleration to toss the ball up no more than the diameter of the ball about 3 inches on serve. Make it officially ok to toss the ball up 3 inches on serve. I find it so much easier to time my serve that way. The width of a ball would make it an easy height to judge.

Drop Serve not being a weapon... *laughs in 50mph Drop Serve*. I'm sorry, I have to kind of rebuttle that aspect of the drop serve; it CAN EASILY be a weapon for those who practice it well enough & have a very strong groundstroke Forehand (or Backhand). Even in Rec play, I've gotten a few no touch aces doing that. Granted, the Ace is extremely rare to begin with😅 but ummmm.... no, do not underestimate the Drop Serve's potential to be a full on weapon

Volley serve or drop serve are both great serves and a player should be able to hit both. If contacting the pickleball to high provides some real or perceived advantage, USA Pickleball should define a maximum height for ball contact on the serve, at least at the pro and elite amateur levels. Example: 30 inches above the ground plane. With the net positioned cameras in use now or other means, it would be easy to measure a ball struck above the defined maximum height. And yes, it is a fault serve. Kind of like how MLB does with the projected box at home plate that shows pitched balls in or out of the strike zone. An umpire calling balls and strikes will soon be a thing of the past.

Only reason I see about forcing someone to "try" is to prevent setting up or rigging tournament matches. Example: If I lose and my opponent wins, that win for my opponent could give him a different seed, preventing me from having to play a specific 3rd player. Maybe I know this 3rd player is better at exploiting my weakness, but by losing my current game, it avoids me playing them until later in a tournament. I personally would never do this. But I know some poor sportsmanship players that would.

I give benefit of the doubt to opponent if they think a damaged ball affected the bounce as they were attempting to return my shot. Ridiculous to let the point stand.

WRT carrying the ball, does that include any slight double contact in the paddle face, I know locally that seems to be ignored unless its really obvious.

I’m assuming the net originally was a badminton net that the original inventors had up high and realized that the wiffleball bounced so they lowered it like a tennis net. the badminton net was long until they realized it would be nice to have the net be shorter, so that balls could roll freely underneath that, that only happened in the last few years I believe.

There are a lot of paddles with long handles, not just one or two.

On ball deflate. While playing I fell on the ball and squish it. I was ok but the ball was not. Ben

Did I miss something? The pic has a X through the newest Selkirk paddle? Are paddles with holes being banned? What did I miss???

Rally Scoring - Optional... Mandatory would severely hamper what pickleball is as a game.

I think drop serve only rule is more fair. As you said, it takes away a lot of arguments.

Agree 100% with your drop serve comments. Hope it gets implemented asap.

To clarify, it was Ben Johns, the one with the engineer degree, who declared the ball deflated because his partner Anna Leigh Waters , could not return the powerful slam from their opponent, James Ignatovich. The point was replayed with B Johns incorrectly serving from the wrong court. Ref went along with this circus act. Ben disrupted the momentum of the team of James IIgnat and Anna Bright, who were playing a top-notch game. I don’t watch the Johns-waters games much anymore. Also,new referees should replace the ones who make stupid or clearly unfair calls. Some don’t appear to be paying attention to the rally. Enough already

Disagree on the Drop serve - the volley serve when done properly can be a great advantage for the serving team. It challenges people to practice their serve and decide which works best for them. Keep you hands off of this rule. An ace serve in pickleball is simply another unpredictable, fun and skill-testing part of this superfun sport. Let us have the freedom of choice.

Definitely in favor of the drop serve.

The no carry rule bugs me, because it;s going to be very difficult to enforce if there's not ref to make the call. I foresee a lot of arguments in rec play. NO RALLY SCORING in doubles!

I agree with you about going “drop serve only”. Changing the NVZ to 8 feet is not a bad idea. Like the ball change in golf, it could be rolled out over time. I am tall with long arms and I have a significant advantage over shorter players without my reach. Taller guys than me hardly notice the NVZ. The appeal of Pickleball was often about dinking and strategy and it slowed the game down, giving all skill levels access to fun play and longer rallies.

Only drop serves should be allowed. No question about it.

I like the new carry rule.. skinny singles could be an equalizer in a lot of situations, but I prefer regular singles

Pickleball is America's fastest-growing sport and we like it #Pickleball

Completely agree with calling a carry. I have seen many people tossing the ball on a drop serve so I don't like the drop serve. I happen to have a really good volley serve. I don't see why it should be eliminated. The drop serve should be eliminated.

I think a carry in pickleball would be fun.

Rally scoring can be a good option for tournament play! I have played in and seen several times that players skill level of 3.0 -3.5+ were being competing against those below 3.0 players. The rally scoring can help &/or level out the playing field at open tournaments. If the better players are having an "off day" the other team could have a chance to win.

I think the volley serve above the waist is not that hard to call and should be a fault. No need to forbid a toss on the volley serve or go to a drop serve only.

Rally scoring promotes skill, not stamina. Rally score like the way we play now but with a point every time. IE change sides every point. Also, I have a pretty good drop serve. Good speed, topspin and curve.

Legal. I know the rules inside and out because I crack serves too and get called out EVERY DAY

Glad the proposal for the drop serve as the only serve failed. Just as there are different levels of play, volley serves allow greater variety, the ability to improve ones game and frankly if you can't handle an opponents serve, just practice 'til you get better. The game has sufficient traction that a rule does not have to be enacted to keep poorer players engaged. They can play at their own level, continue to improve and improve their skill level.

Great video but definitely disagree with you thinking the serve shouldn’t be a weapon. It’s part of the game.

Completely agree with your take on the drop serve. It should be the only serve! Serve as a weapon in pickleball makes no sense. We may as well go back to playing tennis. Singles is where the serve is becoming a weapon and it makes it look like they're playing tennis but with inferior equipment. No one wants to watch that.

As for rally scoring, I prefer it over side-out for the length of the game. When you have a even match, the two sides can play for a very long time. On the other hand, when the two sides are not even, the 11 point game is over in 5 minutes. In the circumstances where wait is long and you have no choice of who you play with, rally scoring of 21 points gives all players a chance to play a decent length game. Also, side out makes score keeping more complex. I played badminton and went through the conversion to rally scoring. At the time, everyone hated the new rule and no one wanted to convert. But it only took a short while for everyone to get used to it and now no one missed the side-out at all.

Hi Austin, thanks for the rules updates. Re rally scoring... I'm not a fan. Side out scoring makes a player earn every point on their side of the ledger. You earn that right to score then you can start adding to your talley. Re drop vs volley serve...I have gotten use to volley serves but am not opposed to drop serve only. However, one should be allowed to "throw" the ball down as opposed to simply dropping it. The serve should definitely be a weapon in a competitive game. The refs are good enough to spot bad service procedures and make the appropriate calls. The game relies on refs to make much tougher calls for foot faults at the kitchen line when a toe goes over in the heat of a rally with eight feet to account for

PPA seems to have changed the serve rule. At least McGuffin doesn’t look like he’s hitting sidearm.

I think there should be a service fault rule. Watching pro play is a little disheartening. As someone who can put some “oomph” on their serve at risk of hitting it out, it would be absolutely asinine for me to attempt a serve like that outside of recreational play. The pros just “get it in”. If I’m being honest I don’t think we will see a bunch of crazy ace serves if we adopt the double fault. Alternatively, if the argument would be that it slows the game down, each team could get a maximum of something like 3 faults per game. The serve deserves to be a weapon in any sport in which a serve is required. It’s the only shot that you have full control over. What this will do is help with position on the third shot if your opponent has a less effective return.