6 Illegal pickleball serves: Best guide

Q: What spin serve is banned in pickleball?

The "chainsaw" serve is the specific spin serve that was banned in pickleball starting in 2023. This serve involved a player using their paddle or non-paddle hand to impart excessive spin on the ball before striking it. Chainsaw Serve : Description : Players would use their paddle or their free hand (sometimes even rubbing the ball against the paddle) to create significant spin before making contact with the ball during the serve. This type of serve would generate unpredictable bounce patterns, making it difficult for the receiver to return. Reason for Ban : The chainsaw serve was seen as giving an unfair advantage because it produced too much spin, making it hard for opponents to read and return the ball. Many felt this went against the spirit of the game, which emphasizes longer rallies and player skill. READ ALSO: What’s cooking with the Pickleball Spin Serve

Q: Is the screwball serve illegal in pickleball?

The screwball serve in pickleball, which involves applying spin to the ball before or during the serve to create an unusual trajectory, is not inherently illegal as long as it follows the current serving rules. However, there are restrictions on how you can apply spin. Here's what you need to know: Legal Aspects of the Screwball Serve: Hand-Generated Spin : You can still apply spin to the ball using your non-paddle hand (i.e., with your fingers) before hitting the serve. So, if you create the screwball effect by spinning the ball with your hand and then serving, it is legal. Illegal Methods of Creating a Screwball Serve: No Paddle or Surface Spin : You cannot use your paddle, your body, or any external object to add spin to the ball before serving. For example, using your paddle or arm to create the spin, as was done in the now-banned chainsaw serve , would make the serve illegal. Proper Serving Motion : The serve must still be made with an underhand motion and the paddle contact must be below the waist, with the paddle head below the wrist. In Summary: A screwball serve that applies spin only with your hand is legal in pickleball, as long as it follows the underhand serve motion and other serving rules (paddle below waist, paddle head below wrist). However, any method that mimics the banned chainsaw serve or uses the paddle to create excessive spin is illegal.

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Illegal pickleball serves

In pickleball, there are several rules regarding serves to ensure fairness. Illegal serves typically fall into three main categories based on form and execution:

1. Contact with the Ball

Paddle Above Waist: The ball must be struck with the paddle below the waist (navel). If the paddle makes contact with the ball above the waist, the serve is considered illegal.

Example: A player strikes the ball with their paddle above their waist (navel). For instance, if the server swings and hits the ball while the paddle is at chest height, this is an illegal serve because contact must be made below the waist.

2. Paddle Angle

Paddle Head Above Wrist: At the moment of contact, the paddle head must be below the wrist. If the paddle head is above the wrist when hitting the ball, it’s an illegal serve.

Example: A player serves the ball while the paddle head is higher than their wrist at the point of contact. Even if the serve is made underhand, this still counts as illegal because the paddle must remain below the wrist.

3. Underhand Serve

The serve must be performed underhand. The motion should be an upward swing. Any attempt to serve overhand or sideways (like in tennis) is considered illegal.

Example: A player uses a tennis-style overhand motion to serve the ball, with the paddle coming down from above their shoulder. This is illegal because all serves must be made with an upward motion in pickleball.

Other Violations:

Feet Placement: At the time of the serve, at least one foot must be behind the baseline, and neither foot can touch the baseline or court until after the ball is hit. A violation of this is called a foot fault.

Example: A player steps on or over the baseline when serving. This is a foot fault, as the server must have at least one foot behind the baseline without touching it before striking the ball.

Ball Bounce: The ball must be served without bouncing. You cannot bounce the ball on the ground and then hit it.

Example: A player bounces the ball on the court and then hits it. In pickleball, the ball must be hit out of the air; bouncing the ball before serving is illegal.

Correct Box: The serve must land in the correct service box, beyond the non-volley zone. If the ball lands in the non-volley zone or outside the service box, it’s considered a fault.

Example: The server hits the ball, but it lands outside the correct service box (e.g., too wide or too deep). This is an illegal serve because the ball must land in the diagonally opposite service box, beyond the non-volley zone.

Any of these violations would result in the serve being illegal, and either a fault is called or the point is lost depending on the situation.

illegal pickleball serves — **Image source:** Drive No Drop

FAQs

What spin serve is banned in pickleball?

The “chainsaw” serve is the specific spin serve that was banned in pickleball starting in 2023. This serve involved a player using their paddle or non-paddle hand to impart excessive spin on the ball before striking it.

Chainsaw Serve:

Description: Players would use their paddle or their free hand (sometimes even rubbing the ball against the paddle) to create significant spin before making contact with the ball during the serve. This type of serve would generate unpredictable bounce patterns, making it difficult for the receiver to return.

Reason for Ban: The chainsaw serve was seen as giving an unfair advantage because it produced too much spin, making it hard for opponents to read and return the ball. Many felt this went against the spirit of the game, which emphasizes longer rallies and player skill.
READ ALSO: What’s cooking with the Pickleball Spin Serve

Is the screwball serve illegal in pickleball?

The screwball serve in pickleball, which involves applying spin to the ball before or during the serve to create an unusual trajectory, is not inherently illegal as long as it follows the current serving rules. However, there are restrictions on how you can apply spin. Here’s what you need to know:

Legal Aspects of the Screwball Serve:

Hand-Generated Spin: You can still apply spin to the ball using your non-paddle hand (i.e., with your fingers) before hitting the serve. So, if you create the screwball effect by spinning the ball with your hand and then serving, it is legal.

Illegal Methods of Creating a Screwball Serve:

No Paddle or Surface Spin: You cannot use your paddle, your body, or any external object to add spin to the ball before serving. For example, using your paddle or arm to create the spin, as was done in the now-banned chainsaw serve, would make the serve illegal.

Proper Serving Motion: The serve must still be made with an underhand motion and the paddle contact must be below the waist, with the paddle head below the wrist.

In Summary:
A screwball serve that applies spin only with your hand is legal in pickleball, as long as it follows the underhand serve motion and other serving rules (paddle below waist, paddle head below wrist). However, any method that mimics the banned chainsaw serve or uses the paddle to create excessive spin is illegal.

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HARRY ANDERSON

Founder at Pickleball Lobby

A quirky Hi from Harry Anderson—the Founder and Editor-in-Chief at Pickleball Lobby. He’s a true enthusiast who loves and enjoys trying new sports, his favorite of which is pickleball. He has played various sports throughout his life. He was former table tennis, tennis, and Minton player mainly and made his transition to pickleball in 2008. Upon joining the game, he got this crazy obsession with collecting pickleball gear and accessories.

Harry is a freak who often argues that O in his name may well stand for “Obsessed with Pickleball.”