Serving in pickleball may look simple, but it’s one of the areas where players, beginners and even advanced athletes, commit the most faults. A faulty serve not only costs you momentum, it can also lose your team the chance to score or even the serve entirely.
In this complete guide, Olaben breaks down the most common serving faults in pickleball, why they happen, how they differ across skill levels, and what you can do to avoid them. Whether you're a new player or already competing at a higher level, understanding these faults will help you become a more consistent, and more strategic, server.
>>> For more information: Pickleball serve rules
1. Serving Above the Waist (Illegal Contact Point)
One of the most common serving faults is making contact with the ball above waist level. According to USA Pickleball rules, every serve must follow a legal underhand motion, which includes three key requirements:
- The ball must be struck below the waist,
- The paddle head must be below the wrist at contact,
- The motion of the swing must be upward, not sideways or downward.
Why This Fault Happens
- Beginners often haven’t built consistent serving mechanics.
- Players transitioning from tennis or badminton tend to serve with a naturally higher contact point.
- In fast-paced games, even advanced players may rush and unintentionally raise the ball too high.
How to Fix It
- Think of the service motion like rolling a bowling ball, the upward arc feels similar.
- Keep the paddle head clearly lower than the wrist throughout the swing.
- Record your serve to evaluate contact position and swing path.
2. Improper Paddle Position (Paddle Above Wrist)
Even if the ball is contacted below the waist, the serve is still illegal if the paddle head rises above the wrist at the moment of contact.
Why Players Make This Mistake
- Beginners struggle with mechanical consistency.
- Advanced players may unintentionally lift the paddle while trying to hit a powerful underhand drive.
Quick Fix
Keep the paddle angled downward or parallel to the ground during preparation and contact.
3. Standing in the Wrong Place While Serving (Foot Faults)
A legal serve requires both feet to remain:
- Completely behind the baseline,
- Inside the imaginary extensions of the sideline and centerline.
Common Foot Position Errors:
- A toe touching the baseline,
- A foot drifting onto the partner’s half of the court,
- Standing partially outside the legal serving zone.
Why Beginners Struggle
They aren’t yet familiar with the “invisible serving box” created by the extended court lines.
Why Advanced Players Still Fault
They often “creep forward” during a powerful serve and accidentally step on the baseline.
How to Avoid Foot Faults
Start your stance 6–12 inches behind the baseline to give yourself a safe buffer for foot movement.
4. Serving to the Incorrect Service Box
Every serve must land:
- In the diagonal service box,
- Inside or touching the boundary lines.
Common Placement Mistakes:
- Serving to the wrong side,
- Landing the ball in the kitchen (NVZ),
- Missing the diagonal box entirely.
Why This Fault Happens
- Beginners lack directional control and spatial awareness.
- Advanced players sometimes attempt aggressive serves, sharp angles or deep drives, that carry higher risk.
How to Avoid This Fault
- Aim toward the center of the diagonal service box for a safer, more consistent serve.
- Avoid chasing aces unless your placement skills are reliably accurate.
5. Drop Serve Faults (Ball Tossing or Pushing)
A legal drop serve requires the ball to be released naturally from the hand, with gravity being the only force acting on it.
Illegal Drop Serve Actions:
- Tossing the ball upward (even slightly),
- Pushing, spinning, or flicking the ball out of your hand,
- Dropping the ball from shoulder height or higher.
Fix
Relax your hand and simply let the ball fall, no guiding, spinning, or adding force.
6. Pre-Spinning the Ball (Illegal Spin Serve)
Since 2023, any form of pre-spin applied to the ball before paddle contact is banned.
Illegal Techniques:
- Rolling the ball off your fingers to create spin,
- Using the paddle’s edge to generate spin (the “chainsaw serve”),
- Flicking the ball with your hand before release.
These result in an immediate serve fault.
Allowed Spin
You may only generate spin during the paddle swing, not before the ball leaves your hand.
7. Serving Out of Bounds
Although serving out of bounds is not technically a rule violation, it is one of the most common unforced serving errors:
- Serving too long past the baseline,
- Missing wide past the sideline,
- Hitting the net and having the ball drop on your own side.
Top players avoid this by targeting high-percentage zones near the middle of the diagonal box.
8. Forgetting the Two-Bounce Rule (After the Serve)
This is not a mechanical serving fault but often occurs immediately after the serve.
According to the two-bounce rule:
- The return of serve must bounce once before being hit.
- The serving team must also let the return bounce before striking the third shot.
Volleying the third shot, hitting it before it bounces, results in a fault.
Who Commits This Fault
- Beginners, especially former tennis players used to rushing forward.
- Advanced players only in fast-paced rallies or when over-eager to take net control.
Who Commits It Most?
- Beginners, especially ex-tennis players
- Advanced players only during fast rallies or when rushing to the net
9. Momentum Faults After Serving
Even with a perfectly legal serve, players may fault due to momentum or follow-through errors:
- Stepping over the baseline after the serve,
- Losing balance and touching the NVZ line while sprinting forward,
- Crossing into restricted areas because of uncontrolled forward motion.
These typically happen when players transition too quickly from serving to an offensive position.
Tips to Immediately Reduce Serving Faults
Serving is one of the most controlled and repeatable skills in pickleball, yet even small errors can cost points. By making a few practical adjustments, you can instantly reduce serving faults and gain more consistency on the court. Here’s how:
1. Stand Farther From the Baseline
A common source of foot faults is standing too close to the baseline. Step back 6–12 inches to give yourself room to move forward during the serve without overstepping. This simple adjustment improves balance and helps prevent accidental faults, especially during powerful serves.
2. Slow Down Your Serve to Improve Control
Rushing your serve often leads to contact above the waist or a pickleball paddle that drifts too high. Focus on a smooth, deliberate upward motion for better accuracy. Slowing down also allows you to maintain proper form and generate consistent power without compromising legality.
3. Record Yourself to Monitor Contact Height
Videoing your serve is an excellent way to check that your paddle stays below the wrist and that the ball stays under the waist. Watching playback helps you identify mechanical errors that might not be obvious in real-time, and allows you to make small corrections that have a big impact on consistency.
4. Practice Serving Toward the Center of the Service Box
Aiming for the center of the diagonal service box reduces the chance of hitting the wrong box or landing in the non-volley zone. Consistently targeting the middle increases success rates and builds confidence in your serve, particularly in high-pressure situations.
5. Review the Updated USA Pickleball Rulebook Regularly
Rules can evolve each year, especially regarding serving mechanics, spin, and ball contact. Staying up to date ensures your serve remains legal and competitive, helping you avoid unnecessary penalties in tournaments or casual play.
6. Wear Comfortable, Flexible Clothing
Choosing the right attire can improve your movement and form, making it easier to execute legal, consistent serves. Lightweight, breathable women’s pickleball apparel allow for full range of motion, while fitted tops or skirts can keep you comfortable and confident on the court. When you’re comfortable, you can focus fully on your mechanics rather than adjusting your clothing mid-serve.
Final Thoughts
Serving faults are one of the most common challenges in pickleball, no matter your skill level, but they are also some of the easiest mistakes to correct. By learning the most frequent faults, refining your mechanics, and practicing consistently, you can keep more serves in play, reduce unforced errors, and take control of your rallies.
For those looking to improve even faster, consider drilling these serving fundamentals regularly or joining a beginner or intermediate lesson in your area. With dedication and practice, your serve will become more confident, consistent, and effective, helping you enjoy the game to the fullest.
