You have 2 serve options in pickleball, the volley and drop serve.
In pickleball, the serve is your first opportunity to set the tone for the point.
Understanding the different types of serves can significantly enhance your game. If you’re new to the game, this post will help you build a solid foundation.
You may use the volley serve but understanding the pickleball drop serve and its usage as an option is important.
The two primary serve types are the traditional or volley serve, and the recently introduced drop serve. Each has its own set of rules, advantages, and limitations.
Pickleball Volley Serve
The traditional serve, often referred to as such because it has been the standard in pickleball for decades, follows a set of strict rules. These rules have shaped the way the game has been played since its early days, setting the benchmark for competitive play.
The volley serve is executed by holding the ball in one hand, dropping it into the air, and striking it with the paddle. You must follow the specific rules for contact and swing motion.
Players must adhere to the following:
Volley Serve Rules
1. Ball Contact Below the Waist: The paddle must make contact with the ball below waist level.
2. Upward Swing Motion: The serve must follow an upward arc, meaning the paddle must move in an upward motion when striking the ball.
3. Paddle Below the Wrist: At the point of contact, the highest point of the paddle must be below the wrist.
While the volley serve allows for power and some spin, the combination of rules limits the angles, speed, and spin that can be applied.
These restrictions reduce a player’s flexibility in manipulating the ball, making it more difficult to generate heavy spin or sharp angles.
Spin Considerations
Topspin is the easiest to achieve with the volley serve because the required low-to-high swing path aligns with the upward arc rule.
Executing a backspin serve is nearly impossible with the volley serve. This is due to the need for a high-to-low motion, which directly conflicts with the serve’s restrictions.
Generating significant sidespin also requires advanced technique and a high degree of precision. This makes it difficult to consistently achieve while adhering to the limitations of the volley serve.
Despite these challenges, the volley serve continues to dominate at higher levels of play for several reasons:
Power and Spin
The volley serve allows for enough spin and power to challenge opponents, even within its limitations. Skilled players use topspin serves to add speed and control, causing the ball to dip quickly over the net and put immediate pressure on the receiver.
This combination of power and spin can be highly effective in gaining an early advantage in the point.
Momentum
A key advantage of the volley serve is the ability to generate momentum by stepping into the shot. Advanced players use their entire body to transfer energy into the serve, adding both speed and power.
Pickleball Drop Serve
Introduced as a provisional rule in 2021 and later made permanent in 2022, the pickleball drop serve gives players more freedom by eliminating some of the restrictions of the traditional serve.
In a drop serve, the ball is dropped to the ground and struck after it bounces, without needing to follow the traditional rules regarding contact height, swing motion and paddle angle.
Drop Serve Advantages
No Restrictions
Without the rules of the volley serve, players have much more flexibility in how they strike the ball.
This opens up the possibility for more aggressive spin—particularly for backspin and sidespin serves—since there are no limitations on the motion. The bounce provides a stable platform for executing the shot, offering increased control over both spin and placement.
Consistency and Control
For players who struggle with consistency in their serve, the pickleball drop serve is a good alternative. The bounce gives you more time to focus on placement and spin, reducing the risk of errors that might occur with a traditional volley serve.
However, the drop serve does have its limitations, especially at higher levels:
Reduced Power
Although the drop serve offers more control and freedom to apply spin, the bounce naturally takes away some of the power that you could otherwise generate with the volley serve. In competitive play, where speed and power are critical, this can be a disadvantage.
Predictability
While the pickleball drop serve is easier to control, the bounce can make it more predictable for an opponent to read and return, especially for advanced players accustomed to dealing with a variety of serve types.
Conclusion
Understanding and using both serve types in pickleball will make you a better player.
Varying your serves is always good to keep your opponents guessing and with both serves in your repertoire, you can execute a good variety of pickleball serves.
Pickleball Volley Serve with Topspin
Courtesy of Third Shot Sports
Watch this video on the Pickleball Volley serve on Youtube.
Pickleball Drop Serve with Backspin and Sidespin
Courtesy of Pickleball Nexus
Watch this video on the Pickleball Drop shot on Youtube.