Pickleball Rule Changes

2024 Rule Changes

Player Questions about Correct Server, Receiver or Position (4.B.8)

Player questions about correct server, receiver or position remain allowed before the serve is hit. A generic question by the server such as “Am I good?” is considered to encapsulate both the correct server question and the correct position question, and the referee will answer both questions. In non-officiated play, a player may ask the opponent the same questions and the opponent must respond with the appropriate information.

Correcting Server, Receiver and Player Position Errors (4.B.9)

Faults for incorrect server, incorrect receiver and player position errors are eliminated. The referee will now correct any such player errors before calling the score. Rule 4.B.9 is the primary rule text. Several other rules have been modified or deleted to correlate with this change.

4.B.9. The referee will confirm and correct, if necessary, that all players are in the correct position and the correct server has the ball before calling the score.

4.B.9.a. If the referee or a player stops a rally in progress to correctly identify a player/position error, the rally shall be replayed. If a player stops a rally and incorrectly identifies a player/position error, it is a fault on the player who stopped the rally. If the referee stops a rally in progress and incorrectly identifies a player/position error, the rally shall be replayed.

4.B.9.b. If a player/position error is identified after the rally has played out, the rally shall stand.

Draping Net (2.C.6/11.L.5.b)

Rule 2.C.6 called for a replay when a ball goes over the net and hits a net that is draped on the ground (except on a serve) but only if the referee determined that the ball was affected by the draped net. This rule, and Rule 11.L.5.b for temporary nets, now call for a replay without qualification. A determination that the ball was affected by the draped net is now not required in officiated or non-officiated play.

Catch or Carry Ball on the Paddle (7.L)

Rule 7.L now makes catching or carrying a ball on the paddle a fault without having to determine that the catch or carry was deliberately done.

2023 Rule Changes

Apparel (2.G.1/2.G.4)

Inappropriate apparel may now include apparel that approximates the color of the tournament ball. Section 1 encourages players to avoid wearing apparel that approximates the color of the ball. The Tournament Director retains the right to require an apparel change during a non-chargeable time-out.

Spin Serve (4.A.5.e/4.A.7.c)

Spin serves of any type are not allowed. Some natural rotation of the ball when it is released is allowable but the server must not impart manipulation or spin prior to striking the ball to serve. This applies to the volley serve and the drop serve.

Replay or Fault on the Serve (4.A.6/4.A.8)

The referee has the authority to immediately stop play and order a replay if the referee is not certain that one more required elements of a serve have been met. The referee will call an immediate fault if a serve clearly violates one or more of the requirements. The intent to induce players to adjust their serve so that it clearly and obviously meets all requirements.

Player Questions about Correct Server, Receiver or Position (4.B.8)

Wrong Score Called (4.K)

If the wrong score is called, the referee or any player may stop play before the return of serve to correct the score. It is a fault to stop play after the return of serve to identify or ask for a score correction. It is a fault to stop play to identify or ask for a score correction when the score was correctly called.

Equipment Time-Out (10.D)

Players are not required to use a regular time-out for equipment adjustments or changes necessary for fair and safe continuation of the match. The referee will call an equipment time-out of a reasonable duration.

2022 Rule Changes

Here are a handful of the more notable changes effective in the new year:

The “provisional” status of the drop serve has been removed. This service option has now been made “permanent” beginning in 2022. Adding the drop serve as an available serve option has been a good change as it does give brand new players an opportunity for service success immediately if they are struggling with the traditional method.

Spin Serves using a combination of the paddle, paddle hand, or non-paddle hand to impart spin on the ball will be illegal. This outlaws the “chainsaw” serve that was popularized in 2021. It’s important to note, however, that the server will still be able to legally impart spin using only their non-paddle hand. This makes a lot of sense to me. If Morgan Evans can successfully serve it this way, I’m quite certain others can figure it out as well.
Rally scoring was rejected. Again in 2022, you can only score points if you are the serving team. This rejection of rally scoring will surely make the “traditionalists” very happy.
The official scoring nomenclature to begin a game remains 0-0-2. 0-0-Start was not approved. I’m quite sure beginners can figure it out!
Reinstating the let serve was rejected. Serves that hit the net and land beyond the non-volley zone and in the correct service court continue to be live and should be played. My Saturday morning group, however, will continue to replay let serves. We’re rebels that way!

2021 Rule Changes

There are approximately 80 pages of changes that the USA Pickleball Association implemented in January of 2021. Most of the rule changes were wording refinements to clarify or slightly modify existing rules; however, 2 of the changes were significant, and I hope that my communication explains both. If not, visiting the USA Pickleball website or simply using a search engine such as google to research 2021 Pickleball rules will provide further clarification.

1. Up until the 2021 Rule change, a serve that made contact with the net and still landed in the receiver’s box, was called a “LET.” The serving player would would serve again, effectively a replay or “Do Over.” Starting in 2021, there is no such thing as a “LET” serve. If a serve is made that manages to to make contact with the net AND still land in the receiver’s box, the ball must be played by the receiver just as if it had not made contact with the net. Note: Old rule — if a serve were made that contacts the net and does NOT land in the receiver’s box, it was a fault. This will still be the case in 2021. Furthermore, if a serve is made that contacts the net and then makes contact with the receiver’s partner, it is a point for the serving team. This rule continues. If a serve is made and the ball contacts the net and lands in the receiver’s box and the receiver forgets the new rule and shouts or motions “LET,” the serving team is awarded the point. You must remember to play every serve that lands in the receiver’s box.

2. The definition of what constitutes a legal serve has been expanded and is a significant rule change. Present serving rules addressed (among other things) where a serving player could be standing, positioning their feet at the moment of paddle/ball contact, calling the score and then beginning the serving motion, etc., and had 3 specific requirements that had to be met in order for the serve to be legal.

A. The contact point of the paddle and ball had to be below the waist (defined as the navel).

B. At the moment of contact, no part of the paddle head could be above the wrist-line of the server (basically, the paddle had to be canted at a downward angle at the moment of contact).

C. Additionally, the serve had to be an underhand motion where the paddle was moving from a low point upward to a higher point. A paddle moving like a gate, or sidearm, or parallel to the court surface was not legal.

All of these requirements will remain in 2021 for serves that are made with the server striking the ball in the air ( not allowing the ball to bounce). HOWEVER, in 2021, a server may use a “DROP SERVE” where the ball does make contact with the ground, bounces upward and is then struck by the server.

The A., B, C. requirements mentioned above do not apply to DROP SERVES.

As the name implies, a player making a DROP SERVE must hold the ball (or position the ball on the paddle) and then simply let go of it so that the only force used in the drop is that of gravity.

The player may not impart momentum to the drop by tossing the ball upward (so that it will bounce higher), or releasing the ball with any downward momentum so as to impart any force that would make the ball bounce higher.

The ball may be held waist high, shoulder high, eye high, or even with the server’s hand holding the ball straight up as high as the player can reach before letting it drop. This is legal.

Note 1: Since requirements A., B., and C., mentioned above do NOT apply to drop serves, all kinds of strikes that were not possible or allowable before may be used with DROP SERVES.

Players may serve “Cuts” or strike down on a ball to impart backspin would be 1 example.

Note 2 : A player may mix serves in a game such that a DROP SERVE is used, and then the traditional serve, and then perhaps back to a DROP serve, or not.

Recommendation: Go out and get a partner or get a small group together and experiment with the DROP SERVE. I believe it will make the game more fun, and may make serving easier for many players, and more offensive with more power and top spin for others.

For more rules information click the link below:
USAPA Official Rules

Stay safe, stay healthy,
Steve Richter