Pickleball Let Serve: What’s the Rule Change 2025?

In 2021, USAPA had a “let rule”. According to this, you had to replay the serve if your served ball ever hit the net. But it is a long time, and the game has developed a lot since 2021, and so have the rules. That is why there is no longer a “let rule in Pickleball”.

It is important to note that, as of 2023, the concept of a let no longer exists in the Pickleball official rulebook.

But now, is it legal or not to play this, and what are some of its rules? We have compiled answers to all your queries in this quick guide. Let us discover the truth of a let serves in Pickleball without wasting a second.

What is a Let Serve in Pickleball?

Although there are no longer let serve rules in the official Pickleball rulebook, the dedicated masses want to know its meaning. If you are one of them, then keep reading ahead.

A let serve in Pickleball means hitting the ball intentionally or unintentionally in a way that it hits the net and lands in the correct service box.

In the past few years, a serve hitting a let serve was awarded with a second chance of serving the ball.

However, it is considered illegal to touch the net while serving.

But if you have not committed any Pickleball faults and the serve lands in the correct service box after contacting the net, you can continue the play.

On the other hand, if you do not follow an underhand motion or any other mistake, your let serve will be considered illegal. In this case, the serve shifts to the next serving player.

Since the rules have been upgraded as the game itself, if you play a let serve, you will not be given a second chance to serve. Instead, you will keep playing on its usual pattern.

Why is it Called a “Let”?

There are various ways from which the “let” word may be gained. For instance, it is believed that this word has been derived from the:

• French word “Filet”. In this language, the “let” means “Net”.
• Old Saxon term “Lettian”. Here, the “let” would be called “to hinder”.
• Or from old English, where “let” was used to say “delay”.

Regarding different meanings, there can be several reasons for naming a specific situation in Pickleball as a “let serve”.

However, a serve is mostly called let because it causes a delay in the match.

If a ball hits a net in Pickleball, it may cause at least a few minutes’ break, especially for the beginners.

This delay is due to the rule in Pickleball that says a serve is illegal if it hits the net.

As a result of this pause, the whole flow of the game is disturbed. That is why it is called a let for its pause-creating ability.

Is There a Let in Pickleball?

The official 2023 USAPA rulebook has no more any rule about let serve in Pickleball.

It has neither prohibited nor allowed this serve.

Since we have played our game according to this rulebook, we should know there is nothing like “let serve” anymore in Pickleball.

That is why, if you ever face a let serve, you can keep playing peacefully without distractions.

What do you want more if your serve is considered legal when it lands in the correct service box, even if it hits or not the net?

So chill and continue the play as usual if your opponent says you have hit a let serve.

No need to worry because you have hit it according to the serving rules, and it falls in the proper service area.

How to Let Serve in Pickleball?

This is how conveniently you can play a let serve in Pickleball:

• First, you should stand at least a foot behind the baseline and between the imaginary extensions of the centerline and sidelines.
• Hold the paddle in your dominant hand and the ball in your non-dominant hand.
• Bounce the ball to a good height and then hit it with a paddle in an underhand motion and upward arc.
• You should hit in a way that hits the net and then lands on the correct side of your opponent’s court diagonally. However, knowing that a legal Pickleball serve doesn’t hit the net would be good.
• If you serve land in the correct zone, you will serve again without getting any points.

Rules for Let Serves in Pickleball

Before jumping into the rules, you should know there are no official Pickleball rules for a let serve.

However, players have set some of these for identifying a let in Pickleball:

• The ball should hit the net and fall in the correct service court in a let serve.
• Avoid other faults such as landing the ball in the kitchen line or outside the boundaries.
• If a “let” occurs, you will be given no scores.
• You are also not considered at fault in case of a let.
• You are awarded a second opportunity to serve the ball without disruptions in such a situation.

Pickleball Let Serve Rule Change

As we discussed, once USAPA has declared a rule for a let serve, here comes the time to know that.

But you should remember that this rule is no longer in use.

So, the given change was adopted by USAPA to the let serving in 2021 official Pickleball rules:

“If your served ball hits the net and lands in the correct service zone, the play will not be replayed. Instead, you (the server) will continue serving without any interruptions to the game’s natural flow”

However, players had to pause and replay this serve before this rule. But it is not the case now because you can keep serving even if the ball hits the net.

But the condition is that it must land in the correct court of your diagonally positioned player. Otherwise, you will make a mistake if you violate these rules.

How Many Let Serves are Allowed in Pickleball?

To be straightforward, there is no specification about the number of let serves.

So, if your serve hits the net and lands in the correct court, you can continue serving.

But its downside is that you are not awarded any points for this serve.

The only advantage is that your serve is not considered illegal, and you can keep playing until the serve crosses the net without contacting it.

What Should You Do if a Serve Hits the Net?

If your serve hits the net, then you can follow the given steps for maintaining a better game flow:

• Hitting the net with a ball and then successfully landing in the correct area is not a fault.
• Keep serving again to land the ball in your opponent’s correct service court diagonally without letting the ball touch the net.
• Don’t pause the play thinking that you have made a fault.

Why the Let Rule Was Removed

USAPA has once included the “let serve rule” in its official rulebook. But it turned the whole joy of the game around, and players started liking pickleball less than before.

That is why USAPA preferred your happiness and finally removed this rule from its rulebook in 2021.

Let us know some reasons that caused USAPA to take this action of eliminating the let rule:

• Pickleball is fast-paced, but a let serve caused an unusual delay.

The primary reason for this was that hitting the net with a ball in Pickleball is illegal.

However, a let means hitting the net with a ball and landing it in the correct zone without kitchen or court boundaries.

So, whenever a ball contacts the net, players have to stop the play, discuss it and then decide whether they need to replay the serve or not.

As a result, it has become a time-consuming process.

• Secondly, the major drawback of a let rule or serve was that players had outstanding disputes.

If you have hit the net with a ball, it is a let. But your opponent disagrees and asks you to give the serving turn to him.

On the other hand, you don’t consider it legal to provide him with the serve. This type of scenario created controversies among players.

• Lastly, make pickleball a smooth and straightforward sport where you can focus on enjoyment rather than time-consuming tasks.

Benefits of Removing the Let Rule

There came the fruitful benefits of removing the let rule from the USAPA rulebook:

• It helped players continue to play without any distractions.
• Improved the sport’s usual speed without causing any delays or pauses.
• Safeguarded players from any possibilities of disputes.
• Streamlined the whole serving process.
• It has reduced the challenges, especially for beginners whose serves can’t cross the net on the first try.

Will The Pickleball Let Serve Be Reintroduced?

In 2025, there is no possibility of introducing a let-serve in Pickleball. But it may get any likelihood soon because no one knows what will happen the next moment.

So, keep an eye on the official Pickleball rule book and check it regularly for some great news. It might be a surprise for you if you like to serve.

FAQs: Let Serve in Pickleball

1. Is a let serve allowed in Pickleball?

Yes, it is allowed in Pickleball because it has no discussions in the 2023 rule changes.

That is why you can fearlessly hit the ball without worrying whether it hits the net or not; it will be considered legal.

2. Can you let the ball bounce before serving in Pickleball?

You can let the ball bounce at least once before hitting it while playing a drop serve after dropping the ball.

However, other serving rules should also be followed, like keeping your foot behind the baseline and serving with an underhand motion to keep the pickleball serve legal.

Final Thoughts on Pickleball Let Serve

There are infinite rumors about the let serve in Pickleball. But it would be better for you to follow just the official news. And there is no longer a let rule in Pickleball. If you ever face such a situation, keep serving without disturbing the flow.

Also Read:

• Pickleball Underhand Serve
• What is Topspin Serve in Pickleball