A recurring discussion in several of my pickleball groups is wether the serve of certain players is legal or not legal. Of course nobody is lifting up shirts to see where waistlines, belly buttons, etc. are located and some players toss the ball and hit it so quickly that it is hard to see if the paddle is below the required mark prior to the ball being hit. Short of getting a high speed camera, most of us just watch and conjecture.
In a clubhouse, i.e. non-tournament, setting not too many of us worry about this particular aspect of the game. We generally have a play and let-play attitude. It is the same philosophy that we adopt when we don’t question a line call on the opponent’s side of the court. They are generally closer to the ball and players almost always let the call stand.
It is nice to know, however if a serve is legal or not. Especially if there is any expectation that one day you might want to head to tournament land!
Mark Renneson of Third Shot Sports has provided us with a video quiz to see if we can determine which serves are legal and which serves are not.
As a refresher, here are the rules according to the the International Federation of Pickleball (USAPA):
“Serve Motion. The serve must be made with an underhand stroke so that contact with the ball is made below waist level (waist is defined as the navel level). (revised Feb. 1, 2013)
4.A.1. Underhand Defined. The arm must be moving in an upward arc and the paddle head shall be below the wrist when it strikes the ball (paddle head is that part of the paddle excluding handle. The highest point of the paddle head cannot be above any part of line formed where the wrist joint bends). (revised Feb. 1, 2013)”
To me, this is the tricky part for some of the questionable serves: “The highest point of the paddle head cannot be above any part of line formed where the wrist joint bends)”