You get one serve attempt, and in doubles each partner serves before a side out.
If you have asked how many serves do you get in pickleball, you are not alone. I teach newcomers every week, and this rule trips up even tennis players. In this guide, I break down how many serves you get, how it works in singles and doubles, and the key rules that decide who serves and when. I will share simple examples, court-tested tips, and the latest rule updates so you can serve with confidence from your very next game.
Pickleball serving basics: one attempt, not two
In pickleball, you get one serve attempt per rally. There is no second serve like in tennis. If your serve is a fault, the serve goes to your partner in doubles or to your opponent in singles.
You must serve under control and follow the legal motion. You can use a volley serve or a drop serve. A volley serve must contact the ball below your waist, with an upward motion, and the paddle head below your wrist at contact. A drop serve is simpler. You drop the ball (no toss or force) and hit it after it bounces.
The serve must land in the diagonal service court. It must clear the non-volley zone (the kitchen). If it hits the kitchen or its line, it is a fault. Hitting the baseline, sideline, or centerline is fine.
Doubles: how many serves do you get in pickleball when playing two-on-two?
In doubles, each team normally gets two serve turns per side out. That means both partners get a chance to serve before the other team gets the ball. The only exception is the very first service of the game. At 0-0, only one player on the first serving team serves before a side out.
Servers call the score as server score, receiver score, server number. For example: “2-4-1.” The server number is either 1 or 2, telling you which partner is serving for that team’s turn.
Here is the flow in plain words:
- Team A starts at 0-0-2. Only that one server goes. If they fault, it is a side out to Team B.
- After the first side out, both partners on each team get a full turn to serve until they fault.
- The serve always moves right to left on each point win. Servers switch sides after winning a point.
I like to teach a simple cue. First rally, one server only. After that, two servers per team until the end. This is the cleanest way to remember how many serves do you get in pickleball when you play doubles.
Singles: how many serves do you get in pickleball one-on-one?
In singles, you still get one serve attempt per rally. There is no second try. You serve again only if you win the rally and keep the serve.
If your score is even, you serve from the right. If it is odd, you serve from the left. That pattern makes it easy to track. When you fault, the serve goes to your opponent.
So, how many serves do you get in pickleball singles? One attempt each rally, and you keep serving as long as you keep winning points.
Do you ever get a second serve or a let?
No. Pickleball removed lets from the serve, so a serve that hits the net and lands in is live. Play it out. There is no automatic redo.
You only replay a rally if there is a clear hinder or a referee-stopped point. That is rare in casual play. In short, how many serves do you get in pickleball on a normal point? Only one.
Common faults that cost your serve
If you wonder why you are losing serves, check these common errors:
- Ball lands in the kitchen or on the kitchen line. Any contact with the non-volley zone on the serve is a fault.
- Ball is out or hits the net and does not go over. The rally ends at once.
- Foot faults on the baseline. At contact, at least one foot must be behind the baseline and not touching the court.
- Illegal motion on a volley serve. Contact must be below the waist with an upward arc, and the paddle head below the wrist.
- Wrong server or wrong receiver. Serving out of turn or to the wrong player is a fault at the moment of discovery.
In my clinics, the fastest fix is a clear pre-serve routine. Stand behind the baseline, aim deep middle, and call the score with the server number. It keeps your mind quiet and legal.
Real-game examples that make it stick
Example 1: Starting a doubles game
- Score is 0-0-2. Only the starting server on Team A serves.
- Team A serves out. Side out to Team B.
- Now Team B gets two servers. How many serves do you get in pickleball after the first rally? Two per team per side out.
Example 2: Holding serve in doubles
- Team B’s Server 1 wins two points and rotates sides each point.
- Server 1 faults. Now Server 2 serves for Team B.
- Server 2 faults. Side out to Team A. That was the full two-serve turn.
Example 3: Singles flow
- Player X serves from the right at 2 points (even). Wins a point.
- Now 3 points (odd). Serves from the left. Faults.
- Serve goes to Player Y. How many serves do you get in pickleball singles? Still one attempt per rally.
Strategy: make the most of your one serve
When you only get one serve attempt, you need a high-percentage plan. Aim deep, center, and heavy through the chest. That buys time and forces a backhand for many players.
Practical tips I use with beginners and 4.0+ players:
- Pick safe targets. Deep middle is your friend in doubles.
- Use the drop serve if you fight illegal motion. It is simple and repeatable.
- Add a pre-serve checklist. Feet set, grip calm, call the full score, then swing.
- Mix pace and height. A slow, deep serve can be just as tough as a heater.
- Serve to the backhand under pressure. Then be ready for a third shot drop.
This mindset boosts your hold rate fast. It also answers why how many serves do you get in pickleball matters for tactics. One try rewards smart placement more than raw power.
Equipment and setup for a legal serve
Small setup choices help you avoid faults and keep the serve.
- Grip at a relaxed 4 out of 10. Tension kills touch on low serves.
- Stand a step behind the line. This stops foot faults before they happen.
- Use a visible pre-drop for the drop serve. Let gravity do the work.
- Check the ball. A soft or wet ball dies short more often.
- Practice a waist-high contact. Record yourself to confirm legal contact on volley serves.
I have fixed many foot faults by adding a strip of tape two feet behind the baseline in practice. If you cross the tape, you know you are too close when you swing.
Rule updates and what to watch
Rules evolve each year. Lets on the serve were removed and are still out. Clarifications continue on drop serves and score calling. The core point remains the same: how many serves do you get in pickleball has not changed. You get one attempt per rally.
Before a tournament, scan the latest rulebook or the event’s player guide. Small changes in language can matter for appeals and replays.
Frequently Asked Questions of how many serves do you get in pickleball
Do I get a second serve like in tennis?
No. You get one serve attempt only. If you fault, your partner serves in doubles or the ball goes to your opponent in singles.
How many serves do you get in pickleball at the start of a doubles game?
Only one player on the first serving team serves at 0-0-2. After that, each team gets two servers per side out.
If my serve hits the net and goes in, do I replay it?
No. There are no service lets. If it lands in the correct service box after touching the net, play continues.
Does the serve have to clear the kitchen?
Yes. The serve must clear the non-volley zone and cannot land on the kitchen line. If it does, it is a fault.
What is the server number in doubles scoring?
It is either 1 or 2 and shows which partner is serving during that team’s turn. You call the score as server score, receiver score, server number.
How many serves do you get in pickleball singles versus doubles?
In both, you get one serve attempt per rally. The main difference is that doubles has two servers per team per side out after the first rally.
Can I switch to a drop serve if I am called for an illegal volley serve?
Yes. You may choose the drop serve at any time. It removes the upward arc, waist, and paddle-head restrictions.
Does the ball have to be dropped from a certain height on a drop serve?
No. You can drop it from any height, but you cannot toss or propel it. Let gravity do the work.
Conclusion
You now know how many serves do you get in pickleball and why it matters. You get a single serve attempt per rally, two servers per team in doubles after the first rally, and a simple, legal motion is key. Build a calm routine, aim deep, and use the drop serve if you need a safer option.
Take this to the court today. Track how many free points you gain by removing serve faults. Want more help? Subscribe for weekly drills, ask a question in the comments, or share this with your pickleball group.