From behind the baseline on the correct side, serving diagonally crosscourt.
If you want to play smarter and cut faults, you need to know where do you serve from in pickleball. I coach new and seasoned players, and this single rule set changes games fast. Stick with me. I will show you exactly where to stand, how to line up, and what to avoid, so you never wonder again where do you serve from in pickleball.
Where Do You Serve From in Pickleball? The Basics
In pickleball, you serve from behind the baseline. Your feet must stay behind the line at contact. You stand on the correct side—right or left—based on the score and the rotation. Then you hit the ball diagonally into the opposite service box.
Here is the simple rule I teach:
- Start on the right side to open every service turn in doubles.
- In singles, serve from the right when your score is even, left when odd.
- Your feet must be behind the baseline and within the sideline and centerline extensions.
- The ball must land beyond the non-volley zone line (the kitchen line) in the opposite service box.
When people ask me where do you serve from in pickleball, I say: behind the baseline, correct side, and within the imaginary lane between the centerline and sideline. If you check those three boxes, you are set on most points.
Court Zones and Lines Explained
Think of the court like a grid. The baseline runs along the back. The centerline splits the service courts. The sidelines mark the outer edges. The non-volley zone (the kitchen) is the 7-foot area by the net.
For the serve:
- You must stand behind the baseline.
- You cannot stand outside the sideline extension.
- You cannot cross the centerline extension.
- Your serve must travel crosscourt and land past the kitchen line.
This is why where do you serve from in pickleball depends on the side of the court and those “invisible” line extensions. Picture two lanes behind the baseline. You can only serve from the lane that lines up with your proper side.
Serving Rules and Faults You Must Know
Official rules are clear and help cut disputes on court. According to the rulebook:
- Feet: Do not touch the baseline or the court before contact. At least one foot must be on the ground behind the baseline.
- Contact: For a traditional serve, hit the ball below your waist, with the paddle below your wrist, upward arc.
- Drop serve: You may drop the ball and hit it after the bounce. No tossing upward or pushing the ball down.
- Net-cord: If your serve hits the net but still lands in, play on. There are no lets.
- Target: Serve must land in the opposite service court beyond the kitchen line. The kitchen line on a serve is out.
Common serving faults:
- Foot on the baseline or inside the court at contact.
- Serve lands short or on the kitchen line.
- Serve lands in the wrong box (not diagonal).
- Standing outside the sideline or centerline extensions.
Learning where do you serve from in pickleball means fewer easy faults and more pressure on your opponent from ball one.
Proper Footwork and Positioning on the Serve
Set your feet first. I like to square my lead foot so my toes point toward the target box. My back foot sits parallel to the baseline for balance. This keeps me behind the line and stable.
Try this setup:
- Stand a shoe-length behind the baseline to avoid foot faults.
- Line your body with the diagonal corner you aim for.
- Keep both feet quiet during the swing. Step in only after contact.
If you wonder where do you serve from in pickleball on each rally, build a pre-serve routine. Look down at your feet, check the score, confirm the side, then serve. It takes two seconds and saves points.
Types of Serves and When to Use Them
You can serve underhand or use a drop serve. Both must honor the same spot rules. Pick the one that fits your style.
Good options:
- Deep, flat serve: Pushes the returner back. Best default serve.
- Slice serve: Curves to the sideline. Great to a backhand.
- Topspin roll: Kicks up at the shoulder. Use to rush a short returner.
- Body serve: Aim at the chest or hip. Jams the opponent.
- Lob serve: Rare but useful if the returner crowds the line.
No matter the style, where do you serve from in pickleball stays the same: behind the baseline in the correct lane. Master spot first, then add spin and pace.
Strategy: Where to Aim and Why
Your target matters as much as your stance. Aim deep and near the corners. Make the returner move and hit up. This sets your team for a stronger third shot.
Try these patterns:
- Deep to backhand: Most miss-hit here. High win rate.
- Body serve: Great against tall or slow-foot players.
- Middle serve: Creates confusion in doubles.
- Wide serve: Opens the court for your third shot down the line.
Still asking where do you serve from in pickleball on tricky rotations? Use stacking sheets or simple cues. Right side equals even. Left side equals odd. Then pick a target that fits your plan.
Common Mistakes and How to Fix Them
I see the same errors over and over in clinics.
Top mistakes:
- Standing on the baseline. Fix: Place a marker two shoe-lengths back.
- Rushing the score call. Fix: Say the score, take one breath, then serve.
- Aiming too short. Fix: Pick a deep target two feet inside the baseline.
- Forgetting the side. Fix: Even score, even side. Odd score, odd side.
- Serving from outside the lane. Fix: Toe the centerline or sideline with a safe gap.
When players ask where do you serve from in pickleball before each rally, it often means the routine is missing. Build the habit. The doubt will fade.
Drills to Master the Serve Position
You can train spot and form in 10 minutes a day.
Simple drills:
- Chalk box drill: Draw a 3×3 foot square in the deep corner. Hit 20 balls into it.
- Lane check drill: Place two cones on the baseline to mark your legal lane. Serve 25 from each side.
- Deep-only drill: Serve and call “deep” before contact. If it lands short, redo.
- Foot freeze drill: Record your feet at contact. Check for line touches.
- Drop serve ladder: Practice drop serves with slow, medium, and fast pace.
Make a note after each set: where do you serve from in pickleball when the score is odd or even, and which target gave you more misses. Track and adjust.
Frequently Asked Questions of where do you serve from in pickleball
Where do I stand to start the game in doubles?
Start on the right side of the court, behind the baseline, and serve diagonally. Only one server from the first team serves in the opening rotation.
In singles, how do I know which side to serve from?
Use your score. Even score means serve from the right. Odd score means serve from the left.
Can I step on the baseline when I serve?
No. Your feet cannot touch the baseline or the court at contact. Stay a shoe-length behind to be safe.
Does a serve that hits the net and lands in count?
Yes. Net-cord serves that land in the correct box are live. There are no let serves.
Does the serve have to clear the kitchen line?
Yes. The serve must land beyond the kitchen line. If it lands on the kitchen line, it is a fault.
Can I serve from the middle of the baseline?
Yes, as long as you are within your side’s lane between the centerline and the sideline. You still must serve diagonally.
What is the drop serve and where can I hit it from?
You can drop the ball and hit it after it bounces, from behind the baseline within your lane. The same side and target rules apply.
Conclusion
Serving well starts with location. Stand behind the baseline, in the right lane, and send the ball crosscourt deep. When you lock in where do you serve from in pickleball, you swing freer and win more easy points. Build a quick routine, aim with purpose, and let the rest of your game grow from there.
Ready to level up? Put these steps into a 10-minute serve routine this week. Share your progress or questions in the comments, and subscribe for more simple, court-tested tips.