The Serve Debate

Some say don't worry about the serve (that's because one pickleball theory is that the game doesn't begin until the third shot since the there must be a bounce on the return). Others say if you've got a good serve, use it as a weapon.

The serve itself has some odd rules. First,  "[t]he serve must be made with an underhand stroke so that contact with the ball is made below waist level," with the waist defined as your belly button. If that's not bad enough, the serve must be in an underhand motion, specifically, "[t]he 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)." In other words, no part of the paddle head (pretty much any part of the paddle head that has the typical plastic/rubber edge around it) may be higher than the wrist break.

In social games, there is probably a good number of illegal serves, not so much on the 'underhand motion,' but more so on hits coming above the navel, and players using some form of forehand or backhand, albeit still in an underhand motion. It's very difficult to tell as it happens so quickly, but logically a backhand or forehand stroke places the paddle head at an angle above the wrist. For the most part, you don't see much (or any advantage), so legality is rarely an issue (unless it is really flagrant and obvious).

So if you watch some videos, including tournament play, you'll notice a large mix of serves. A lot don't worry about a complicated or power serve. There's a good reason for this. There are no double faults in pickleball, so you don't have the opportunity to power one in, hit the net (or long), and then get another. If it's a fault, you pass the serve to your partner, or it's a side out.

If you want to develop a power serve, don't be dissuaded by the underhand rule (think women's fast pitch softball). Here's a video of Alex Hamner, from a number of angles, and in really slow motion (keep in mind that she's a player who has won lots of tournaments):

And here's another with Rob Elliot, again, another player who has won his share of hardware:

Hamner has the smoother motion, and likely a more 'legal' serve - it is pure underhand. Elliot snaps his more, and his paddle is at a bit of an angle. Even at slow speed, it is hard to tell, but in some parts of the video it appears as if that paddle head may be above the wrist break (a couple of the comments mention this).

If you are new player, don't try to develop your power serve (or spinning/slicing serves for that matter) during a game. The two people on the other side of the net will appreciate it (on my faults I hear a bunch of "Thank yous!"), but your partner may get more frustrated than you. Rather, get a bucket of balls and run some drills. Also, if you master some different serves (I would LOVE to get a consistent soft-angle serve, whereby if it's not an ace, the returner is way out of position), change it up occasionally. You're not the only the only one thinking about your game - others are keeping a mental book on you, and if you have a one-dimensional serve, the returner will begin to position himself accordingly (e.g., if you consistently serve the ball into the middle of the return box, you'll begin to see players creeping up over the baseline). 

So to put it all together, here's a final video on the three serves (and why you need them):