Spin Serve Banned in Pickleball: What Changed
It’s finally happened… the dreaded spin serve, terror of amateurs everywhere, has been banned. The latest ruling from USA Pickleball banned the use of the one-handed pickleball spin serve (also called the snap serve or chainsaw serve) when it was announced in 2022, ahead of the 2023 rulebook. Check the current USA Pickleball rulebook, since the wording has been updated since.
This new rule about what makes a legal serve has big implications for the sport of pickleball — specifically the serve and return game.
So, what does this mean? Well, the rule changed how the serve and return game is played, and it was only one of several rule changes added for 2023.
Why Did USA Pickleball Ban the Spin Serve?
According to USA Pickleball's rule-change record, the reasons for the ban included:
- The serve is intended to start the rally, not to be a weapon.
- Unfortunately, most players can't execute it well, or return it expertly. Hitting a good spin serve also takes space and practice that not every player has.
- Only a select few have mastered it, which gives them a great advantage that's particularly difficult for amateurs to overcome.
So what exactly did they change?
The New Spin Serve Rule
The new spin serve rule reads as follows:
4.A.5 The Volley Serve. The server shall use only one hand to release the ball to perform the serve. While some natural rotation of the ball is expected during any release of the ball from the hand, the server shall not impart manipulation or spin on the release of the ball immediately prior to the serve. The server’s release of the ball must be visible to the referee and the receiver. If the referee determines that manipulation or spin has been imparted, or the release of the ball is not visible, the referee shall call for a reserve.In matches without a referee, the server’s release of the ball must be visible to the receiver. The server shall not impart manipulation or spin on the release of the ball immediately prior to the serve. If the receiver determines that manipulation or spin has been imparted, or the release of the ball is not visible, the receiver shall call for a reserve immediately after the serve occurs. Exception: A player who has the use of only one hand may use their hand or paddle to release the ball to perform the serve.
The Old Spin Serve Rule
Before this rule change, the spin serve rule read:
4.A.5 The Volley Serve. The server shall use only one hand to release the ball to perform the serve. If the ball is visibly spun by the server during the release, the part(s) of the hand contacting the ball must be bare. The server’s release of the ball must be visible to the referee and the receiver. In matches without a referee, the server’s release of the ball must be visible to the receiver.A replay shall be called before the return of serve if the release of the ball is not visible or if the referee (or receiver in non-officiated matches) cannot discern whether an item on the hand contacted a visibly spun ball. Exception: A player who has the use of only one hand may use their hand or paddle to release the ball to perform the serve.
Here's What It All Means
This is the most important section:
"While some natural rotation of the ball is expected during any release of the ball from the hand, the server shall not impart manipulation or spin on the release of the ball immediately prior to the serve."
Pickleball players looking for an edge used to snap their fingers to "toss" the ball up in the air with pre-serve spin. When hit in this fashion the ball will travel with alot of spin. This causes it to bounce left or right with lots of spin. This use to be legal
Mastering this pickleball serve makes it easy to conceal. The fast-spinning ball may cause massive movement. It gives the serving team a big advantage. This is devastating for the defending team. Some players reported losing games without being able to return the spin serve.
USA Pickleball's reasoning was that the serve was never supposed to give the server an outright advantage.
How Does This Affect a Normal Pickleball Game?
USA Pickleball has made clear that the serve is not meant to be a weapon with its restrictions on the chainsaw serve and the spin serve.
Serving doesn't mean you can't start the point creatively. If your opponents aren't returning your drops, try them. Serve topspin. You can still impart spin with your paddle.
The rule applies to spin put on the ball by the hand during the release. Spin you apply with the paddle is still legal.
What The Spin Serve Ban Means for Recreational Play
The spin serve restriction also lets more players of different skill levels play together.
In sports like tennis or table tennis, one player with a dominant serve can win many points outright. A hand-spin serve could do the same in pickleball.
Advanced pickleball players can control a match with top spin strokes, improved body mechanics, a better short game, a more consistent third shot, and more. However, high- and low-skilled players can play together and have fun. This pickleball rule adjustment improves the game for new players.
Other Rule Changes for 2023
It's not all spin serves. Multiple potential rule changes were up for discussion in 2022, and several were passed for the 2023 rulebook. Here's a quick rundown:
A New Twist on Wrong Score Calling
If a player said the wrong score before serving, the point would proceed and the score would be corrected afterward.
Here's the new rule:
If the wrong score is called, the referee or any player may stop play before the return of serve to correct the score. The rally shall be restarted with the correct score called.After the return of serve, play shall continue to the end of the rally and the score correction made before the next serve.After the return of serve, a player who stops play to identify or ask for a score correction will have committed a fault and shall lose the rally.A player who stops play to identify or ask for a score correction when the score was correctly called will have committed a fault and shall lose the rally.
A Quick Note About Clothing Color in Tournaments
Tournament directors can make players change their clothes if the color closely matches the ball.
A Few Other Small Rules Changes
There were a handful of other small rules changes and clarifications. Check out the new rules here.
What About ATPs and Ernes?
There was concern that fun maneuvers such as the Erne or the around-the-post shot (ATP) might also be banned.
Luckily for us flashy players, a proposed rule change to ban ATPs did not pass. According to USA Pickleball:
"An ATP, along with the frequent defense of an ATP, are some of the most exciting shots in pickleball. The team who has to defend an ATP has often made strategic errors that set up the ATP for the opponent. Why should their opponent be restricted from making a great shot at that point?"
As of 2023, banning the Erne had not been seriously proposed.
So for now we can continue to be flashy.
In Conclusion
Many players like this rule change because it makes the game more accessible for newer players and gives more rallies a chance to play out. Not everyone agrees, but it has been part of the rulebook ever since.
