There are various lines in a pickleball court, and when making the serve, you have to be wary of them. So, can a pickleball serve hit the line?

In pickleball, your serve is everything. It's your opportunity to get the point started on your own terms and set the tone for the rally. But can that serve actually hit the line? Or is it just out of bounds?

There are different lines in pickleball, and the rules are different for a serve hitting each of them. The serve can not hit the baseline, sideline, and centerline. It can also not hit the kitchen line. The serve has to clearly fall past the kitchen line and into the serving area to be counted as a fair serve.

Besides hitting the line, you must follow several serve rules to start the game with an advantage. These include placing both your feet behind the baseline when serving, serving into the diagonally opposite court, serving with an underhand, bouncing the ball before serving, and more.

As pickleball enthusiasts, we know all about the serve rules, including the serve hitting the lines. We have put together this guide to help pickleball players understand whether their serves can hit the lines.

The Four Lines of a Pickleball Court

Before we talk about whether the serve can hit the line in pickleball, it is vital to understand the different lines of the pickleball court.

Kitchen Line

In pickleball, the kitchen line is a non-volley zone that extends even feet from the net on either side. This area is sometimes referred to as the no-volley zone or the seven-foot line. The kitchen line is a critical part of the game, as it encourages players to keep the rallies going by discouraging them from shooting volleys directly into the opponent's court. As a result, players must carefully consider their shots near the kitchen line, as any errant shot can quickly turn into a point for the other team.

With that said, the kitchen line can also be used to your advantage, as you can use it to force your opponents into making mistakes. Overall, the kitchen line is an important part of pickleball that can help to make the game more exciting and challenging.

Baseline

The baseline in pickleball is the line that runs across the back of the court and is located behind the service line. These are the horizontal boundaries of the court, measuring 20 feet wide, 15 feet from the kitchen line, and 22 feet from the net.

The baseline determines serving order. The player who serves first must stand behind the baseline, and the player who receives must stand before the baseline.

The baseline is also used as a boundary line when serving, and the ball must land within the boundaries of the court for it to be considered a legal serve. When returning a serve, the ball must also land within the boundaries of the court for it to be considered a legal return. If the ball lands outside of these boundaries, it will be considered out of bounds, and a point will be awarded to the other player. The baseline is an important part of pickleball, and knowing how to use it can give you an advantage over your opponents.

Sideline

The sideline in pickleball is an important part of the game, and understanding how it works can give you a big advantage. These are vertical boundaries of the court and go across the court from one side to the other. The sideline connects to the baseline on each side of the court and measures 44 feet.

It is used to determine if the ball is in or out. If the ball hits the line, it is considered in. If it hits outside of the line, it is considered out. The sideline is also used to determine service orders.

Centerline

The centerline is one of the most important lines in pickleball. It is located halfway between the baseline and the net, dividing the court into two halves. The two halves are called the right and left service areas.

The centerline is used to determine where the serve will fall as the serving player has to make the serve into the diagonally opposite side of the service area.

Can You Hit the Kitchen Line When Serving in Pickleball?

You'll get a fault for hitting the ball on your service side if it hits either kitchen line or goes into their court. If this happens, there's no option but to re-spike (having another person serve) because allocation has been made.

You used to get away with grazing before landing inside their own territory (known as let) but not anymore- now all shots are legal if taken from behind doubles lines or outside them altogether (but never more than six feet).

Can You Hit the Baseline When Serving in Pickleball?

The baseline is used as a boundary line; if a player hits the ball into the baseline, it is considered out. When serving, a player must hit the ball over the net and into their opponent's half of the court. If the ball hits the baseline on their opponent's side, it is considered a fault, and the player loses the point. However, there are some situations in which a ball can hit the baseline on your side and still be considered.

It creates a more fair game. If you could just hit the ball anywhere on the court, servers would always have an advantage. This way, they have to put the ball into play like everyone else.

Can You Hit the Sideline When Serving in Pickleball?

It's against the rules to hit the sidelines when serving in pickleball. The serve must be made diagonally, crossing into the opponent's court. If the ball hits the sideline, it's considered a fault.

There are a few reasons why serving on the sidelines is not allowed. First, it gives the serving team an unfair advantage. They would effectively have two chances to win the point, while the other team would only have one. Second, it's not very challenging for the opponents. They would probably just let the ball bounce off the sideline and return it easily.

So, when you're serving in pickleball, aim for the middle of your opponent's court. You'll stay within the rules and give yourself the best chance to win the point!

Can You Hit the Centerline When Serving in Pickleball?

In the game of pickleball, there are a few rules that players must follow when serving. One of these rules is that the ball must not touch the centerline on the court. If it does, the serve is considered invalid, and the point is awarded to the other team.

However, there is some debate among players as to whether or not this rule should be enforced. Some players argue that hitting the center line does not give the server advantage and that it should be allowed. Others argue that it gives the server an unfair advantage, as it can make it difficult for the returner to reach the ball. Ultimately, it is up to the pickleball governing body to decide whether or not this rule should be enforced.

What are Line Calls in Pickleball and Who Calls It?

When playing pickleball, line calls are an important part of the game. They help keep the game fair and ensure that everyone is playing by the rules. Line calls can be made by either the player or the referee, and they are used to indicate whether a ball is in or out of bounds.

There are a few different line calls that can be made in pickleball. The most common type is the baseline call, which determines if a ball has gone out of bounds on the court's edges. Baseline calls can also be used to determine if a ball has hit the net and any other objects on or near the court.

Another type of line call is the service line call. This determines if a ball has gone out of bounds on the serve. Service line calls can also determine if a ball has hit the net or any other objects that may be on or near the court.

The last type of line call is the non-volley zone line call. This is used to determine if a ball has gone out of bounds in the non-volley zone. Non-volley zone line calls can also be used to determine if a ball has hit the net or any other objects on or near the court.

Line calls are an important part of pickleball, and they help to keep the game fair and ensure that everyone is playing by the rules. When making line calls, it is important to be clear and concise so that everyone knows what is happening.

These rules are from the official rulebook of the USA Pickleball Association. Check it out before heading into your new pickleball game for more information.

Other Pickleball Serve Rules You Should Know

There are a few key rules to keep in mind when serving in pickleball. First, the ball must be hit below the waist. Second, the serve must be made diagonally across the court - meaning that if you're serving from the right side of the court, your ball must land in the left service box on your opponent's side. Finally, you are not allowed to double bounce the ball - meaning that you can only bounce it once before hitting it over the net. Violating any of these rules results in a fault and loss of serve.

Now that you know the basic pickleball serve rules get out there and start playing!