MLP Serving Rules Update: Major League Pickleball announced new rule changes on Wednesday ahead of this week’s MLP Columbus event at Ohio State. The updates impact how players serve, the use of on-site alternates, and team bench positions during matches, aiming to improve fairness and consistency.
Service Rule Aligned with PPA Standards
MLP will now use the same serving rules as the PPA. This change follows confusion over how previous rules were enforced. The updated guidelines now say, The release of the ball must be no higher than the top of the hip bone. The ball can travel upward after release, but only equal to one (1) height of the ball itself. The swing of the paddle must be more ‘South to North than East to West’. A CLEARLY low to high swing of the paddle is required.
Earlier in the season at MLP Orlando, players used a new serve that allowed higher tosses and harder hits. However, it caused uneven enforcement across matches. The return to stricter rules is meant to fix this problem.
What are your thoughts on the new MLP serve rule? pic.twitter.com/dLfetf0b9P
— Christian Alshon (@TweenerKing) April 29, 2025
Penalties for On-Site Alternates
Teams at the Premier level must now bring their full roster to events. If a team uses an on-site alternate, it will lose one point in each doubles game the alternate plays.
This rule comes after the Los Angeles Mad Drops used AJ Koller as an on-site alternate to replace Hunter Johnson in Orlando. Although the team had Wes Burrows as their third male player, he was not present at the event. Koller played in three matches.
Now, Premier level teams have six roster spots, allowing them to plan better for injuries. If they don’t use a player from their own roster and instead call in an on-site alternate, they will start those doubles games trailing 0-1.
No More Switching Team Benches
Teams will no longer switch benches during matches. In past events, bench switching was common between games. Now, teams will stay on the same side for the entire match.
This change may help reduce sideline disputes, such as the one between the St. Louis Shock and the New Jersey 5s. Whether this update has the intended effect will become clearer as the weekend’s matches unfold at Pickle & Chill.
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Changes Aim to Streamline Play and Prevent Issues
These new rules are designed to make the game clearer and fairer for all. Aligning serve rules with the PPA ensures better consistency. Penalties for using on-site alternates encourage full roster travel and planning. Keeping teams on the same bench helps maintain order on the sidelines.
All eyes will be on MLP Columbus to see how well the changes work in real matches. With the first games starting Thursday, players and fans alike will soon get a feel for the new standards in action.
News in Brief: MLP Serving Rules Update
Major League Pickleball updated rules on serving, team benches, and alternates ahead of MLP Columbus. Serves now match PPA standards. Premier teams will lose points if they use on-site alternates. Teams must also stay on the same bench. The updates aim to increase fairness and avoid past issues.
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