PPA’s Latest Serve Rule: In an email to players ahead of the upcoming Atlanta Slam (Sept. 9-15), the Professional Pickleball Association (PPA) Tour disclosed its latest set of provisional rules, with the focus yet again on the serve. The ongoing debate over service legality has been at the center of attention, especially after the controversial men’s doubles final at the PPA Tour Las Vegas Cup, where Dekel Bar and Zane Navratil faced Andrei Daescu and Gabe Tardio. The match was riddled with service do-overs and faults, leading to confusion for fans and prompting a further examination of serving techniques.
This announcement comes on the heels of a video showing the PPA experimenting with service lines and growing discussions about whether the serve should be “de-weaponized.” Despite these steps, it seems the pickleball community is still far from a consensus on what constitutes a legal serve.
Provisional Serve Rule of Pickleball
As outlined in the email dated Sept. 7, 2024, the new provisional rule will undergo a 60-day evaluation period. Afterward, officials will decide whether to alter, abolish, or implement it permanently. The provisional rule includes the following changes:
- The ball must be released downward from the waist area.
- A slight, natural lift of up to one ball length is allowed, but tossing the ball upward is prohibited.
- The serve must be underhand, with the paddle moving from low to high at a 45-degree angle or less.
- Violations, such as tossing the ball too high or an improper paddle motion, will first result in a service warning and a re-serve. Each player is allowed one warning per match, and subsequent violations will lead to a fault.
Zane Navratil, co-host of PicklePod, quickly reacted on X (formerly Twitter), sharing his thoughts on the new rules.
Player and Fan Reactions
Following The Dink’s Instagram post about the provisional rule, comments poured in from pickleball enthusiasts. Most, like the user dinkdifferentpickleball, expressed concerns, while others suggested adopting a drop serve to resolve the issue.
Despite the uproar, many questioned whether there was truly a problem with the current serving regulations.
I can’t wait to watch @PPAtour referees attempt to enforce “up to one ball length” of “natural lift” and “around 45 degrees or less” on the serve. @Pickleball pic.twitter.com/SuNIi3wqim
— Zane Navratil (@ZaneNavratil) September 7, 2024
A Year of Service Rule Changes
This provisional rule marks the third time in 2024 that the PPA Tour has revised its service regulations.
Service Rule Change No. 1:
Before the 2024 PPA Masters in January, the first significant adjustment occurred. Don Stanley, Director of Officiating for the PPA, explained that the rule aimed to reduce the serve’s dominance. He stated,
“The driving force behind this rule change is to make the serve less of a weapon.” – (Don Stanley)
Service Rule Change No. 2:
Shortly after, the PPA reverted to USA Pickleball’s original serving rules for the PPA Kansas City tournament, allowing players to lift or toss the ball once again. This sudden shift marked the second rule change of the year.
The ‘Dekel Bar’ Rule
Now, with the latest provisional rule, dubbed the ‘Dekel Bar Rule’ by Navratil, the PPA has made it clear that the service controversy is far from over. The chaotic men’s final in Las Vegas likely contributed to this new implementation, reflecting the growing complexity surrounding serves in professional pickleball.
News in Brief: PPA’s Latest Serve Rule
The PPA Tour has introduced a provisional serve rule ahead of the Atlanta Slam (Sept. 9-15). The rule, under review for 60 days, mandates that the ball must be released downward from the waist with a low-to-high paddle motion. Players are allowed one service warning per match, after which violations result in faults.
This marks the third revision of serve regulations in 2024, reflecting the ongoing debate about whether serves should be “de-weaponized.” The rule’s impact will be evaluated before a decision is made to modify or implement it permanently.
ALSO READ: Zane Navratil on Pickleball’s New Rule: Balancing Precision and Interpretation on the PPA Tour
