Shots & strokes
Serve
The shot that puts the ball in play. Must be hit underhand, below the waist, and land diagonally in the receiver's service court.
The pickleball serve is underhand: the paddle must contact the ball below the waist, with an upward swing path. The ball must land diagonally in the opponent's service court (past the kitchen).
Drop serves (legal since 2021) allow the server to drop the ball and hit it after the bounce, eliminating the underhand swing requirement. Most pro players use the drop serve for the spin freedom.
Related terms
Return
The shot that responds to the serve. Almost always hit deep to push the serving team away from the kitchen line.
Double-bounce rule
The serve and the return must each bounce before being struck. After that, players may volley.
Slice
Backwards rotation imparted to the ball by brushing under it — makes the ball float and stay low after the bounce.