Rules Refresh Q&A – Drop Serve

By Mark Peifer, USA Pickleball Certified Referee; Past Chairman, USA Pickleball Rules Committee

QUESTION: The server in a match I played in lined up behind the right-hand box. They were the ‘even’ player and performed the drop serve. However, the server dropped the ball inside the opposite (the odd side) box to their left, otherwise known as their partner’s box. After the ball bounced, they served it with their feet in the proper position(s) behind their box. It looked odd, but is there anything wrong with this serve? 

ANSWER: No. Everything you described is legal and per Rules 4.A.4 and 4.A.8, especially this statement from Rule 4.A.8: “There is no restriction how many times the ball can bounce nor where the ball can bounce on the playing surface.”