2025 USA Pickleball approved rule changes are out, and there are some important ones that will affect the rec pickleball game.
The most important 2025 pickleball rule changes.
Read the full 2025 USA Pickleball Rulebook.
The pickleball serve will be changing, although not in a big way. Here are the serving rules changes for 2025:
Rule 4.A.5. Pickleball serving
The 2024 serving rule says that “the serve shall be made with only one hand releasing the ball.”
In 2025, you will also be able to release the ball with your pickleball paddle.
You are still not allowed to impart spin on the ball, either from your hand or your paddle.
If you prefer the drop serve, you may allow the ball to roll off the face of the paddle (by gravity only).
Reasoning behind the change to the pickleball serve rule:
USA Pickleball explained the rule change by saying: “By clarifying in the first sentence of the rule that either the hand or the paddle may be used to release the ball for a serve, all of the exceptions can be removed, since they are no longer exceptions. Also clarifies that spin/manipulation can not be imparted as a result of the release, eliminating existing confusion as to whether spin can be imparted to the ball as a result of the serve itself.”