Play Pickleball. Connecting Players, Instructors, Courts, and Communities.

Morgan Evans Q&A: Returning the pickleball serve

Pickleball coach Morgan Evans answers your questions about returning the pickleball serve.

Morgan Evans

10/24/2024

Hero image

Question: When a ball is served, can either player in the receiving team return the ball?

Answer: No, once the serve is played only the player positioned diagonal from the server may play the return. If the other person plays the return, it will result in a fault and a point is awarded to the serving team.

Prior to the game starting, however, each team can decide which player will play on the right and left side of the court.

- Morgan Evans

Do you have a question for Morgan? Submit it here.

For more information on rules and positioning, especially during the serve and return of serve, please check out the above video.

Learn more about Morgan Evans and CoachME pickleball.

Latest Articles