The differences between USA Pickleball, PPA, and MLP rules

Just like most sports, there are many differences between the recreational and professional rules in pickleball. If you are playing recreational pickleball, chances are you are following USAP pickleball rules. But the different professional leagues: PPA, MLP, and others have some slight variations in their rules.

USAP pickleball rules

The USA Pickleball (USAP) rulebook is the most comprehensive rulebook in pickleball. Because the sport is continually growing and changing, USA Pickleball adds new rules or changes their current rules up to two times a year.

Professional leagues like Major League Pickleball (MLP), the Professional Pickleball Association (PPA), and the Association of Pickleball Players use the USAP pickleball rules as their base of rules. But there are slight variations between the leagues.

For any rules not mentioned here, assume the leagues use the USA Pickleball rules.

PPA vs. MLP vs. USA Pickleball

The PPA uses exact USA Pickleball rules for their amateur events.
The PPA uses USA Pickleball rules, except any variations listed below.
The MLP uses USA Pickleball rules, except any variations listed below.

Differences between PPA, MLP, and USAP rules:

Scoring

USA Pickleball: A team only wins points when they serve and then win the rally (Rule 4.F.).

This is usually called “side-out scoring.”

Games are usually played to 11, but you must win by 2.

MLP: MLP uses rally scoring, where a team can score a point whether they served the ball or not.

Each of the first four games are played to 25 (win by 2), with a tiebreaker game played to 21 (win by 2).

You can only earn your winning point while serving.

Drop serves

USA Pickleball: Both volley serves and drop serves are allowed. A pickleball volley serve is when you hit the ball out of the air. A pickleball drop serve is when you let it bounce before you hit it (Rule 4.A.2.).
PPA: Only the volley serve is allowed.

If a player drop serves, it is not a fault. The referee will stop the play and require a volley serve.

Service lets and let shots

USA Pickleball: If a ball hits the net but lands in the correct area of the court it is a live ball and must be returned (Rule 4.A.8.).

During a serve, the ball must land in the crosscourt zone from the server, within the outer edges of the baseline, center line, and sideline, and outside the kitchen, including the kitchen line.

During the rally, the ball must land within the outer edges of the baseline and two sidelines.

PPA: If the ball hits the net, even if it lands in the correct area of the court, the serve will be redone. This is similar to professional tennis.

MLP: If the ball hits the net, even if it lands in the correct area of the court, the serve will be redone.

Volley serves

USA Pickleball: During a volley serve, you must hit the ball before it bounces off the playing surface (Rule 4.A.7.).

You can hit a volley serve with either a forehand or backhand motion.

The server’s arm must be moving in an upward arc at the time the ball hits the paddle.
The highest point of the paddle head must not be above the highest point of your wrist when the ball hits the paddle.

PPA: Although not an official rule yet, the PPA began testing a rule in 2024 regarding the drop serve. The new beta test says that professional pickleball players in the PPA may no longer toss the ball up to hit a volley serve.

Volley serves must be dropped from below the waist.

The ball cannot be tossed upward, only dropped.

The server’s palm must be facing downward toward the ground.

The ball must be released below the hip.

MLP: Players in the MLP mainly follow USA Pickleball serving rules (as long as it's a volley serve). Service faults include:

Highest point of the paddle head above the wrist when the paddle strikes the ball.

No upward arc in arm swing at the time the ball is struck with the paddle.

Server imparting spin on the ball during release.

Foot fault at the baseline or the imaginary extension of the centerline or sidelines.

Both feet off the ground at moment of service and serving while the score is being called.

Challenging a serve

USA Pickleball: In amateur pickleball games, you are not allowed to challenge the legality of your opponent’s serve.
PPA: A player may challenge their opponent’s serve.

The challenge must be done before the third shot of the rally is hit.

The player who challenged the serve may be penalized if they are wrong.

MLP: A referee can call a replay on a service fault.

Each player is allowed one challenge/replay per game for a service violation.

Switching sides with your partner

USA Pickleball: Partners will switch sides (left to right, right to left) after their team scores a point. The server will be serving from a different side after each point.

The players on the non-serving team do not switch sides with their partner after each rally.

PPA: In doubles play, there will be a right side player and a left side player for each game. Players do not switch sides.

The right side player will server when their team’s score is even and receive when their opponent’s score is even.

The left side player will serve when their teams’ score is even and receive when their opponent’s score is odd.

Partners may choose to switch sides during a time out, but they must inform the referee.

Line calls

USA Pickleball: Players are responsible for calling balls “in” or “out” on their side of the net, except service foot faults, short serves, and non-volley zone faults (Rule 6.C.).

If two partners disagree on whether a ball is “in” or “out,” the ball shall be considered “in.”

If a player makes an initial line call, and then asks for the opinion of their opponent, if the opponent can make a clear “in” or “out” call, the opponent’s call will stand.

If no clear call can be made, the initial line call by the player will stand.

Spectators should never be consulted for any line call.

MLP: Players must call a ball “out” before the ball is hit by their opponent or the ball becomes dead.

Players and team representatives are not allowed to call line calls during a live rally.

If a player on court did not see where a rally-ending ball landed, players or team representatives are then allowed to make an “out” call after the ball is dead.

In this situation, a player on court needs to confirm the “out” call.

If the players on court or sideline do not make an “out” call, the ball is considered “in.”