https://usapickleball.org/docs/2025-USA-Pickleball-Rulebook.pdf

The serve shall be made with only one hand or the paddle releasing the ball. While some natural rotation of the ball is expected during any release of the ball, the server shall not impart 18 USA PICKLEBALL OFFICIAL RULEBOOK (2025) manipulation or spin on the ball with any part of the body or the paddle as a result of the release. Exception: The server may allow the ball to roll off the face of the paddle by gravity. The volley serve is made by striking the ball without bouncing the ball off the playing surface and can be made with either a forehand or backhand motion. A proper volley serve includes the following elements: The server’s arm must be moving in an upward arc at the time the ball is struck with the paddle. The highest point of the paddle head must not be above the highest part of the wrist (where the wrist joint bends) when the paddle strikes the ball. Contact with the ball must not be made above the waist. The drop serve is made by striking the ball after it bounces on the playing surface and can be made with either a forehand or backhand motion. There is no restriction how many times the ball can bounce nor where the 20 USA PICKLEBALL OFFICIAL RULEBOOK (2025) ball can bounce on the playing surface. A proper drop serve includes the following elements: The server must release the ball from one hand only or drop it off the paddle face from any natural (un-aided) height. When releasing the ball, the ball shall not be propelled in any direction or in any manner prior to striking the ball to make the serve.

Legal lines on a serve include all lines connected to the appropriate receiving service box except the kitchen lines. This includes far and side lines of that service box.

Both feet are to be completely free of the service box lines when delivering a serve. Both feet are also to be completely inside the imaginary extension of the sideline.

A hit must be in a continuous, single direction stroke.

The non-direct receiver may not interfere with the ball on a serve in any way. Any interference is considered a point to the serving team. This includes if the ball hits the NDR's body.

Hitting another player with the ball is legal on all plays. If a player is hit with a ball, it is the fault of the hit player.

If the ball cannot be clearly called "out," the ball is considered to be "in."

If a player/team returns the ball, the “out” call shall be made before the opponent hits the ball or the ball becomes dead.

A ball in play that is stopped by a player before it becomes dead (e.g., catching or stopping a ball in flight before it makes contact with the playing surface). The fault is on the player who stopped the ball.

If the referee or a player stops a rally in progress to correctly identify a player/position error, the rally shall be replayed. If a player stops a rally and incorrectly identifies a player/position error, it is a fault on the player who stopped the rally. If a player/position error is identified after the rally has played out, the rally shall stand.

https://equipment.usapickleball.org/paddle-list/

A player may stop a rally in progress to correct an error. If they are correct, the rally will be replayed. If they are incorrect they will lose the point.