By Mark Peifer, USA Pickleball Certified Referee; Past Chairman, USA Pickleball Rules Committee
QUESTION: I watch some pros on TV. If a serve hits the top of the net and lands in the correct box, they don’t play it; they re-serve. I asked my instructor why that was the case and was told those are ‘let serves’ and only used in the pro game on only two of the pro tours. He also told me that was how everyone played until it was changed in 2021. My friends and I only started playing in 2021, so we don’t know the ‘old way’ and have no problem with the rule, but I’m curious. Why did the rule change?
ANSWER: The rule changed for two main and related reasons. Over the last five years, the USA Pickleball Rules Committee has concentrated on removing ambiguously worded rules and those that could cause conflict between players and referees. Your question highlights one of those types of changes:
A. By playing any serve that lands in the correct box, disagreements between players on whether or not the ball hit the top of the net ever so slightly are eliminated. It’s an uncomfortable reality to mention here, but with the rule change, there’s no longer an opportunity for a receiver to claim a ‘let’ and force a replay when it didn’t happen. Before the change? They could claim a let with impunity. Many will find it interesting that this is why all levels of NCAA tennis adopted the same rule. Simply put, there are no more ‘phantom’ lets that result in a replay. Was this a big issue in pickleball? No. But, did it happen? Yes. It was a ‘loophole’ that was closed with the change.
B. Second, by playing any serve that lands in the correct box, similar conflicts between players and referees are eliminated. Previously, a receiver could claim a let, but it would only be granted upon the referee’s confirmation. Similarly, the referee could call a let and re-serve if they believed the ball hit the top of the net. Although such incidents were infrequent, disagreements between servers and referees occurred. However, those types of conflicts were also resolved with the rule change.
We have four full years to reflect on this rule change. While at the time the change was controversial, what do four years tell us? Several things:
1. The players have adapted to the change. Millions of players have come into pickleball and know no other way of playing serves that hit the net and fall into the correct box.
2. The integrity of the game is enhanced because there are no more opportunities for inaccurate (intentional or otherwise) ‘let’ serve calls.
3. Conflicts or arguments over whether a ball hit the net have been eliminated, both player to player and player to referees, as designed.
4. The outcry at the time that this change would lead to a massive increase in pulled hamstrings never materialized. That argument was weak at best since players often had to run farther to play a ball that hit the top of the net after the serve and barely landed in the non-volley zone.
5. The thought that this would give servers an advantage was debunked. If anything, the receiver gets the advantage of position because now, if the serve hits the top of the net and lands short in the correct box, they are often closer to the NVZ sooner than they would otherwise be.
One final thought on this: the USA Pickleball Rules Committee is responsible for looking to the future and ensuring that the rules are prepared for changes in the game. Five years ago, we were just starting to see tournaments with prize money, even in some amateur (Money Ball type) tournaments. However, the Rules Committee anticipated those changes. While one can debate the impact of ‘let serves,’ no one can deny that money and high stakes can influence player behavior, whether intentionally or not. This was a key factor in the decision made in 2021. In other words, the higher the stakes, the more unreliable player judgment calls become. It’s a facet of human behavior that is hard to refute, but the Rules Committee had to adapt to it. Additionally, in 2021, the Rules Committee modified the criterion for line calls for similar reasons; to reduce player conflicts on line calls by offering a more objective way to determine if a ball is ‘out.’
