The Professional Pickleball Association will not be adopting the following rule changes for professional play at this time:
- The Drop Serve. Rule: 4A8
- COVID Serve or Paddle Swipe Serves. Rule: 7N (we will use 2020 rule: 7.O)
- Let Serves. (2020 Rule 4.O “Let Serves” will be reinstated)
**THIS IS ONLY FOR PROFESSIONAL & SENIOR PROFESSIONAL MATCHES.
We will be doing our due diligence to study, observe and test the 2021 rule changes before they are implemented at the professional level.
We are hitting “pause” so to speak before moving forward.
We have researched to ensure that we are in compliance with the rulebook in using flexibility in implementing these changes.
**ALL AMATEUR/NON-PRO BRACKETS WILL FOLLOW ALL CURRENT 2021 RULES AND IMPLEMENT ALL 2021 CHANGES.
If you have any comments, questions or concerns please reach out to the PPA’s head referee Don Stanley [email protected]
I think PPA is missing an opportunity on the drop serve. I’m disappointed.
When I (and many people like me) watch top level professional tennis, one of the stars of the game are the amazing serves the top pros make. It’s part of the draw. Does anyone see pickleball being seen as a serious spectator sport with underhand serves with multiple difficult to enforce rule restrictions to attempt to make sure the serve is non-threatening. This also results in “big controversies” about some pro players serves not being legal.
Some of the serves we’ve seen by skilled players using the drop serve are pretty exciting. In the hands of top pros, it could make watching the PPA matches more exciting. More exciting would = more $. And, simple rules eliminates controversies.
If the APP does not follow suit, it could get very interesting.
Thanks for reading my feedback.
Greetings!
Is there a PPA rulebook available? I’m interested in differences (besides serving) especially regarding tournament apparel.
Thanks!
Liam