Speaking The Language: What is a Let in Pickleball?

TL;DR: What is a Let in Pickleball?

• A let is a redo of a point or serve in sports like tennis.
• Pickleball previously had lets on serves as well, but they were removed in 2021. Some tournament formats still replay let serves, but most rec play has changed.
• Now, a serve hitting the net and landing inbounds is live.
• This rule change speeds up play and reduces confusion.

While pickleball can appear similar to other games using rackets and paddles, our favorite sport has its own unique rules. The basic idea of using rackets or paddles to hit a ball back and forth between opponents is the same across many games, but that’s often where the similarities end.

Case in point: The let in pickleball. While sports like tennis and badminton have specific rules related to lets, pickleball does not. Or to be a little more specific, pickleball no longer has rules related to a let.

So, what is a let in pickleball? Why did the rules change to remove the let? And how does that affect the way we all play the game?

Let’s take a closer look.

What is a Let? And Are There Lets in Pickleball?

Across several racket and paddle sports, a let generally refers to a redo or replay. For example, lets happen in tennis when:

• The ball strikes the top of the net on a serve but lands in the correct area of the court and would otherwise be a playable ball.
• A distraction (such as a ball from another game entering the court) occurs.
• The player receiving the serve is legitimately not prepared to return the ball.

In these cases, the serve or point is considered to have never happened. In other words, there’s no penalty for a let and the score does not change.

This example helps us understand the previous role of lets in pickleball. Up until a rule change in 2021 by USA Pickleball, lets were part of the game. They occurred when a served ball contacted the top of the net before landing in the correct receiving court on the opponent’s side.

When pickleball let serve happened before these rule changes, the result was a redo of the serve. It was neither a point for the serving team nor a service fault that moved the ball to the second server or to the opposing player or team.

When a let serve in pickleball happened before the 2021 rule changes went into effect, it was as if the serve never happened. In theory, a let in pickleball could happen over and over again until the serving player cleanly served the ball over the net. In practice, lets were (and are) relatively rare, and they didn’t cause major delays or frustration.

How do the Current Rules Affect Lets in Pickleball?

After USA Pickleball changed the rules in pickleball related to lets, serves that hit the net no longer resulted in a stoppage of play or a redo of the serve.

Now, when the ball hits the net, play continues as long as the ball lands within the correct service court. As a player, you should be ready for a serve that touches or brushes the top of the net and may reach your receiving court with reduced momentum.

It’s important to note that, whether or not a ball hits the top of the net, other rules still apply. If the ball touches the top of the net and lands outside of the designated receiving court, that’s a service fault. Because contact with the net is legal, it doesn’t impact whether or not a fault occurs.

While current players tend to be comfortable with the current rules (or lack thereof) related to lets, they can be a source of confusion for those who haven’t played much since the rule change.

The good news is that the rule change is simple: Lets in pickleball are no longer a factor that affects the game. A let serve is legal and doesn’t result in a stop in play. A let happening or not happening does not influence other rules or the course of the game overall.

In Conclusion: Lets in Pickleball

Simple and effective rules are part of what makes pickleball such a fun and exciting game. Sure, side-out scoring can take a little getting used to, but the idea that only the serving team can score points is pretty easy to understand.

With lets in pickleball, removing them from the game has made things a little easier to understand, too. There are no sudden pauses in play or re-serves when the ball brushes the top of the net. That means more active time on the court and faster games, too.

Get on the Court!

Now that you have a deeper understanding of the rules of pickleball, find a court near you and start playing!