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- EXPLAINED: Major League Pickleball’s Legal Overhead Serve (well, kinda)
EXPLAINED: Major League Pickleball’s Legal Overhead Serve (well, kinda)
PLUS: BMX vs. Pickleball: Santa Cruz’s Park Showdown & 9-year-old wishes for a pickleball signed by Ben Johns & gets a whole lot more
Good evening, picklers.
This is The Pickle Talk, the pickleball newsletter that hits harder than reaching the top of the Rocky stairs in Philly.  |  |
Here’s what’s on the docket today:
Pickle Talk: Major League Pickleball’s Legal Overhead Serve (well, kinda)
Bite-sized: BMX vs. Pickleball: Santa Cruz’s Park Showdown
Golden Pickle: 9-year-old wishes for a pickleball signed by Ben Johns & gets a whole lot more
PICKLE TALK
Major League Pickleball’s Legal Overhead Serve…well, kinda
Pickleball fans, you’ve been served. Literally.
The serve rules in Major League Pickleball (MLP) have been stealing the spotlight lately, especially since the showdown in New York City. Confusion reigned supreme as players (yes, even the pros!) seemed unclear on what was legal.
But don’t worry—we’ve got your back. Let’s break it down:
The 5 Commandments of the MLP Serve ✍️
1️⃣ Release it however you like—toss it, drop it, just make sure the release is visible to the ref.
2️⃣ Keep that paddle low—the highest point of the paddle head must be clearly below your wrist at contact. (This one’s new—stay tuned for the tea 🍵).
3️⃣ Swing it upwards—your serve must show an obvious upward arc at the point of contact.
4️⃣ Contact is fair game—hit the ball from anywhere on your body (above or below your waist). It’s all good now.
5️⃣ No challenges allowed—your serve is at the mercy of the ref’s judgment. Deal with it.
Rule No. 2: The Will Howells Rule
This one got a remix.
The old rule said your paddle had to be “at or below” your wrist upon contact. Now it must be “clearly below” to avoid any creative interpretations.
Why the change? Enter Will Howells. His borderline-legal serve at MLP NYC caused quite the stir. His New Jersey 5s team faced multiple challenges on his serves, leading to this updated language. Will might’ve been bending the rules, but hey—he bent them so much they broke.
Rule No. 4: Waistline Woes
Ever tried deciding where someone’s waist is mid-serve? It’s harder than you think. That’s why MLP ditched the waist-height restriction altogether.
The new rule? Contact the ball at any height. No more guessing games. 🎯
Rule No. 5: No More Serve Challenges
Six challenges over service faults were thrown down at MLP NYC. Now? Not a single one will fly.
This aligns MLP with the PPA’s guidelines: service fault calls rest entirely with the referee. If they call it, it sticks—no video reviews, no arguments.
So back to the original headline…are overhead serves legal now?
Well…yes and no. Here’s Shea Underwood showing us how it would be considered legal:
Not ideal. Not pretty. But if you are flexible, don’t mind potentially pulling a muscle, and have some good wrist action…
Try it out.
BITE-SIZED PICKLES to watch out for this week 👀
1/ 🚴♂️ BMX vs. Pickleball: Santa Cruz’s Park Showdown 🎾
Pickleball’s rise as America’s fastest-growing sport is running into resistance in Santa Cruz…but this time, it’s not with tennis players and millionaires. Now, it’s the friction is against BMX riders fighting to save their Depot Bike Park.
At a community meeting this week, BMX riders and frequent users of the BMX park showed up in force, urging the city not to replace their park with pickleball courts.
Why the pickleball push in Cali? Well…it’s a matter of supply and demand.
Pickleball is booming nationwide, with 3,000+ courts added in major U.S. cities since 2017, but Santa Cruz has been slow to catch up. Parks & Rec Director Tony Elliot called it “a key priority” and proposed Depot Bike Park as a potential site for four new courts.
BMXers Speak Out 💥
Here’s the thing. Depot Bike Park has been a BMX staple since 2009, but riders say it’s overdue for upgrades, not demolition and turned into something else.
• Andrew Clifton, a BMX advocate, stressed the need for beginner-friendly ramps so young riders don’t have to leave town to build skills. Fair enough.
• The city acknowledged the feedback and plans to improve the park if it stays.
Pickleballers Stay Patient
Mark Dettle, president of the Santa Cruz Pickleball Club, voiced support for keeping Depot Bike Park and suggested alternative locations, like:
1️⃣ San Lorenzo Park
2️⃣ Harvey West Park
3️⃣ UC Santa Cruz property
“This isn’t Pickleball vs. Bikes,” Dettle said, highlighting the importance of collaboration.
Room for Everyone? 🤝
Santa Cruz’s 50 parks and 1,800 acres give the city a rare chance to satisfy both sides. Unlike other cities grappling with pickleball turf wars, Santa Cruz aims to balance tradition with growth.
The decision is still up in the air, but for now, let’s hope collaboration—not conflict—leads the way.
2/🚨 Florida Bill Targets Pickleball, Golf, and More in State Parks
UPDATE TIME. Florida’s state parks might be heading back to their roots—nature over sports.
A new bill filed last Wednesday, SB 80, aims to ban golf courses, pickleball courts, tennis courts, and ball fields from state parks.
Dubbed the “State Park Preservation Act”, the bill, filed by Republican Sen. Gayle Harrell, focuses on keeping parks reserved for conservation-based activities like fishing, hiking, camping, birding, and canoeing.
So like…What’s the Deal?
This bill comes on the heels of an August controversy over state park expansion plans, which included adding golf courses, disc golf, and pickleball courts to several parks.
After public and bipartisan backlash, Governor Ron DeSantis hit pause on the plans.
Here are the key provisions of the bill 📜
1️⃣ No harmful construction: The Division of Recreation and Parks can’t authorize activities that cause “significant harm” to natural resources.
2️⃣ Public involvement: Updated land management plans will require public hearings and must be shared 30 days prior.
3️⃣ Advisory input: Land plans will need input from advisory groups to ensure community perspectives are included.
4️⃣ Stricter oversight: Leases, permits, and concessions will face new compliance rules.
If passed, the bill would take effect on July 1, 2025.
Why It Matters 🌿
Florida’s parks are a haven for nature lovers and one of the reason so many choose to visit and move there. But growing demand for recreational spaces has put pressure on these lands.
While pickleballers and golfers might lose out, supporters argue the bill keeps parks true to their conservation mission.
Gotta go with nature on this one.
GOLDEN PICKLE: Your must-clicks of the week
Just a few crumbs before you go…😉
1️⃣ Battle of the Season: Johns/Water vs Parenteau/Alshon at the CIBC PPA Finals👀
2️⃣ Rule UPDATE: The Banana Serve🍌 i.e. the new spin serve in pickleball. Watch & Learn
3️⃣ Snapshot in Time: 🤳🏽 Pickleball Christmas ornaments for all her pickleball pickleball friends
4️⃣ Wish Granted: 9-year-old wishes for a pickleball signed by Ben Johns & gets a whole lot more 🧞♂️
5️⃣ Miss the last Pickle Talk? Here’s what you missed 👇🏾
Pickle Talk: Pickleball Scam UPDATE : FBI Investigates $9M Scheme
Bite-sized: SpinPro: “Revolutionary” Must-Have or $300 Gimmick?
Golden Pickle: The NEW 2025 pickleball rules explained…powered by Pickleball Playbook
No pickle left unturned…
AND BOOM!
Just like that, another edition of The Pickle Talk has concluded.
Alright, now time for a WaWa run and a Philly cheesesteak. See ya!
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