The Screwball Serve: A Legal Weapon That Bends the Rules

There’s a serve in pickleball that gets more dirty looks than a lob at a tournament, and yet—it’s completely legal. Meet the screwball serve, a curving sidespin shot that baffles opponents and ignites comment sections. When executed correctly, it bends across the court in a way that disrupts timing, footwork, and decision-making. While it might look questionable to the untrained eye, the serve follows every rule in the book—upward swing, paddle below the wrist, ball below the waist. And once you see the ball veer into your opponent’s body or float deceptively wide, you’ll understand why it feels like cheating—without actually being cheating.

To make the screwball serve work, players need to adjust their grip to something near the continental, lower their toss, and strike the ball out in front while slicing across the body. The motion isn’t brute force—it’s finesse with a side of deception. Too much cut and the serve fizzles out or flies long. Too little, and it’s just a normal serve. The sweet spot lies in combining moderate power (around 35-37 mph) with the right curve to keep it deep and confusing. Aim it at an opponent’s forehand so it veers into their backhand, or exploit wide openings where the spin pulls it just out of reach. And yes, using a paddle with grit—preferably a T700 carbon face—helps tremendously.

But is it effective? For pros, maybe not. For the rest of us? It’s like serving a banana split with a side of vertigo. Against 4.5 players and below, this serve is a game-changer. It causes hesitation, mishits, and poor returns, making it a strategic gem in rec play and local tournaments. The only caveat? Don’t get cocky. Use it sparingly, disguise it smartly, and make sure you’re landing it consistently. Otherwise, the only thing curving will be your win streak—downward.