10 Pro Pickleball Rule Changes Needed Right Now

Pickleball has come a long way since I first picked up a paddle in 2013. What started as a casual game for older adults has grown into a fast-paced, professional sport.

The game is evolving, but there are several key pickleball rule changes I believe we need to make to continue its growth, especially as it eyes the collegiate and Olympic levels. Some of my ideas are simple, others are more theoretical, but all of them are designed to make pickleball even better.

Let's assume for a moment that I have the power to snap my fingers and make these changes happen. While there are plenty of practical and administrative issues, let's focus on the changes I believe would benefit the sport, regardless of the hurdles.

1. Let Rule: Gone

It's time to get rid of the let rule. Tennis eliminated it in college, and honestly, pickleball should follow suit in the pro game as well. The let rule adds nothing to pickleball. In fact, it often slows down the pace of the game for no good reason.

USAP already removed it, so it seems like a no-brainer to eliminate it from the pro circuit as well, making this one of the easiest pro pickleball rules to enact. If anyone has a compelling reason to keep it, I'm all ears, but I'm not convinced it serves the sport.

2. Side Switching: Let's Make It Fairer

Wind plays a huge role in pickleball. Depending on the conditions, the side you play on can give you a major advantage. At the pro level, teams often choose to start on the "bad" side so they can end the match on the "good" side in case the game goes to a third set. For men's doubles, playing against the wind can be advantageous because it allows players to hit their shots harder, while the wind helps keep the ball in play. On the women's side, the wind can push the ball toward opponents, enhancing power during fast exchanges.

To reduce the impact of wind, I suggest switching sides not only at 6 in game 3 but also halfway through games 1 and 2.

Ideally, pickleball would follow tennis’ example where sides are switched based on a predetermined number of rallies, not arbitrary points. Switching sides more frequently would help balance the impact of wind and make the game fairer.

3. Cheating: The Pickleball Rule Change That Protects the Sport

Cheating in pickleball is a growing problem. While technology and budget constraints prevent us from fully eliminating it, we can certainly deter it. As commissioner, one of my top priorities would be to implement escalating penalties for chronic cheaters. This could include fines, suspensions, or other penalties that make it clear that cheating will not be tolerated in the professional game.

It’s essential to keep the integrity of the sport intact.

4. Paddles: A Pickleball Rule Change for Spin Over Power

Paddle regulation is one of pickleball's most challenging issues. We see new paddle scandals almost every week. To fix this, I would aim to reduce power in the professional game and increase spin.

The best part of pickleball is the extended hand battles, but right now, the game is dominated by attacks and counterattacks. If we reduce the power of paddles, we'll see more of those extended exchanges that make pickleball so exciting.

Additionally, increasing spin would help keep speed-ups in play. Speed-ups are fun to watch, but we need to ensure they stay in the court.

With more spin, we can keep the game fast-paced while still maintaining control of the ball. In short, let’s focus on making speed-ups longer and more interesting by tweaking paddle regulations.

5. Timeouts: Let's Get Rid of Them

Timeouts have always felt like an artificial way to stop momentum. While timeouts are essential in sports like basketball and football, where a clock is running, they don't make sense in pickleball and tennis, where there is no clock. Momentum swings are a huge part of the game, and I think they make for a more engaging spectator experience. It's time to eliminate timeouts entirely, or at the very least, limit teams to just one timeout per game at the pro level. Let's keep the game moving.

6. Hindrance Rule: It's Too Confusing

The hindrance rule is another point of contention in pickleball. There's a lot of confusion around what qualifies as a hindrance, especially when players shout "come on!" during a point. Sometimes it's called a hindrance, sometimes it's not.

What counts as "partner communication" and what qualifies as a hindrance? I've been playing pro pickleball for five years, and even I'm not sure sometimes. Another necessary pickleball rule change here, let's fix this.

In other sports like basketball and football, players communicate and even try to distract each other during the game. It's just part of the game.

Let’s let pickleball players talk some smack during a point. Better yet, let’s mic them up! Wouldn’t it be awesome to hear what Ben and Gabe are saying to each other during a match? Or the trash talk from Hayden Patriquin?

7. Fan Rowdiness: Embrace the Noise

Let the fans get loud! Right now, it's only distracting when someone yells during a quiet point. But if there's a constant roar in the background, it becomes part of the atmosphere, and players can get used to it.

The energy from the crowd is contagious and makes for a more entertaining experience for both players and fans. Pickleball should embrace that energy and create an exciting environment for everyone.

8. Dreambreaker: Let's Make It Even More Electric

The Dreambreaker in Major League Pickleball (MLP) is already an electrifying format, but I think it could be even better. Currently, each player plays four points before the next player comes in, and the Dreambreaker is played to 21, win by 2.

But what if the first player for the away team only played two points, while the first player for the home team played four points? This would stagger players and guarantee at least two male vs. female matchups.

I think it would make the Dreambreaker even more exciting. Shoutout to my buddy Joe Saslow from ProXR for the idea, let's call it the Saslow SuperDreambreaker.

9. Drop Serves Only: The Pickleball Rule Change We All Need

The drop serve has been a controversial topic for a while now. While some argue that it allows for wicked spin serves, the reality is that any spin you can achieve with a drop serve, you can achieve with a regular serve. Plus, it looks pretty much the same as the underhand serve, which we already see in the game.

So, let's standardize it.

I’m all for weaponizing the serve, but I hate unenforceable rules. Drop serves are completely enforceable, unlike the current serve rules. Let’s get rid of the confusion and make the drop serve the only option for serving.

10. MLP Substitutes: Let's Add the Option

Right now, there are six players on a team in Major League Pickleball, but no substitutions. It feels strange that we can't make a substitution if someone's not playing well.

As pickleball continues to grow as a premier professional sport, team dynamics matter more than ever. If I'm struggling in men's doubles, let's bring in someone who can turn things around. Let's make substitutions a possibility and give teams more flexibility.

Conclusion: Big Ideas for a Bigger Future

These are just a few of the proposed pickleball rule changes I think would make pro pickleball better, faster, and more entertaining. The sport is evolving, and as we head toward Olympic recognition, it's time to take a hard look at what works and what doesn't.

Each of these rule changes in pickleball reflects a real need, whether it's consistency, safety, fairness, or entertainment value. I'm excited to see where the sport goes, but I believe these pro pickleball rules will help get us there.

What do you think? Agree with my ideas? Disagree? Let’s talk about it!

Frequently Asked Questions

What pickleball rule changes are being proposed for the pro game?

Several rule changes are being discussed for professional play, including eliminating the let rule, standardizing the drop serve, and reforming cheating penalties. Additional proposals include changes to the Dreambreaker format, player timeouts, and MLP substitution rules to make pro pickleball faster, fairer, and more entertaining.

Why do pro pickleball rules differ from recreational rules?

Professional leagues like the PPA Tour and Major League Pickleball sometimes use different rules because they prioritize broadcast appeal, entertainment value, and elite competitive fairness. This leads to innovations like the Dreambreaker tiebreak format, which are not used in USAP recreational play.

Should the drop serve become the only legal serve in professional pickleball?

Many players support making the drop serve the only legal serve because it eliminates ambiguity around serve legality. The volley serve has complex requirements that are difficult to enforce consistently, while the drop serve is simpler to regulate and still allows power and spin.

How does wind affect the fairness of pro pickleball matches?

Wind can create a significant advantage for one side of the court, especially in outdoor matches where conditions vary by orientation. More frequent side switching could improve fairness by balancing weather conditions for both teams.

Could MLP substitutions change how professional pickleball teams are built?

Allowing substitutions in Major League Pickleball would introduce new strategy and coaching decisions during matches. Teams could adjust to performance issues or tactical mismatches, which would significantly influence roster construction and match strategy.