{"article":{"id":"net-cord-contact-on-serve-let-rule","categoryId":"rules-regulations","categoryName":"Rules, Scoring & Regulations","index":12,"question":"Does a service let exist in modern pickleball when the ball touches the net cord?","answer":"No, service lets were eliminated in 2021; if a serve touches the net cord and lands in the valid service box, it is live and must be played.","answerDetail":"Prior to 2021, USA Pickleball maintained a service let rule identical to tennis, where a ball clipping the net and landing in the service box triggered a free re-serve. USA Pickleball abolished this rule to eliminate contentious disputes in unofficiated games. Today, if a served ball clips the top of the net tape and lands safely in the diagonal service court (beyond the 7-foot kitchen line), the ball remains completely live, and the receiving team must return it. If the ball clips the net and lands in the kitchen, on the kitchen line, or out of bounds, it is an immediate fault.","intentTags":["service-let","net-cord","serve-rules","2021-amendment"],"searchKeywords":["pickleball service let rule","net cord serve","let rule eliminated","dink serve"],"facilityTags":["standard-net"],"serviceTags":["recreational","tournament"],"environmentTags":["indoor","outdoor"],"structured":{"ruleAbolishedYear":2021,"cordTouchInBox":"Live ball (must play)","cordTouchInKitchen":"Fault"},"lastVerified":"2026-09-20","canonicalUrl":"https://dink-digest.com/knowledge/net-cord-contact-on-serve-let-rule"},"discovery":{"canonicalUrl":"https://dink-digest.com/knowledge/net-cord-contact-on-serve-let-rule","hubUrl":"https://dink-digest.com/knowledge","categoryArticlesUrl":"https://dink-digest.com/api/knowledge?category=rules-regulations"}}