Explaining a weird sports rule from @thedinkpickleball

Name: Explaining a weird sports rule from @thedinkpickleball
Uploaded: 2026-01-09T22:37:02.000Z
Channel: thedinkpickleball
Description: A pickleball player demonstrates a 'lob serve' where he immediately runs past the net onto the opponent's side of the court. He then consults with a USAP referee, Ron Ponder, who confirms that under current rules, this tactic is technically legal, and explains that the rule will be changed in 2026 to prevent it.

A pickleball player demonstrates a 'lob serve' where he immediately runs past the net onto the opponent's side of the court. He then consults with a USAP referee, Ron Ponder, who confirms that under current rules, this tactic is technically legal, and explains that the rule will be changed in 2026 to prevent it.

Creator: @thedinkpickleball on Instagram

Transcript

So lob serve, and I'm like, right here and legal. Yep. Current rules say that once you strike the ball, you can cross the plane of the net. Doesn't say immediately. So we've changed that for 2026. Once the better serve the ball, he can run best the net and is technically not breaking the rule. So I good. So lob serve. And I'm like, right here and legal. Yep. But then I gotta go bad. Or I could hang out. You can hang out. But I would just stand there and hang out. I wouldn't run around.

Topics: Sports

709,970 views