How to Play Pickleball
Welcome to the fastest-growing sport in the world! Get out on the court with this easy guide to the basic rules and positioning.
Find a Court Near YouThe Basics: What You Need
A Paddle
A solid paddle, smaller than a tennis racket, typically made of composite materials.
A Pickleball
A plastic, perforated ball similar to a wiffle ball, which flies slower than a tennis ball.
A Court
A court the size of a badminton court (20' x 44') with a net that is 34" high at the center.
Understanding the Court
- Baseline: The back line of the court where you stand behind to serve.
- Sidelines: The lines that mark the side boundaries of the court.
- Non-Volley Zone ("The Kitchen"): The 7-foot zone on each side of the net. You cannot hit a volley (a ball out of the air) while standing in this area.
- Service Courts: The two boxes on each side where the serve must land.
The 5 Key Rules for Beginners
1. The Serve Must Be Underhand
Every point starts with an underhand serve. You must hit the ball below your waist, and your arm must move in an upward arc. The serve is made diagonally and must land in the opponent's service court, beyond the kitchen.
2. The Two-Bounce Rule
This is one of pickleball's most unique rules. After the serve, the ball must bounce once on each side of the court before either team can volley it (hit it out of the air).
• The receiving team must let the serve bounce.
• The serving team must let the return of serve bounce.
3. Stay Out of the Kitchen (on Volleys)
You cannot hit a volley (a shot hit out of the air) while any part of your body is in the Non-Volley Zone (the "Kitchen") or touching the kitchen line. Even your momentum carrying you into the kitchen after a volley is a fault. You can, however, enter the kitchen to hit a ball that has already bounced.
4. You Only Score on Your Serve
Just like in volleyball, only the serving team can score a point. The receiving team's goal is to win the rally to earn the right to serve.
5. The Game Ends at 11 (Win by 2)
Most games are played to 11 points, but you must win by at least two points. For example, a final score could be 11-9 or 13-11.
How Scoring Works (in Doubles)
Scoring in doubles can seem tricky because of the third number. Here’s the breakdown:
Server Score - Receiver Score - Server Number (1 or 2)
- The server always calls the score before serving.
- Your team's score is always called first.
- The third number is either "1" or "2" and indicates which of the two players on the serving team is serving.
- Each player on a team gets to serve until they lose a rally, then the serve passes to their partner. When both partners lose their serve, it's a "side out," and the other team gets to serve.
- Exception: To start the game, only one player on the first serving team gets to serve. The score starts at 0-0-2.
Basic Strategy & Positioning
When Serving
After you serve, stay back behind the baseline. You must let the return of serve bounce (the Two-Bounce Rule), so there's no need to rush forward immediately.
When Receiving
After returning the serve, try to move forward to the edge of the Non-Volley Zone. This is the strongest position on the court.
Keep the Ball in Play
As a beginner, focus on consistency over power. Let your opponents make the mistakes. Hitting deep returns and soft shots into the kitchen ("dinks") are very effective.
Communicate
In doubles, talk to your partner! Call "mine," "yours," or "bounce it!" to avoid confusion and cover the court effectively.
You're Ready to Play!
The best way to learn is by doing. Grab a paddle, find a court, and give it a try. You'll be dinking in no time!
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