Master the Game: Pickleball Rules
A quick guide to the fundamental rules of pickleball for players of all levels.
Key Rules to Know
1. The Serve
The serve must be an underhand stroke, with the paddle making contact with the ball below the waist. The server must hit the ball without bouncing it first. The serve is made diagonally crosscourt and must land within the opponent's service court. Only one serve attempt is allowed, unless the ball touches the net and lands in the correct service court (a "let" serve), in which case the serve is replayed.
2. The Two-Bounce Rule
A unique rule in pickleball, the "two-bounce rule" states that the ball must bounce once on each side of the net (server's side and receiver's side) before either team can hit it in the air (volley). This means the serve must bounce, and the return of serve must also bounce, before players can start volleying. This rule ensures longer rallies and reduces the advantage of powerful serves.
3. The Non-Volley Zone (Kitchen)
The non-volley zone, often called "the kitchen," is the area extending seven feet from the net on both sides. Players are not allowed to volley (hit the ball in the air before it bounces) while standing in or on the non-volley zone line. If a player steps into the kitchen while volleying, or their momentum carries them into it after a volley, it is a fault. Players can enter the kitchen at any time to hit a ball that has bounced.
4. Scoring
Only the serving team can score points. Points are scored when the serving team wins a rally. Games are typically played to 11 points, winning by at least two points. When playing doubles, the score is called out as three numbers: "server's score - receiver's score - server number (1 or 2)". For example, "3-2-1" means the serving team has 3 points, the receiving team has 2, and the first server is serving.
5. Faults
A fault is any action that stops play because of a rule violation. Common faults include: serving into the net or out of bounds, failing to hit the ball after it bounces once on your side, hitting the ball out of bounds, stepping into the non-volley zone while volleying, or hitting the ball into the net. When a fault occurs, the rally ends, and the serving team loses the serve (or a point, if they were the second server in doubles).
These are the basic rules to get you started! For detailed official rules, please refer to the USA Pickleball Official Rulebook.
Back to Home →