Pickleball guide
The rules of Pickleball, explained
A few rules shape nearly every Pickleball point: serve diagonally, let the first two shots bounce, and stay out of the kitchen when you volley.
Scoring and side outs
Traditional Pickleball uses side-out scoring: only the serving team scores a point. Recreational games are commonly played to 11, win by two, though games to 15 or 21 and rally scoring are also used in some events.
In doubles, both players normally get a turn to serve before the other team receives the ball, except for the opening service sequence of a game. The score is often called as three numbers: serving team score, receiving team score, then server number.
Formats vary by club and tournament. Agree the scoring method and winning score before you play.
The serve
- Serve from behind the baseline into the diagonal service court.
- Use one legal serve attempt; a serve that lands in the non-volley zone or outside the correct court is a fault.
- On a volley serve, use an upward arm motion and contact the ball below waist level. A legal drop serve is also allowed under the official rules.
- If the serving side wins the rally, the server changes sides and serves again. When the serving turn ends, play passes to the partner or to the other team as the sequence requires.
The two-bounce rule
The return of serve must bounce, and the serving team’s next shot must bounce too. Only after the ball has bounced once on each side may either team volley.
This rule is sometimes called the double-bounce rule. It keeps the serving side from gaining an immediate net advantage and is one of the best rules to learn early.
The non-volley zone
You may stand in the non-volley zone to play a ball after it bounces. You may not volley while touching the zone or its line, and the momentum from a volley may not carry you into it after the shot.
- Legal Step into the kitchen to play a dink or any other ball after it has bounced.
- Fault Volley while in the kitchen, touch its line during the volley, or enter it from the momentum of that volley.
- Good habit Reset your balance before you volley near the line; trying to hit while falling forward is a common fault.
Common faults
- A serve lands outside the correct diagonal service court or in the non-volley zone.
- The ball lands out, hits the net and does not cross, or bounces twice on one side.
- A team volleys before the two-bounce sequence is complete.
- A player volleys from the non-volley zone or violates it through momentum.
- The ball hits a player or anything a player is wearing before it has bounced.
Common questions
Can the receiving team score?
Not in traditional side-out scoring. Some events use rally scoring, where a point is awarded after every rally, so check the format first.
Can I step into the kitchen?
Yes, as long as you are playing a bounced ball. The restriction applies to volleys and the momentum immediately following one.
Do kitchen-line shots count as in?
The non-volley-zone line belongs to the non-volley zone. A serve touching it is a fault; for volleys, touching it makes the volley a fault.