Pickleball is a fun, fast-paced sport that combines elements of tennis, badminton, and ping-pong. While it’s easy to learn, understanding the rules will help you play smarter, avoid common mistakes, and win more matches.
Whether you’re a beginner just starting out or an experienced player looking for a refresher, this guide breaks down the essential pickleball rules in an easy-to-follow format.
🏓 Basic rules & gameplay
🏓 How to serve legally
🏓 Understanding faults & common mistakes
🏓 Scoring rules for singles & doubles
🏓 Key strategies to improve your game
Let’s jump in and master the rules of pickleball!
1. The Basic Rules of Pickleball
Pickleball is played on a 20’ x 44’ court, using a paddle and a plastic ball with holes. The game can be played as singles (1 vs. 1) or doubles (2 vs. 2).
🏓 The Objective of Pickleball
The goal is to hit the ball over the net and land it in your opponent’s court without committing a fault. Points are only scored by the serving team.
🏓 The Double Bounce Rule (Two-Bounce Rule)
A unique rule in pickleball is the double bounce rule:
✅ After the serve, the ball must bounce once before being returned.
✅ The receiving team must also let the ball bounce once before hitting it back.
✅ After this, both teams can volley (hit the ball before it bounces) or let it bounce before returning.
📌 Pro Tip: The double bounce rule prevents players from rushing the net too early and keeps rallies fair.
2. Serving Rules in Pickleball
A good serve sets up the point! However, pickleball has specific serving rules to keep things fair.
🏓 Legal Serving Rules
✔️ The serve must be underhand with the paddle below the waist.
✔️ The ball must be hit out of the air or after one bounce (drop serve).
✔️ The serve must go diagonally into the opposite service box.
✔️ The server must keep one foot behind the baseline while serving.
🏓 Serving Sequence in Doubles
✔️ Both teammates get a chance to serve before losing the turn.
✔️ The first serve of the game is made by only one player on the team before a side-out.
✔️ After a fault, the next teammate serves. If both servers fault, the other team takes over.
📌 Pro Tip: Serving deep forces your opponent to play farther back, giving you an advantage.
3. The Non-Volley Zone (Kitchen) Rule
One of the most important rules in pickleball is the kitchen rule.
🏓 What is the Kitchen?
The kitchen is a 7-foot area on both sides of the net where volleys (hitting the ball before it bounces) are NOT allowed.
🏓 Kitchen Faults
❌ If you hit a volley while standing in the kitchen, it’s a fault.
❌ If you step into the kitchen after hitting a volley, it’s a fault.
❌ Your paddle or clothing cannot touch the kitchen when volleying.
✅ You can stand in the kitchen, but only if you hit the ball after it has bounced.
📌 Pro Tip: Stay just behind the kitchen line for the best positioning.
4. Scoring in Pickleball
Pickleball uses a rally scoring system, but only the serving team can score.
🏓 How to Keep Score in Pickleball
✔️ Games are played to 11 points, win by 2.
✔️ Only the serving team can score points.
✔️ In doubles, scores are announced as:
(Server’s score) – (Receiver’s score) – (Server number)
💡 Example: If the score is 4-2-1, that means:
- The serving team has 4 points.
- The receiving team has 2 points.
- The first server (Player 1) is serving.
📌 Pro Tip: Call out your score before every serve to avoid confusion.
5. Common Faults & How to Avoid Them
A fault is any mistake that stops play and results in a loss of serve or point.
🏓 Common Faults in Pickleball
❌ Serving out of bounds
❌ Volleying in the kitchen
❌ Hitting the ball out of bounds
❌ Letting the ball bounce twice before returning it
❌ Touching the net with your paddle or body
✅ How to Avoid Faults:
- Serve with control instead of power.
- Watch your foot placement near the kitchen.
- Aim for the middle of the court to keep shots in play.
📌 Pro Tip: Play smart, not just fast! The best players focus on accuracy over speed.
6. Doubles vs. Singles Rules
While most rules remain the same, singles and doubles have different strategies and scoring methods.
🏓 Doubles Pickleball Rules
✔️ Two players per team.
✔️ Both players serve before a side-out.
✔️ More emphasis on dinking and teamwork.
🏓 Singles Pickleball Rules
✔️ Only one player per side.
✔️ More court coverage required.
✔️ More emphasis on power and speed rather than dinking.
📌 Pro Tip: In doubles, communication with your partner is key—call out shots like “Yours!” or “Mine!”.
7. Strategy Tips to Play Smarter
Understanding the rules is important, but using them to your advantage is what separates beginners from advanced players.
🏓 Winning Strategies for Pickleball
✔️ Serve deep to keep your opponent on defense.
✔️ Get to the kitchen line quickly—most points are won there.
✔️ Use dinks and drop shots to control the game.
✔️ Communicate in doubles to avoid confusion.
📌 Pro Tip: Watch professional pickleball matches to see how the best players use strategy.
8. Stay Comfortable on the Court
Pickleball is a game of movement, and the right gear makes a big difference.
👕 Moisture-Wicking Pickleball T-Shirts – Whether you’re dinking at the net or smashing serves, a 50/50 DryBlend Pickleball t-shirt keeps you cool, while the 100% Polyester Mesh Pickleball t-shirt offers maximum breathability.
🥤 Pickleball Tumblers – Stay hydrated with a pickleball-themed tumbler, perfect for keeping drinks cold during long matches.
Shop now at Big Green Pickle and play your best game!
Final Thoughts
🏓 Pickleball is easy to learn but has unique rules like the kitchen and double bounce rule.
🏓 Only the serving team can score, and games go to 11 points.
🏓 Faults like stepping into the kitchen or serving incorrectly can cost you points.
🏓 Using smart strategies will help you win more matches.
Now that you know the official pickleball rules, grab your paddle, hit the court, and start playing with confidence!
