Pickleball rules

How to play

Pickleball is played either as doubles or singles. The same rules apply for both singles and doubles.

The game may resemble tennis, but the rules are more similar to badminton or table tennis than traditional tennis. The game begins as one side serves the ball.  The player who serves must make sure one foot is kept behind the back line and hit the ball using an underhand swing, while aiming at the service court diagonal to them and clearing the no-volley zone.  Service always begins from the right-hand court and only one fault is permissible. In doubles, both players must get a turn to serve, before moving on to the other team’s turn.  The exception is the first service of each game, where only one player from the initial serving team gets to serve before service passes to the other team.

Both sides need to let the ball bounce once before being able to hit the ball without it having to hit the ground first.  The no bounce rule only applies if the players aren’t in the non-volley zone commonly referred to as the “kitchen”.

Scoring:

Points are only scored by the serving team. Games are usually up to 11 points and must win by 2 points.  Tournaments usually go up to 15 or 21 points.

Like tennis, there are several faults that can be committed by a player or team which result in the loss of either service or one point for the player.

These following moves are considered as faults:

  1. If you fail to clear the net
  2. If you hit the ball out of bounds
  3. Volleying from within, or while your foot is positioned in the non-volley zone
  4. If you volley the ball before it has even bounced on the first return or serve

 

Rules Summary

  • The ball is served underhanded and diagonally to the opponent’s service court without bouncing it off the court.
  • Points are scored by the serving side only and occur when the opponent faults (fails to return the ball, hits ball out of bounds or into the net, etc.)
  • The server continues to serve, alternating service courts, until the serving side faults
  • The first side scoring 11 points and leading by at least a 2-point margin wins
  • You must win by 2 points
    Following the serve, each side must make at least one ground-stroke prior to volleying the ball (hitting it before it has bounced)
  • Non-Volley Zone (also known as the kitchen): A player cannot volley a ball while standing within the non-volley zone.

In-Depth Pickleball Rules:

  • Serving must be underhand.
  • Paddle contact with the ball must be below the server’s waist.
  • You must start the serve with at least one foot behind the baseline and neither foot can contact the baseline or court until after you hit the ball.
  • The serve should be diagonal across the court and must land in the opposite diagonal court.
  • You only get one serve attempt unless you hit the ball into the net and it lands on the other side in the proper service court (known as a “let”).
  • Both players on each team of a doubles game get to serve until they commit a fault.  The exception is the first service of each game, where only one player from the initial serving team gets to serve before service passes to the other team.
  • Every time service changes sides, the first serve is from the right hand court.
  • Every time you score, you switch sides of the court for your next serve.
  • In doubles play, when the first server loses the serve, the partner moves to serve from the same side of the court their partner had last served from.
  • In singles play, the server serves from the right side of the court when their score is even and from the left side when their score is odd.
  • Points are only scored by the serving team.
  • Games are generally played to 11 and you must win by 2.
  • Tournament games are sometimes played to 15 or 21 and you must win by 2.
  • When the ball is served, the receiving team must let it bounce before returning it, and the serving team must let it bounce before returning as well.
  • After the initial two returns, no bounces are mandatory. You may then hit the ball with a ground stroke where the balls bounces first or with a volley where no bounce occurs. 
  • Volleying isn’t allowed within the non-volley zone, an area of the court within 7 feet of the net on both sides, marked with a line on pickleball courts. It is also known as the “kitchen”.
  • Volleying isn’t allowed within the non-volley zone, preventing smashes from the net.
  • It is a fault to step in the non-volley zone or even on the line when volleying.
  • It is a fault when your momentum carries you into the kitchen or causes you to touch the line after a volley.
  • You may be in the non-volley zone at any other time as long as you’re not volleying the ball.
  • Balls contacting any line, except the non-volley zone line on a serve, are considered in.
  • Serves contacting the non-volley zone line are short and cause a fault.
  • A serve does not land within the receiving court causes a fault.
  • The ball is hit into the net on the serve or any return causes a fault.
  • The ball is volleyed before a bounce has occurred on each side causes a fault.
  • The ball is hit out of bounds causes a fault.
  • The ball is volleyed from the non-volley zone causes a fault.
  • The ball bounces twice before being struck by the receiver causes a fault.
  • The player, player’s clothing, or any part of a player’s paddle touches the net or the net post when the ball is in play causes a fault.
  • There is a violation of a service rule causes a fault.
  • A ball in play strikes a player or anything the player is wearing or carrying causes a fault.
  • A ball in play strikes any permanent object before bouncing on the court causes a fault.

IFP (International Federation of Pickleball) official rulebook.