Pickleball is one of the country’s fastest-growing sports. 

Do you know how to play?

Keep reading for a breakdown of the rules!

The Basics

Pickleball is played on a badminton-sized court: 20’ x 44’ with a net similar to a tennis net. Smaller than a tennis court, this makes it easy to install a smaller court, or add in pickleball lines on a multipurpose court. 

The court is divided into right/even and left/odd service courts and non-volley zones. 

There are two options for play: singles or doubles. Both options utilize the same playing area and rules. The game begins when one side serves the pickleball. 

The Serve

When serving the ball, the player:

• Serves diagonally crosscourt, landing within the lines of the opposite diagonal court.
• Serves underhand, with the arm moving in an upward arc.
• Hits the ball at waist level or below, with the head of the paddle below the highest part of the wrist at contact. 
• Keeps both feet behind the backline. 
• One serve attempt allowed. 

NEW IN 2021: Players can now do a drop serve, where they bounce the ball on the ground and hit it with the paddle in any manner. 

Two-Bounce Rule

• When the ball is served, the receiving team must let it bounce before returning, followed by the serving team letting it bounce before returning (two bounces).
• After the ball has bounced in each team’s court, volleying is an option.

Scoring

Games are typically played to 11 points, and the team must win by 2 points. 

• Points are scored by the serving team only. 
• When the serving team’s score is even (0,2,4,6,8, 10), the player who was the first server for that team will be in the right/even court when serving or receiving. When the serving team’s score is odd (1, 3, 5, 7, 9), that player will be in the left/odd court when serving or receiving. 

Volleys

A volley is hitting the ball in the air without letting it bounce first. This can only be done in the right/even and left/odd service courts. The non-volley zone is often called “the kitchen.”

• The non-volley zone is the area within 7 feet on both sides of the net.
• It is a fault if the player steps on the non-volley line or into the zone while volleying.
• It is a fault if momentum causes the player to enter the non-volley zone after volleying. 
• A player can legally be in the non-volley zone any time other than when volleying a ball.

Scoring

Games are typically played to 11 points, and the team must win by 2 points. 

• Points are scored by the serving team only. 
• When the serving team’s score is even (0,2,4,6,8, 10), the player who was the first server for that team will be in the right/even court when serving or receiving. When the serving team’s score is odd (1, 3, 5, 7, 9), that player will be in the left/odd court when serving or receiving. 

Faults

A fault is committed if any action stops play because of a rule violation. A fault by the receiving team results in a point for the serving team. A fault by the serving team results in the server’s loss of serve. 

Faults include when the ball:

• Touches any part of the non-volley zone on the serve.
• Is hit out of bounds.
• Does not clear the net.
• Is volleyed from the non-volley zone.
• Is volleyed before the two-bounce rule is met. 

Have you played a game of pickleball yet? Make this summer the year you learn how! For more information, see the 2021 Official Rulebook.