Pickleball rules for beginners
The pickleball rules you need for your first game: the serve, the two-bounce rule, the kitchen, faults, lines and how a game is won, in plain English.
The game in one paragraph
Pickleball is played on a 20 by 44 foot court with a net that is 34 inches high in the middle. You hit a plastic ball with holes in it using a solid paddle, usually in doubles. A game is normally played to 11 points, and you must win by 2. In traditional scoring only the serving side can score a point.
The rules that matter in your first game
- Serve underhand and diagonally. The serve must land in the opposite service box and clear the kitchen, including the kitchen line.
- You get one serve attempt. A serve that clips the net and lands in the right box is in play.
- Two-bounce rule: the serve must bounce before it is returned, and the return must bounce before the serving side hits it. After that you may volley or play off the bounce.
- Do not volley in the kitchen. The kitchen is the 7-foot zone on each side of the net. You cannot hit a ball out of the air while touching it or its line.
- Momentum counts. If your volley carries you into the kitchen, even after the ball is dead, it is a fault.
- You may step into the kitchen at any time to hit a ball that has bounced.
- A ball that lands on any line is in, except a serve that lands on the kitchen line, which is out.
- The ball may only bounce once on your side.
- Faults include hitting into the net, hitting out, volleying before the two bounces are done and volleying from the kitchen.
- Games go to 11, win by 2. Tournaments sometimes play to 15 or 21.
Serving order in doubles
Each side gets two serves per turn, one by each partner, except at the start of the game, when the first serving side gets only one. That is why the opening score is called 0-0-2: the first server is treated as the second server.
When a team gets the serve back, the player standing on the right-hand side serves first. When the serving side wins a rally, the server switches sides with their partner and serves again. When they lose a rally, the serve passes to the partner, or to the other team after both have served.
Who decides line calls
In casual play, each side calls the lines on its own half of the court. If you are not sure the ball was out, it is in. Call the score loud enough for everyone to hear before each serve.
Common questions
- What is the two-bounce rule in pickleball?
- The serve must bounce once before the receiver hits it, and the return must bounce once before the serving side hits it. After those two bounces, either side may volley.
- Can you volley in pickleball?
- Yes, after the first two bounces, as long as you are not standing in the kitchen or touching its line when you hit the ball.
- Does a serve that hits the net count?
- Yes. Since 2021 there are no lets on the serve. A serve that touches the net and lands in the correct box is in play.
- How many points is a pickleball game?
- Most games are played to 11 points, and you must win by 2. Some tournament games go to 15 or 21.
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