Pickleball Rules Explained

Understanding Pickleball: Essential Rules and Gameplay

Objective:
The goal in pickleball is to score points by successfully hitting the ball over the net and into the opponent's court in a way that they cannot return it.

Basic Setup

• Players: Can be played in singles (1 vs 1) or doubles (2 vs 2).
• Court: The court is 20 feet wide by 44 feet long, with a net in the middle.

• Paddle and Ball: Players use a solid paddle to hit a perforated polymer ball (similar to a wiffle ball).

Game Play

• The game starts with an underhand serve.
• The serve must be hit diagonally across the court, landing in the opponent’s service area.
• The serve must clear the non-volley zone (7 feet from the net) and land in the service court.
• In doubles, the serve always starts from the right-hand court and alternates sides after each point.
• Only one serve attempt is allowed, except in the case of a let (ball touches the net but lands in the correct service box).

• Players can volley the ball (hit it before it bounces) anywhere on the court except within the non-volley zone (also known as the kitchen).
• Stepping into the non-volley zone and volleying the ball results in a fault.

4. Non-Volley Zone (Kitchen):

• The non-volley zone extends 7 feet from the net on both sides.
• Players cannot volley the ball while standing in or making contact with the non-volley zone.
• Players can enter the non-volley zone to play a ball that has bounced but must exit before volleying.

5. Scoring:

• Points are scored only by the serving team.
• Games are typically played to 11 points, and a team must win by 2 points.
• In doubles, both players on a team get to serve before the serve passes to the opposing team, except at the beginning of the game when only one player on the serving team serves.

6. Faults:

• Faults result in the loss of serve or point. Common faults include:
• Failing to clear the net.
• Hitting the ball out of bounds.
• Volleying in the non-volley zone.
• Failing to follow the double-bounce rule.

7. Switching Sides:

• Teams switch sides of the court after every game. In some formats, they may also switch sides when one team reaches 6 points.

Winning the Game

• The game is played to 11 points, and the winner must have at least a 2-point lead. For example, if the score is 10-10, play continues until one team leads by 2 points.

Tips for Play

• Strategy: Mix up shots with dinks (soft shots), drives, and lobs to keep your opponent guessing.
• Positioning: Stay alert to your positioning, particularly in doubles. Try to control the center of the court and work with your partner.
• Communication: In doubles, clear communication with your partner is key to avoiding confusion and ensuring effective teamwork.

These rules and guidelines will help you understand the basics of pickleball and get you started on the court!