How to play.

Rules Summary

While simple, the rules and scoring process take some time to learn and understand. The best way to do this is to attend a "Come and Try" session with us and we would be delighted to introduce you to the sport of pickleball and its rules.

  • The ball is served underhanded and diagonally to the opponent's service 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.

  • The two-bounce rule. 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.

Serving

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 crosscourt and must land in the opposite diagonal court.

Points

Points are only scored by the serving team.

  • Games are generally played to 11 and you must win by 2 points.

  • Tournament games are sometimes played to 15 or 21 and you must win by 2 points.

Volleys

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”.

  • 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..

Line Calls

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.s.

Serving Sequence

  • 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 serve is from the right hand court

  • Every time you score, you switch sides of the court for your next serve

Double Bounce Rule

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.

Faults

A fault occurs when:

  • A serve does not land within the receiving court.

  • The ball is hit into the net on the serve or any return.

  • The ball is volleyed before a bounce has occurred on each side.

  • The ball is hit out of bounds.

  • The ball is volleyed from the non-volley zone.

  • The ball bounces twice before being struck by the receiver.

  • 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.

  • There is a violation of a service rule.

  • A ball in play strikes a player or anything the player is wearing or carrying.

Additional resources.