Pickleball is a fun, fast-paced sport that combines elements of tennis, badminton, and table tennis. Here are five fundamental rules of pickleball that every player should know:
Serve rules:
The serve must be underhand with the paddle contacting the ball below the server’s waist.
The server must have both feet behind the baseline during the serve and make contact with the ball within the serving area.
The serve must land in the diagonal opposite service court, clearing the non-volley zone (NVZ) or kitchen.
Only one serve attempt is allowed, unless the ball touches the net and lands in the correct service court, which results in a let and the server gets another attempt.
Double bounce rule (two bounce rule):
Each team must let the ball bounce once on their side of the court before hitting a volley (hitting the ball before it bounces). This means the receiving team must let the serve bounce, and the serving team must let the return of serve bounce before playing the ball.
After both bounces have occurred, players can either volley the ball or play it off the bounce.
Non-volley zone (NVZ) or kitchen rules:
The NVZ is the 7-foot area extending from both sides of the net. Players cannot execute a volley (hitting the ball before it bounces) while standing in the NVZ.
If a player volleys the ball while standing in the NVZ, it is considered a fault.
A player may enter the NVZ to play a ball that has bounced, but they must exit the NVZ before executing a volley.
Scoring rules:
Pickleball is typically played to 11 points, but can also be played to 15 or 21 points. A team must win by at least 2 points.
Only the serving team can score points. If the serving team wins a rally, they score a point. If the receiving team wins a rally, they do not score a point but gain the right to serve.
In doubles play, each player on a team gets a chance to serve before the serve passes to the opposing team. The first server for each side is designated as Server 1, and their teammate is Server 2. Server 1 serves until a fault occurs, then Server 2 serves. Once both players on a team have served and lost a rally, the serve passes to the opposing team.
Faults:
A fault is any action that violates the rules and results in a loss of the rally or the right to serve. Some common faults include:
Hitting the ball out of bounds.
Failing to clear the net on a serve or during a rally.
Volleys executed while standing in the NVZ.
Violating the double bounce rule.
These five rules form the foundation of pickleball gameplay. As you become more familiar with the sport, you’ll encounter additional rules and strategies that will help you improve your skills and enjoy the game even more.