Pickleball Rules for Beginners
Pickleball is played on a badminton-sized court with a paddle and a perforated plastic ball. Games are usually played to 11 points (win by 2), you can only score on your serve, the serve must be underhand and diagonal, the two-bounce rule applies after each serve, and you cannot volley inside the non-volley 'kitchen' zone.
How scoring works
Games are played to 11 points and must be won by 2. Only the serving side can score a point. In doubles, both players on a side usually serve before the serve passes to the opponents.
The serve
The serve is underhand, made diagonally cross-court, and must land beyond the non-volley zone. The ball is served from behind the baseline.
The two-bounce rule
After the serve, the receiving side must let the ball bounce once before returning, and the serving side must also let the return bounce once. After these two bounces, either side may volley.
The non-volley zone (the kitchen)
The 7-foot zone on each side of the net is the 'kitchen'. You cannot volley (hit the ball out of the air) while standing in it — this prevents smashing at the net.
Common faults
- Hitting the ball out of bounds or into the net.
- Volleying while standing in the kitchen.
- Failing the two-bounce rule.
- Serving incorrectly (overhand or into the kitchen).
Frequently asked questions
How many points is a pickleball game?
Most pickleball games are played to 11 points and must be won by a margin of 2; tournament matches are sometimes played to 15 or 21.
What is the kitchen in pickleball?
The kitchen is the 7-foot non-volley zone on each side of the net; you cannot hit the ball out of the air while standing in it.
What is the two-bounce rule?
After the serve, both the receiving and serving sides must let the ball bounce once before volleys are allowed.
