How to Play Pickleball
Everything you need to know to start playing pickleball — rules, scoring, equipment, basic strategy, and tips for beginners.
Pickleball Fundamentals
Pickleball is a paddle sport that combines elements of tennis, badminton, and ping-pong. Played on a badminton-sized court with a modified tennis net, it uses a perforated polymer ball and solid paddles. The game was invented in 1965 on Bainbridge Island, Washington, and has since grown into the fastest-growing sport in the United States with over 36 million players.
The Rules of Pickleball
The core rules you need to know before your first game.
The Two-Bounce Rule
After the serve, each side must let the ball bounce once before volleying. After two bounces (one per side), players may volley the ball out of the air or let it bounce. This rule prevents net-rushing on the serve and return.
The Non-Volley Zone (Kitchen)
You may not volley the ball (hit it out of the air) while standing in the kitchen or stepping on the kitchen line. You may enter the kitchen to play a ball that has bounced there. The kitchen is 7 feet deep on each side of the net.
Legal Serving
Serves must be made underhand with the paddle below waist level. The serve must clear the non-volley zone and land in the opposite diagonal service box. Only one serve attempt is allowed (no second serve except for let serves).
Faults and Lets
A fault occurs when a ball lands out of bounds, the non-volley rule is violated, the ball is volleyed before the two-bounce rule is satisfied, or the ball is hit into the net. A let serve (hitting the net on serve) is replayed.
Line Calls
Balls that land on any line are considered in, except for serves that land on the non-volley zone line, which are faults. Players call their own lines and are expected to give the benefit of the doubt to opponents.
Scoring in Doubles
In doubles, the serving team announces three numbers before each serve: the serving team's score, the receiving team's score, and the server number (1 or 2). The game begins with server 2 serving to establish fair positioning.
Setup
The Court, Equipment, and Setup
A pickleball court measures 20 feet wide by 44 feet long for both singles and doubles. The net is 36 inches high at the sidelines and 34 inches at the center. Each side of the court features a non-volley zone (the kitchen) that extends 7 feet from the net. Pickleball paddles are solid — made of wood, composite, or graphite — and smaller than a tennis racket. The ball is a hard plastic sphere with evenly spaced holes, similar in size to a wiffle ball.
Scoring System
Scoring and How to Win
Pickleball uses rally scoring in some formats, but traditional games use side-out scoring: only the serving team can score points. Games are typically played to 11 points, win by 2. In doubles, both players on the serving team serve before the serve passes to the opposing team, except at the start of the game when only one serve is allowed. The score is announced as three numbers in doubles: server score, receiver score, and server number (1 or 2).
Tips for New Players
Master the dink before trying power shots — control wins rallies.
Stay at the kitchen line whenever possible; the net game wins points.
Always call the score loudly before serving to avoid disputes.
Communicate constantly with your doubles partner — cover each other.
Watch the ball onto your paddle through the point of contact.
Return serves deep to push opponents back and take the net.