ABOUT PICKLEBALL

Welcome to the world of pickleball. Dive into the basics, brush up on rules and discover tips to improve your game and impress your doubles partner.

PICKLEBALL BASICS

Pickleball combines elements of tennis, badminton, and ping pong, making it a fast-paced, accessible sport for players of all ages and skill levels.

It is played both indoors or outdoors on a badminton-sized court (about one-third the size of a tennis court). With a paddle and plastic ball with holes, a game can be played as doubles or singles.

It’s less stressful on knees and hips, while still providing a great workout!

PICKLEBALL RULES

SCORING

Games: Typically played to 11 points, and you must win by 2. In some formats, games may go to 15 or 21.
Points: Only the serving team can score points.
Announcing the Score: The server announces the score as three numbers: the serving team’s score, the receiving team’s score, and the server number (1 or 2). Example: “5-3-1.”

SERVING

How to Serve: The serve must be underhand, with the paddle making contact below your waist. You must strike the ball out of the air—no bouncing before serving.
Where to Serve: The ball must land in the diagonally opposite service court, clearing the non-volley zone (the kitchen).
Faults on the Serve: If the ball hits the net and doesn’t land in the correct service court or is hit out of bounds, it’s a fault.

THE TWO-BOUNCE RULE

After the serve, the receiving team must let the ball bounce before hitting it.
The serving team must also let the return bounce before playing it.
After these two bounces, volleys are allowed.

THE KITCHEN

Players cannot volley the ball (hit it out of the air) while standing in the non-volley zone (the kitchen).
You can enter the kitchen to hit a ball that has bounced, but your momentum cannot carry you into the kitchen after a volley.

FAULTS

A fault results in the loss of a point or a side-out. Common faults include:

Hitting the ball out of bounds.
Volleying in the kitchen.
Failing to follow the two-bounce rule.
Missing the serve or return.

COURT BOUNDARIES

The ball must land within the court lines to be considered “in.”
The kitchen line is considered part of the kitchen, so a serve that lands on this line is a fault.

BASIC STRATEGY:

Get to the kitchen line!

Getting to the kitchen line quickly is one of the core principles of pickleball strategy. It’s not necessarily a calculated decision, it’s just what you do every single point of the game.

PICKLEBALL VOCABULARY

The non-volley zone near the net. Step into it to hit a volley, and you’re out!
A soft shot that just clears the net and lands in your opponent’s kitchen. A key tool in your strategic arsenal.
When the ball goes back and forth between players during a single point.
A serve where the ball is dropped and then struck after it bounces.
When a team scores zero points in a game (ouch).
A serve that touches the net but still lands in the correct service area—replayed without penalty.
When the serving team loses their serve, and it’s the other team’s turn.
A fancy move where you step outside the sideline near the net to hit a ball in the air before it bounces.
A soft shot on the third hit (after the serve and return) designed to land in the kitchen and set up a strategic position.
A hard, fast shot aimed to push your opponent to the back of the court.
A high, arching shot designed to sail over your opponent’s head.
Any mistake or rule violation, such as hitting the ball out of bounds or stepping into the kitchen while volleying.
Hitting the ball in the air before it bounces.