Pickleball Rules for Beginners: Serving, Scoring and the Kitchen
Pickleball has a handful of rules that make it feel different from tennis or badminton. Learn these basics and you can join almost any game.
The five rules to remember
Serve underhand diagonally. Let the ball bounce once on each side before volleying. Stay out of the kitchen when volleying. Only the serving side scores. Games go to 11, win by two.
The court
The court is 44 feet long and 20 feet wide. The net is 36 inches high at the posts and 34 inches in the middle. Seven feet on each side of the net is the non-volley zone, known as the kitchen. Our kitchen rules guide explains it in detail.
The serve
- Serve underhand, with the paddle contacting the ball below the waist.
- Hit diagonally across the court into the opposite service box.
- The ball must clear the net and the kitchen, including the kitchen line.
- You get one attempt. A fault ends the serve.
The two-bounce rule
After the serve, the receiving team must let the ball bounce before returning it. Then the serving team must let that return bounce before hitting it. After those two bounces, players may volley, which means hitting the ball out of the air.
The kitchen
You cannot volley while standing in the kitchen or touching its line. You may step into the kitchen to hit a ball that has bounced. If your momentum after a volley carries you into the zone, that is also a fault.
Scoring
In traditional scoring, only the serving side can win a point. Games go to 11 and you must win by two. In doubles, both partners serve before the serve passes to the other team, except at the start of the game. Our scoring guide shows how to call the score.
Faults
A fault ends the rally. Common faults include:
- Hitting the ball out of bounds or into the net
- Volleying from inside the kitchen
- Letting the ball bounce twice on your side
- Failing to let the ball bounce on the serve return or third shot
Line calls
A ball that lands on any line except the kitchen line on a serve is in. Call the ball out only if you clearly see it landing outside the line.
Etiquette
Call the score before each serve, be honest on line calls and keep the mood friendly. We cover more in our other guides, including how long a game lasts.
Frequently asked questions
Can I play singles?
Yes, with the same court and rules. Only the serving score changes slightly because you track two numbers instead of three.
Do I need a certain paddle?
For casual play, any paddle will do. For tournaments, check the approved list, and see our buying guide.