Pickleball Rules
Welcome to the interactive guide to pickleball - one of America's fastest growing sports. Let's explore the rules together!
The Court
A pickleball court is 20' x 44' for both singles and doubles play.
The net is 36" high at the sidelines and 34" at the center. The "non-volley zone" (kitchen) extends 7' from the net on each side.
Serving Rules
The serve must be made underhand and below waist level.
The server must keep both feet behind the back line during the serve. The ball must clear the non-volley zone and land in the diagonal service court.
Two-Bounce Rule
After the serve, each side must let the ball bounce once before hitting it. This is known as the "two-bounce rule."
After these two bounces, players can either volley the ball (hit it before it bounces) or play it off the bounce.
Non-Volley Zone ("The Kitchen")
Players cannot volley the ball while standing in the non-volley zone or touching the non-volley zone line.
Players can enter the non-volley zone to play a ball that has bounced, but must establish both feet outside the zone before volleying the ball.
Scoring System
Games are typically played to 11 points and must be won by 2 points.
Doubles Scoring & Rotation
Game starts with Player 2 (pink) serving from the right side with a score of 0-0-2. The server #2 serves because the game is starting.
Singles Scoring & Positioning
In singles, players serve from the right court when their score is even (0, 2, 4...) and from the left court when their score is odd (1, 3, 5...).
Only the serving team can score points—the receiving team cannot score. If the serving team loses the rally, it results in the server's loss of serve or side out.
In singles, players serve from the right-hand court when their score is even (0, 2, 4...) and from the left-hand court when their score is odd (1, 3, 5...).
Only the serving player can score points. If the server loses a rally, they lose their serve and their opponent becomes the server.
Common Faults
A fault occurs when a rule is broken, resulting in a point for the opposing team (if they're serving) or a service change.
Common faults include hitting the ball out of bounds, not clearing the net, stepping into the non-volley zone when volleying, and violating the service rules.
Pickleball Etiquette
Good sportsmanship is an important part of pickleball.
Call Your Own Faults
Players are expected to call their own faults, including line calls on their side of the court.
Be Respectful
Be respectful of partners, opponents, and nearby courts. Keep noise down when games are in progress on adjacent courts.
Safety First
Be aware of your surroundings and avoid running into other players or onto adjacent courts during play.