WARNING: Pickleball has a magnetic charm that's dangerously addictive – with its fast-paced rallies and infectious camaraderie, one match and you may just find yourself paddle over heels for a 6pm court reservation.
Pickleball knows no boundaries - regardless of your age, background, or athletic prowess, it's a game for everyone. (Takes a few matches to learn, but mere moments to adore)
So Let's Get Into It!
Rule #1: Kicking Off The Rally
In pickleball, remember this golden rule: every rally kicks off with a serve. So, when you're on the right side of the court, facing your opponents, it's your time to shine with that serve. Aim it diagonally to the left service area, and let the game begin!
To count, the serve needs to clear the kitchen area entirely, including the line.
Rule #2: Stay Out of the Kitchen!
Find somewhere else to cook. The 7 ft zone on each side is the non-volley zone, also known as the 'kitchen'. This means you can't pull off a volley — returning/hitting the ball out of the air—while you're inside the kitchen or even on the kitchen line. And contrary to popular beliefs, no, you can't let your momentum drag you into the kitchen after a volley either.
Rule #3: The Serve - Keep It Underhand
When it comes to serving, avoid any call-outs by keeping your serve underhand, making sure you hit the ball below the waist. Swing your arm in an upward arc, and you've got the option to either strike the ball out of the air (below your waist) or drop it to the ground before giving it a hit.
Rule #4: Keep The Rally Going
After the serve, the game keeps rolling until someone messes up—a "fault" ends the rally.
In pickleball, faults usually fall into three buckets:
1. Not clearing the kitchen with your serve (including the line).
2. Hitting the ball out of bounds, whether it's behind the baseline or outside the sideline.
3. Sending the ball straight into the net.
Remember, in pickleball, there's no do-over if your serve hits the net that's a wrap on your serve turn — as long as it stays within the service area, you'll play it as it lands,
Rule #5: Groundstrokes in the Kitchen are a Go.
When your opponent hits a short shot that lands in the kitchen, you're free to step in and hit from there. These shots, known as dinks, are crucial defensive maneuvers and play a significant role in pickleball strategy. Often, the smartest move after stepping into the kitchen to handle a dink is to dink right back to your opponent's kitchen.
Rule #6: Both Sides Get a Bounce
In pickleball, there's a rule called the 'double bounce rule.' Before any player can volley a shot (hit it out of the air), the ball must first bounce once on each side of the court.
This rule can catch you off guard if you're positioned at the kitchen line while your partner serves. Why? Because the opposing team can aim a shot directly at you, and if you try to volley it, that's a fault, resulting in losing the point.
Rule #7: Points Can Only Be Scored on Your Serve
Points can only be scored when it's your turn to serve. You keep serving until you lose a rally. After scoring a point on your serve, you switch sides with your partner and serve to the other opponent.
Now, what if you lose the point while serving? We'll get into that in Rule #8 below:
Rule #8: Both Partners Get a Stab at Serving
In doubles, both of you take turns serving. When you hear players say "Zero, zero... two," that last number tells you which one of you is serving.
Here's how it works: Let's say it's tied at 3-3. If you're starting the serve (from the right side), you'll say "3-3-1." That means you're the first to serve in this round.
If you lose, the serve goes to your partner, who announces "3-3-2." If they lose, it's a 'side out,' and the other team gets the serve back, saying "3-3-1" again.
One thing: When starting a game, the first server says "0-0-2" so only one person serves. If both did, it'd be unfair.
Rule #9: Reach 11, but Win by 2!
To win a game, your team needs to score 11 points. But there's a twist—you have to win by at least 2 points.
So, if the score is tied at 10-10, you don't win just yet. The game keeps going until someone is ahead by 2 points.
Still not following? Don't worry, once you get going it'll become muscle memory.
(And while you're at it - don't forget to savor every point, both on + off the court.)
