Pickleball is played either as doubles (two players per team)
or singles; doubles is most common. The same size playing
area and rules are used for both singles and doubles.
The Serve
Players use a coin toss to determine who will serve first. The
winner of the coin toss will have the option to choose side or
to serve or receive.
The serve must be made underhand.
Paddle contact with the ball must be below the server’s waist
(navel level).
The serve is initiated with at least one foot behind the
baseline; neither foot may contact the baseline or court until
after the ball is struck.
The serve is made diagonally crosscourt and must land
within the confines of the opposite diagonal court.
Only one serve attempt is allowed, except in the event of a
let (the ball touches the net on the serve and lands on the
proper service court; let serves are replayed).
Service Sequence
Both players on the serving doubles team have the
opportunity to serve and score points until they commit a
fault *(except for the first service sequence of each new
game).
The first serve of each side-out is made from the right-hand
court.
If a point is scored, the server switches sides and the server
initiates the next serve from the left-hand court.
As subsequent points are scored, the server continues
switching back and forth until a fault is committed and the
first server loses the serve.
When the first server loses the serve the partner then serves
from their correct side of the court (except for the first
service sequence of the game*).
The second server continues serving until his team commits
a fault and loses the serve to the opposing team.
Once the service goes to the opposition (at side out), the
first serve is from the right-hand court and both players on
that team have the opportunity to serve and score points
until their team commits two faults.
In singles the server serves from the right-hand court when
his or her score is even and from the left when the score is
odd.
*At the beginning of each new game only one partner on the
serving team has the opportunity to serve before faulting,
after which the service passes to the receiving team.
Scoring
Points are scored only by the serving team.
Games are normally played to 11 points, win by 2.
Tournament games may be to 15 or 21, win by 2.
When the serving team’s score is even (0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10) the
player who was the first server in the game for that team will
be in the right-side court when serving or receiving; when
odd (1, 3, 5, 7, 9) that player will be in the left-side court
when serving or receiving.
Double-Bounce Rule
When the ball is served, the receiving team must let it
bounce before returning, and then the serving team must let
it bounce before returning, thus two bounces.
After the ball has bounced once in each team’s court, both
teams may either volley the ball (hit the ball before it
bounces) or play it off a bounce (ground stroke).
The double bounce rule eliminates the serve and volley
advantage and extends rallies.
Non-Volley Zone
The non-volley zone is the court area within 7 feet on both
sides of the net.
Volleying is prohibited within the non-volley zone. This rule
prevents players from executing smashes from a position
within the zone.
It is a fault if, when volleying a ball, the player steps on the
non-volley zone, including the line and/or when the player’s
momentum causes them or anything they are wearing or
carrying to touch the non-volley zone including the
associated lines.
It is a fault if, after volleying, a player is carried by
momentum into or touches the non-volley zone, even if the
volleyed ball is declared dead before this happens.
A player may legally be in the non-volley zone any time other
than when volleying a ball.
The non-volley zone is commonly referred to as “the
kitchen.”
Basic Rules of Pickleball
Left
Service
Court
Left
Service
Court
Right
Service
Court
Right
Service
Court
Non-
Volley
Zone
Non-
Volley
Zone
10 ft
10 ft
20 ft
15 ft 7 ft 22 ft
44 ft
Baseline Centerline
