Basic Pickleball Rules Every Player Needs to Know

Whether you’ve been playing pickleball for a while or are just starting to learn, it’s important to understand the basics when you hit the court. Pickleball rules are designed for fun, combining the best aspects of tennis, badminton, and ping pong. According to the 2024 Official Rulebook from USA Pickleball, here’s what you need to know.

Pickleball is a court sport similar to badminton and tennis, but it’s played with a paddle and perforated ball. A standard pickleball court is 20 feet wide by 44 feet long and is divided in half by a net that’s 34 inches high. Seven feet to either side of the net is the non-volley line that marks the non-volley zone (also known as the “kitchen”). A centerline extends from the non-volley line back to the baseline to divide the court into the left service area and the right service area.

Pickleball is commonly played as a doubles game, with teams of 2 on either side of the net, but it can also be played as a singles game with slightly different rules. Like other net sports, points are scored by the serving team, and the serve passes to the opponent when the serving team loses a rally. Pickleball is generally played to 11 points, but the game must be won by a 2-point margin.

Pickleball Equipment & Gear

There are just 2 pieces of equipment a player needs for pickleball: a ball and a paddle. According to the USA Pickleball Official Rulebook, perforated balls can have between 26 and 40 holes and must be on their approved list. The balls must be 1 solid color.

Pickleball paddles can’t be longer than 17 inches (or 24 inches when the handle is included). Paddles must be solid, without any indentations or textured materials that could add spin to the ball. USA Pickleball maintains a list of approved paddles.

There are also a few pickleball rules about apparel. First, pickleball shoes must have a non-marking sole. This is especially important for indoor play on floors prone to scuffing. It’s also a good idea to choose shoes with cushioning to absorb the shocks that come from playing on hard surfaces. You’ll be on your feet for a while, so pick shoes that fit great and are breathable.

The rules also state that you may be asked to change your shirt if it matches the color of the ball. Having an extra athletic shirt in your gym bag is always a good idea!

The rules of pickleball don’t prohibit specific types of clothing, but the right gear could keep you faultless in the non-volley zone. No part of the player—including apparel and gear attached to the player—is allowed to cross into the non-volley zone, or “kitchen,” on a volley. For this reason, it’s a good idea to choose relatively fitted clothing for pickleball. Look for clothing that’s lightweight and allows for a wide range of motion. Moisture-wicking tops and bottoms will help you stay cool and dry on the court. For women, make sure to wear a high-impact sports bra to avoid discomfort on the court.

Players may also wish to tie back long hair with headbands or a visor. Many pickleball players also like to keep their phone and ID in a crossbody or waist bag. If playing outdoors, wear sunscreen to protect your skin, and consider sunglasses to shield your eyes from glare.

Serving Rules

In pickleball, all serving is done with an underhand stroke. The paddle must be below your waist and the line of your wrist when you make contact with the ball, and at least 1 foot must be behind the baseline. Serves are always made into the service area diagonally across the net.

In the doubles game, the player in the right service area begins the game. That player continues serving until their team has committed a fault or until their team loses a rally (that is, they were unable to return the ball). This is a “side out,” and the serve now passes to the opposite team.

Once the serve passes to the opposing team, both players get to serve before a side out is declared. The first server keeps the serve until a fault or lost rally, and then the second player gets the serve. Once there is a second fault or lost rally, a side out is declared and the serve passes to the opposing team.

In pickleball, serves are made from the right service area when the serving team’s score is even (including 0) and from the left service area when their score is odd. This requires doubles players to switch positions frequently, though they can go anywhere on or off the court once the serve is made—as long as they stay on their own side of the net.

In the singles game, the server also serves from the right on even scores and from the left on odd scores.

Scoring System

In pickleball, only the serving team can score a point. Points are scored when the receiving team is unable to return the ball or when they commit a fault. For example, the serving team scores a point if the receiving team hits the ball out of bounds, into the net, or if they whiff and the ball bounces out of the court.

The game must be won by 2 points, so play can continue well past the 11-point mark if needed.

The server is required to announce the score before serving. In the singles game, the server says their score first and the opponent’s score second.

In the doubles game, the server announces the score as 3 numbers: their own score, the opponent’s score, and the server number (either a 1 or a 2). This helps players keep track of whether the player serving is the first or second server—important information to help determine a side out. A typical pickleball score in this format could be 4-3-1, which means the serving team is beating the receiving team 4-3, and the first server is still in control of the ball.

Note that the opening serve is always announced as 0-0-2, because the second server only comes into play after the first server loses the serve. The 2 is a reminder that the serve will pass to the other team on the first side out of the game.

Volley Rules

Once the serve is made, it’s up to the receiving team to return it. The 2-bounce rule requires that the ball hits the ground on both the receiving side and the serving side before players can volley—hence, 2 bounces. Following the 2-bounce rule during play looks like this:

The server serves the ball.
The receiver lets it bounce once before hitting it back.
The server lets it bounce once before hitting it back.
After 2 bounces, teams can hit the ball after 1 bounce (a ground stroke) or 0 bounces (a volley).
Play continues until a team faults or can’t return the ball.

Ground strokes can be made anywhere and anytime on the pickleball court, including in the “kitchen.” Volleys, on the other hand, are limited by the two-bounce rule and the non-volley zone rule. Players can’t make volleys in the non-volley zone. In practice, this means that players can legally hit a ball that bounces in the non-volley zone, but they can’t hit it before it bounces.

Faults in Pickleball

A rule violation in pickleball is called a fault. If the serving team commits a fault, they lose the serve. If the receiving team commits a fault, the serving team scores a point. Some common faults in pickleball include:

Breaking the 2-bounce rule
Hitting the ball before it bounces in the non-volley zone
Hitting the ball into or under the net
Letting the ball bounce twice on your side before returning it (this is the double-bounce rule, not to be confused with the 2-bounce rule)
Hitting the ball out of bounds
Catching or carrying the ball on the paddle
Being hit by the ball (the fault is on the player who was hit)
Violating any other serving or volley rules

Pickleball rules may seem complex at first, but the best way to learn the game is to play it. Once you pick up a paddle, pickleball is easy to play and rewarding to master.

Pickleball Equipment & Gear

There are just 2 pieces of equipment a player needs for pickleball: a ball and a paddle. According to the USA Pickleball Official Rulebook, perforated balls can have between 26 and 40 holes and must be on their approved list. The balls must be 1 solid color.

Pickleball paddles can’t be longer than 17 inches (or 24 inches when the handle is included). Paddles must be solid, without any indentations or textured materials that could add spin to the ball. USA Pickleball maintains a list of approved paddles.

There are also a few pickleball rules about apparel. First, pickleball shoes must have a non-marking sole. This is especially important for indoor play on floors prone to scuffing. It’s also a good idea to choose shoes with cushioning to absorb the shocks that come from playing on hard surfaces. You’ll be on your feet for a while, so pick shoes that fit great and are breathable.

The rules also state that you may be asked to change your shirt if it matches the color of the ball. Having an extra athletic shirt in your gym bag is always a good idea!

The rules of pickleball don’t prohibit specific types of clothing, but the right gear could keep you faultless in the non-volley zone. No part of the player—including apparel and gear attached to the player—is allowed to cross into the non-volley zone, or “kitchen,” on a volley. For this reason, it’s a good idea to choose relatively fitted clothing for pickleball. Look for clothing that’s lightweight and allows for a wide range of motion. Moisture-wicking tops and bottoms will help you stay cool and dry on the court. For women, make sure to wear a high-impact sports bra to avoid discomfort on the court.

Players may also wish to tie back long hair with headbands or a visor. Many pickleball players also like to keep their phone and ID in a crossbody or waist bag. If playing outdoors, wear sunscreen to protect your skin, and consider sunglasses to shield your eyes from glare.

Serving Rules

In pickleball, all serving is done with an underhand stroke. The paddle must be below your waist and the line of your wrist when you make contact with the ball, and at least 1 foot must be behind the baseline. Serves are always made into the service area diagonally across the net.

In the doubles game, the player in the right service area begins the game. That player continues serving until their team has committed a fault or until their team loses a rally (that is, they were unable to return the ball). This is a “side out,” and the serve now passes to the opposite team.

Once the serve passes to the opposing team, both players get to serve before a side out is declared. The first server keeps the serve until a fault or lost rally, and then the second player gets the serve. Once there is a second fault or lost rally, a side out is declared and the serve passes to the opposing team.

In pickleball, serves are made from the right service area when the serving team’s score is even (including 0) and from the left service area when their score is odd. This requires doubles players to switch positions frequently, though they can go anywhere on or off the court once the serve is made—as long as they stay on their own side of the net.

In the singles game, the server also serves from the right on even scores and from the left on odd scores.

Scoring System

In pickleball, only the serving team can score a point. Points are scored when the receiving team is unable to return the ball or when they commit a fault. For example, the serving team scores a point if the receiving team hits the ball out of bounds, into the net, or if they whiff and the ball bounces out of the court.

The game must be won by 2 points, so play can continue well past the 11-point mark if needed.

The server is required to announce the score before serving. In the singles game, the server says their score first and the opponent’s score second.

In the doubles game, the server announces the score as 3 numbers: their own score, the opponent’s score, and the server number (either a 1 or a 2). This helps players keep track of whether the player serving is the first or second server—important information to help determine a side out. A typical pickleball score in this format could be 4-3-1, which means the serving team is beating the receiving team 4-3, and the first server is still in control of the ball.

Note that the opening serve is always announced as 0-0-2, because the second server only comes into play after the first server loses the serve. The 2 is a reminder that the serve will pass to the other team on the first side out of the game.

Volley Rules

Once the serve is made, it’s up to the receiving team to return it. The 2-bounce rule requires that the ball hits the ground on both the receiving side and the serving side before players can volley—hence, 2 bounces. Following the 2-bounce rule during play looks like this:

The server serves the ball.
The receiver lets it bounce once before hitting it back.
The server lets it bounce once before hitting it back.
After 2 bounces, teams can hit the ball after 1 bounce (a ground stroke) or 0 bounces (a volley).
Play continues until a team faults or can’t return the ball.

Ground strokes can be made anywhere and anytime on the pickleball court, including in the “kitchen.” Volleys, on the other hand, are limited by the two-bounce rule and the non-volley zone rule. Players can’t make volleys in the non-volley zone. In practice, this means that players can legally hit a ball that bounces in the non-volley zone, but they can’t hit it before it bounces.

Faults in Pickleball

A rule violation in pickleball is called a fault. If the serving team commits a fault, they lose the serve. If the receiving team commits a fault, the serving team scores a point. Some common faults in pickleball include:

Breaking the 2-bounce rule
Hitting the ball before it bounces in the non-volley zone
Hitting the ball into or under the net
Letting the ball bounce twice on your side before returning it (this is the double-bounce rule, not to be confused with the 2-bounce rule)
Hitting the ball out of bounds
Catching or carrying the ball on the paddle
Being hit by the ball (the fault is on the player who was hit)
Violating any other serving or volley rules

Pickleball rules may seem complex at first, but the best way to learn the game is to play it. Once you pick up a paddle, pickleball is easy to play and rewarding to master.