Pickleball Rules: A Simple Guide
The five rules that matter most:
- Serve underhand, diagonally, and past the kitchen.
- The serve and the return must each bounce once (the two-bounce rule).
- No volleying while you're touching the kitchen.
- Only the serving side scores. Games go to 11, and you must win by 2.
- A ball on the line is in, except a serve on the kitchen line.
The court
Pickleball is played on a 6.10 m × 13.41 m (20 × 44 ft) court, the same size as a doubles badminton court, with a net 86.36 cm high at the centre. Singles and doubles use the whole court. The 2.13 m area on each side of the net is the kitchen (non-volley zone), and a centreline splits the rest of each side into right and left service courts. See the full court dimensions, and our guides to choosing a paddle and pickleball balls.
Serving
Every rally starts with a serve, hit diagonally into the opposite service court. The serve must clear the kitchen and land in the correct service court. Touching the net on the way over is fine; there is no let replay.
Where to stand
- Stand behind the baseline, between the centreline and the sideline (extended).
- At least one foot must be on the ground when you hit.
- Neither foot may touch the court, including the baseline, or the ground outside your serving area.
- Serve from the right side when your score is even (0, 2, 4…) and from the left when it's odd. In doubles this applies to the player who started the game on the right.
Two legal ways to serve
- Volley serve. Hit the ball out of the air with an upward swing. When you hit it, the ball must be no higher than your waist, and the top of the paddle head must not be above your wrist.
- Drop serve. Drop the ball from your hand (don't throw it or push it down) and hit it after it bounces. Any swing is allowed, and the ball can bounce any number of times first.
You must serve within 10 seconds of the score being called, and you can't add spin with your hand when you release the ball.
The two-bounce rule
The two-bounce rule (also called the double-bounce rule or two-shot rule) works like this. After the serve, the receiver must let the ball bounce before returning it. Then the serving side must also let the return bounce before hitting it. After those two bounces, anyone can hit the ball in the air (a volley) or after one bounce.
This is why the serving team usually stays back at the start of a rally: rushing the net would force them to hit the return before it bounces, which is a fault.
The kitchen (non-volley zone)
The kitchen is the 2.13 m area on each side of the net. The rule is simple: you can't volley while touching the kitchen.
- The kitchen lines are part of the kitchen. Stepping on the line while volleying is a fault.
- Momentum counts. If you volley and then your momentum carries you into the kitchen, it's still a fault, even after the ball is dead.
- You can stand in the kitchen any time, and you can hit a ball there after it bounces.
- If you've been in the kitchen, both feet must be back on the ground outside it before you can volley.
Scoring
In standard pickleball only the serving side can win a point. If the serving side loses the rally, the serve moves on. Games are usually played to 11, and you must win by 2. Tournaments may also use games to 15 or 21.
Doubles: the three-number score
The server calls three numbers before every serve: their team's score, the other team's score, and which server they are (1 or 2).
Both partners get a turn to serve before the serve passes to the other team (a side out). The one exception is the start of the game: only one player serves, which is why every game begins at “0-0-2”.
Singles
Call two numbers: your score, then your opponent's. You serve from the right when your score is even and from the left when it's odd.
Rally scoring
Some events use rally scoring, where a point is won on every rally no matter who served. It's an official option in the rulebook, but standard side-out scoring is still the default, so check with your organiser.
Line calls
- A ball that touches any line is in.
- The exception: a serve that lands on the kitchen line is out.
- You call the lines on your own side of the net. If you're not sure, the ball is in: give your opponent the benefit of the doubt.
Common faults
A fault ends the rally. These are the ones beginners make most:
- Serving into the kitchen or out of bounds.
- Volleying the serve or the return (breaking the two-bounce rule).
- Volleying while touching the kitchen or its line.
- Hitting the ball out, or into the net so it stays on your side.
- Letting the ball bounce twice on your side.
- Being hit by the ball (except on your paddle, or your paddle hand below the wrist).
- Touching the net or the net posts while the ball is in play.
Ready to play?
The fastest way to learn is an open play session, where beginners are welcome and you rotate partners every game. New to the sport? Start with what pickleball is, then try these beginner tips and drills.
Find an open play →Frequently asked questions
What is the two-bounce rule in pickleball?
Also called the double-bounce or two-shot rule: the serve must bounce before the receiver hits it, and the return must bounce before the serving team hits it. After that, players can volley or play off the bounce.
Can you step in the kitchen in pickleball?
Yes. You can stand in the kitchen at any time. You just can't hit a ball out of the air while you're touching it.
Why does a pickleball game start at 0-0-2?
To offset the advantage of serving first, only one player on the first serving team serves at the start. The “2” means they're treated as the second server, so the serve passes to the opponents after they lose one rally.
Does a serve that clips the net count?
Yes. As long as it clears the kitchen and lands in the correct service court, it's a good serve.
Is a ball on the line in or out?
Yes, on every line, except a serve that lands on the kitchen line, which is out.