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The following is an abbreviated form of the pickleball rules to give a quick overview of how the game is played. The official rulebook can be found at: usapickleball.org
General:
General:
Pickleball is played as doubles (two players per team) or singles; doubles is the most common.
The same size playing area and rules are used for singles and doubles.
The Serve:
The Serve:
The server's arm must be moving in an upward arc when the ball is struck.
Paddle contact with the ball must not be made above the waist.
The head of the paddle must not be above the highest part of the wrist at contact.
A "drop serve" is also permitted, in which case none of the elements above apply.
At the time the ball is struck, the server's feet may not touch the court or outside the imaginary extension of the sideline or centerline and at least one foot must be behind the baseline on the playing surface or the ground behind the baseline.
The serve is made diagonally crosscourt and must land on the opposite diagonal court.
Only one serve attempt is allowed per server. There are no redos.
Serving Sequence:
Serving 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 of a new game when only one person serves).
The first serve is always made from the right-hand side of the court.
When a point is scored, the server switches sides and initiates the next serve from the left side of the 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. Then the second server serves from their side of the court. *(except for the first service sequences of the game).
The second server continues serving until his team commits a fault and loses the serve to the opposing team.
Once the serve goes to the other side, the first serve is from the right 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 court when his or her score is even and from the left side 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:
Scoring:
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/even court when serving or receiving; when odd (1,3,5,7,9) that player will be in the left/odd court when serving or receiving.
Two-Bounce Rule:
Two-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 (groundstroke).
The two-bounce rule eliminates the serve, volley advantage, and extends rallies.
Non-Volley Zone (aka "the kitchen")
The non-volley zone is the court area within seven 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 anytime other than when volleying a ball.
The non-volley zone is commonly referred to as "the kitchen.
Line Calls:
Line Calls:
A ball contacting any part of any line, except the non-volley zone line on a serve, is considered "in."
A serve contacting the non-volley zone line is considered short and a fault.
Faults:
Faults:
A fault is any action that stops play because of a rule violation.
A fault by the receiving team results in a point for the serving team.
A fault by the serving team results in the server's loss of serve or side-out.
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