How to Play Pickleball: A Beginner's Guide
This guide explains how pickleball is played. It is not medical advice. Check with your doctor before starting a new exercise routine, especially if you have a health condition or haven't been active in a while.
The short answer
Pickleball is a paddle game played over a net, either as doubles (two players per side) or singles (one per side). Doubles is the most common format, and the same court size and basic rules apply to both. [1] USA Pickleball notes that beginners often start with doubles because it needs less court coverage and leans on teamwork and communication. [1]
Starting a game
Any fair method can decide who serves first. USA Pickleball's example: write a 1 or 2 on the back of the score sheet. [1] In doubles, the player on the right-hand side of the court serves first. [2]
How to serve
The serve has a few specific rules [1][2]:
- Underhand. Your arm must move in an upward arc when you hit the ball, contact must be below waist level, and the head of the paddle can't be above the highest part of your wrist.
- Or a drop serve. A drop serve is also allowed, and the underhand rules above don't apply to it.
- Feet behind the baseline. When you hit the ball, at least one foot must be behind the baseline, and neither foot may touch the court or the area outside the imaginary extension of the sideline or centerline.
- Diagonal. The serve goes crosscourt and must land in the opposite diagonal service court.
- Clear the kitchen. A serve that lands on the kitchen line is short and counts as a fault. [1]
- One try. Each server gets only one serve attempt. [1]
The two-bounce rule
This is the rule that makes pickleball feel different from tennis. When the ball is served, the receiving team must let it bounce before hitting it. Then the serving team must also let the return bounce before hitting it. That's the two bounces. [1]
After the ball has bounced once on each side, both teams can either volley (hit the ball out of the air) or play it off a bounce. [1] USA Pickleball says the rule removes the serve-and-volley advantage and leads to longer rallies. [1]
The kitchen (non-volley zone)
The non-volley zone is the area within 7 feet of the net on each side, and it's commonly called "the kitchen." [1] The rules are simple once you see them:
- You can't volley while standing in the kitchen, and that includes the line. [1]
- It's also a fault if your momentum carries you (or anything you're wearing or carrying) into the kitchen after a volley, even if the ball is already dead. [1]
- You can step into the kitchen to hit a ball after it bounces, and you can stand there any time you're not volleying, though USA Pickleball notes standing there isn't recommended. [2]
The point of the rule, per USA Pickleball, is to prevent easy smashes from right at the net. [1][2]
Line calls and faults
A ball that touches any line is "in," with one exception: a serve that touches the kitchen line is short and a fault. [1]
A fault is any rule violation that stops play. [1] Common ones include [1][2]:
- A serve that doesn't land in the correct service court
- Hitting the ball into the net or out of bounds
- Volleying before the ball has bounced once on each side
- Volleying from the kitchen
- Letting the ball bounce twice before you hit it
- You, your clothes or your paddle touching the net or net post while the ball is in play
If the receiving team faults, the serving team gets a point. If the serving team faults, the server loses the serve. [1]
How scoring works
In traditional side-out scoring, only the serving team can score points. Games are normally played to 11, and you must win by 2. Tournament games may go to 15 or 21, still win by 2. [1]
Here's how serving rotates in doubles [1][2]:
- The first serve of each side-out comes from the right-hand court.
- If the serving team wins the rally, they score a point and the server switches sides, then serves to the opposite box.
- The same server keeps going until their team loses a rally. Then their partner serves.
- When the second server's team loses a rally, the serve passes to the other team (a "side out").
- The one exception: at the start of each game, only one player on the first serving team gets to serve before the serve passes over. That's why games traditionally start with the call "0-0-2."
In singles, you serve from the right when your score is even and from the left when it's odd. [1]
USA Pickleball also describes rally scoring, where a point is scored after every rally no matter who served. [1] Agree on which system you're using before you start.
Calling the score
In doubles, the score has three numbers: the serving team's score, the receiving team's score, then the server number (1 or 2). In singles you call just two numbers: your score, then your opponent's. [2]
Basic etiquette
USA Pickleball's etiquette tips [2]:
- Call "out" balls loudly and clearly, but only when you're certain.
- Call the score before each serve.
- Tap paddles or offer kudos after the game.
How pickleball fits into staying active
The CDC says adults need at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity a week, or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity activity, or an equivalent mix of the two. Adults also need muscle-strengthening activity on at least 2 days a week. [3] That could be 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week, broken into smaller chunks if you like. [3]
If that feels like a lot, start where you are. In the CDC's words, "some physical activity is better than none." [3]
Your first game, in short
Serve underhand and diagonally, let the first two shots bounce, stay out of the kitchen when you volley and call the score before you serve.
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