Pickleball Basics: Start Playing Your New Favorite Sport!

Pickleball Rules - The Basics 

Here’s a quick snapshot of the rules to give you an overview of how the game is played, adapted from USA Pickleball*. 

Terms To Know

Rally - Continuous play from the time of serving until a fault or point occurs.
Fault - A rules violation that results in a dead ball and the end of the rally. 
Kitchen - Term for the non-volley zone; players cannot hit balls out of the air while standing in or touching this area.
Side-Out- If both players on the serving team have served — or if it’s after the first serving rotation of the game — the team receiving serve will now become the serving team.
Drop Serve – A player can drop the ball (however, you cannot propel the ball upward or downward) and hit the serve after it bounces.

Scoring Points and Announcing the Score

• Points are scored only by the serving team.    
• Games are typically 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.

Serving Rules

• Serving a pickleball must be executed underhanded.
• The serve must go diagonal across the net and land beyond the opponent's “kitchen” (non-volley zone). 
• A player can drop the ball (however, you cannot propel the ball upward or downward) and hit the serve after it bounces. This is called a “drop serve.”
• The server gets only one attempt at the serve – “lets” are live balls and are not replayed.
• If the serving team wins the “rally,” a point is scored. The server and their partner switch sides and serve the receiver in the opposite court.
• Both players on the team will get the opportunity to serve and score points before relinquishing the serve to the opponents.
• If both players on the serving team have served — or if it’s after the first serving rotation of the game, then it’s a “side-out,” and the team receiving serve will now become the serving team.

Faults

A fault is a "rules violation that results in a dead ball and the end of the rally." 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 and a side-out if it was the 2nd server.

Some of the more common faults include:

• Hitting the ball out of the air before it bounces on your side at least once.
• Hitting the ball into the net.
• Hitting the ball out of bounds.
• Hitting the ball after it has bounced on your side more than once.
• Volleying the ball while in the Kitchen or touching the Kitchen lines.

What is the Double (Two) Bounce Rule?

One of the unique rules to pickleball is the double bounce – or two-bounce rule. 

• The two-bounce rule states that the ball has to bounce one time on each side of the net before any player is allowed to hit the ball out of the air.
• The receiving team must let the ball bounce before returning the serve.
• The serving team must also let the ball bounce before hitting it out of the air. (Hint: If you're on the serving team, don't creep up after the serve).
• After the ball has bounced once on each side, you can hit the ball out of the air.

Non-Volley Zone (the Kitchen)

A second unique rule to pickleball relates to the non-volley zone, more commonly referred to as "the kitchen."  

• 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.

Now you’re ready to hit the court! Drop by the Hut, and we will be happy to help outfit you with the perfect pickleball gear. While you’re here, ask us any questions you have about pickleball and where our favorite Canton, OH pickleball courts are! 

Sources:

• USA Pickleball - Rules Summary