Pickleball Rules and Clarifications

While it’s certainly fun to get out on the court and start playing one of the fastest-growing sports in the United States, there are a few rules with which you should first familiarize yourself. Perusing the official pickleball rulebook may seem like a daunting task, particularly for the pickleball newbie. However, it is necessary so that you don’t unnecessarily and unknowingly languish in confusion and misunderstanding about what you can or cannot do on the pickleball court.

This complete guide is your go-to resource for all the essential pickleball rules in one place, from serving and scoring to the kitchen and equipment. Whether you’re learning the game, settling a dispute on the court or brushing up on official rules, this guide, based on the official rules from USA Pickleball, will give you everything you need to play with confidence.

Pickleball Rules & Glossary of Terms for Beginners

Although the USA Pickleball Official Rulebook consists of approximately 80 pages, the following 5 rules and 5 definitions will help the pickleball newbie get through their first game.

Pickleball Rules for Beginners (Basic Overview)

• Pickleball can be played as singles or doubles
• Serves must be hit diagonally into the correct service box
• The ball must bounce once on each side before volleys are allowed
• You cannot volley in the kitchen (non-volley zone)
• Games are typically played to 11 points, win by 2

Glossary of Pickleball Terms for Beginners

• Volley: Hitting the ball out of the air before it bounces
• Fault: A rules violation ending the rally
• Side-out: The awarding of the serve to the opposing team after a singles player or doubles team loses its serve.
• Kitchen: Another name (unofficial) for Non-Volley Zone.
• Rally: Continuous play and exchange of shots until the ball becomes dead

See our complete glossary for definitions of over 150 pickleball terms.

A Deeper Dive into the Pickleball Rules

Now that you’ve gotten through your first game, let’s go a bit deeper into the rules of pickleball with respect to serving, scoring, the two-bounce rule, the non-volley zone rules, faults and court & equipment rules.

Serving Rules

The serve is the initial strike of the ball that begins each rally.

• The serve must be hit diagonally across the net and land beyond the opponent’s non-volley zone.
• The server gets a single attempt at the serve
• If the serving team wins the rally, a point is scored. The server and his/her partner switch sides and serves to 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

Ways to Serve

A legal serve can be executed with a volley serve or a drop serve:

• Volley Serve – Hitting the released ball with the paddle out-of-the-air before it hits the playing surface
• Drop Serve – Hitting the released ball with the paddle after it hits the playing surface

-> Check this out for a deeper breakdown of Pickleball Serving Rules and scenarios.

Scoring Points and Announcing the Score

• Points are only won by the serving team when the serving team wins a rally
• Games are generally played to 11 points, win by 2 points
• The person serving announces the score
• When playing doubles, the score is announced as 3 numbers:
  [Serving Team Score] – [Receiving Team Score] – [Server Number (either 1 or 2)]

For example, if the score is announced as “5-3-2” that means:

• The serving team has 5 points
• The team returning the serve has 3 points
• It is the second server in the rotation

-> Check these guides out for a breakdown on Singles and Doubles Scoring Rules.

Rally Scoring VS. Traditional Scoring

While traditional, side-out scoring remains the most prevalent way to keep score when playing pickleball, rally scoring has become more common-place and the rally scoring option has made its way into the USA Pickleball Official Rulebook as a provisional rule. In rally scoring, a point is scored by the player or team that wins each rally.

-> Check this out for more on Rally Scoring.

What is the Two-Bounce Rule?

One of the unique rules of pickleball is the 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 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) Rules

Another unique rule to pickleball relates to the non-volley zone, more commonly referred to as “the kitchen.” The non-volley zone is an area that extends 7 feet from the net on each side of the court, sideline to sideline.

• You cannot volley (hit the ball out-of-the-air before the ball bounces) within the non-volley zone
• The forward momentum from the act of volleying the ball cannot take you into the non-volley zone (or onto the non-volley line)

-> For more clarification on what you can or cannot do in the non-volley zone (kitchen), be sure to check out our Kitchen Rules FAQs.

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.

Common Faults

• Hitting the ball out of the air before it bounces at least one time on your side
• 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 NVZ or touching the NVZ line
• Distractions

-> Check out this guide for more in-depth information about Pickleball Faults.

Pickleball Court & Equipment Rules

USA Pickleball outlines the specific requirements for the pickleball court and equipment with which you play. This makes for a consistent and fair playing experience for all.

Court Dimensions

• Court: 20 feet wide × 44 feet long
• Non-Volley Zone: 7-foot by 20-feet area adjacent to each end of the net
• Dimensions are measured to the outside edge of the perimeter and non-volley lines
• All lines should be 2 inches wide

Equipment

• Paddle must be solid (no strings)
• Ball is plastic with holes (indoor or outdoor types)
• Net height: 36 inches at sidelines, 34 inches in center

Tournament VS. Recreational Rules

USA Pickleball is the National Governing Body of American pickleball. Rules have been created, reviewed, and are enforced to provide pickleball players a framework of rules that applies to both rec play and tournament play.

Recreational Play

• Self-officiated
• Flexible rule enforcement

Tournament Play

• Referees may be present
• Strict rule enforcement
• Timeouts given
• Official equipment required

Common Pickleball Rules Mistakes Beginners Make

• Volleying in the non-volley zone
• Forgetting to let the return-of-serve bounce
• Calling the incorrect score or server number
• Serving out-of-turn
• Returning serve from the incorrect person
• Serving from the wrong side
• Replaying rallies when there is disagreement between teammates

Rule Clarifications & Rule Changes (Stay Updated)

First introduced in 1984, the USA Pickleball Official Rulebook is a document consisting of approximately 80 pages — covering everything from pickleball court & equipment specifications, to the serve, scoring, faults, the non-volley zone and much more.

Pickleball rules evolve over time for the betterment of the game and, consequently, are updated each year.

-> Check out the current Rule Changes to ensure you’re up to date.

Frequently Asked Questions

Final Thoughts

Pickleball rules may seem complex at first, but they will soon become second-nature. Feel free to always refer back to this guide whenever you need a refresher. Additionally, if you would like to learn some unwritten rules, check out our Pickleball Etiquette guide.