Key takeaways: serve underhand and diagonally; let the ball bounce once on each side before volleying; never volley while touching the 7-ft non-volley zone; only the serving side scores; games go to 11, win by 2. In doubles, the score is called as three numbers: server’s score, receiver’s score, server number.
The rules of pickleball fit on one page, but a few of them confuse every newcomer, especially scoring in doubles and the kitchen. This guide follows the official rulebook used by most federations (USA Pickleball, Pickleball England and others) and explains each rule with the situation you will meet on court.
The court and the lines
The court is 20 × 44 ft for singles and doubles. A centreline splits each half into right and left service courts, and a line 7 ft from the net on each side marks the non-volley zone, nicknamed the kitchen. A ball landing on a baseline or sideline is in. On the serve, a ball landing on the kitchen line is a fault. Full measurements: pickleball court dimensions.
The serve
- Hit the ball underhand with an upward arc, contact below the waist.
- At least one foot must be behind the baseline, and neither foot may touch the court until the ball is struck.
- Serve diagonally into the opposite service court, clearing the kitchen and its line.
- You get one attempt. A serve that clips the net and lands in the correct court is in play.
- A drop serve is also allowed: drop the ball (no throwing or spinning it) and hit it after it bounces.
The two-bounce rule
The receiving team must let the serve bounce. The serving team must then let the return bounce. After these two bounces, players may volley or play off the bounce. This stops the server rushing the net and gives the returning team time to move forward, which is why the « third shot drop » is such an important skill.
The non-volley zone (the kitchen)
You may not volley, that is hit the ball before it bounces, while standing in the kitchen or touching its line. The rule also covers your momentum: if you volley outside the zone and then step or fall into it, it is a fault, even after the ball is dead. You may stand in the kitchen at any time and play a ball that has bounced there; just get out before the next volley.
Scoring
Only the serving side scores. Games are usually played to 11 points, win by 2; tournaments sometimes play to 15 or 21.
In doubles, the score is called as three numbers before each serve: the serving team’s score, the receiving team’s score, then the server number (1 or 2). Each team gets two servers per turn, except at the very start of the game, where the first serving team has only one; that is why a game opens with the call « 0-0-2 ».
| Situation | Effect on score | Who serves next |
|---|---|---|
| Serving team wins the rally | +1 point | Same server, switches side |
| Server 1 loses the rally | No point | Partner serves (server 2) |
| Server 2 loses the rally | No point | Side out: the other team serves |
| 10-10 | No point | Play continues until a 2-point lead |
Position tip: when the serving team’s score is even, the player who started on the right serves from the right.
In singles, there is one server per side: serve from the right when your score is even, from the left when it is odd, and call only two numbers.
Common faults
| Fault | What happens |
|---|---|
| Serve lands in the kitchen or on its line | Fault on the serve |
| Volleying from inside the kitchen | Point lost |
| Volleying before the two bounces | Point lost |
| Touching the net with body, clothing or paddle while the ball is live | Point lost |
| Ball hits a player or their clothing | Point lost by that player |
| Ball lands out | Point lost by the hitter |
Line calls and etiquette
In recreational play, each team calls the lines on its own side. If you are not sure the ball was out, it is in. Players announce the score clearly before every serve and meet at the net after the game.
FAQ
What is the kitchen in pickleball?
It is the non-volley zone: the area 7 ft deep on each side of the net. You cannot hit a volley while touching it, but you can enter it to play a ball that has bounced.
Why do you say « 0-0-2 » at the start?
The team that serves first only gets one server in its first turn, so the game starts as if the first server were already server 2. This offsets the advantage of serving first.
Can you serve overhand in pickleball?
No. The serve must be struck with an upward motion and below the waist. The only alternative is the drop serve, where you hit the ball after letting it bounce.
Is a ball on the line in or out?
A ball touching a sideline or baseline is in. The exception is the serve: a serve landing on the kitchen line is out.
Can you go into the kitchen?
Yes, at any time. The restriction is only on volleying from it. Players often step in to reach a short ball and step back out before the next shot.