How to play pickleball

Watch: official basics

These videos from USA Pickleball complement the written rules below. We embed official YouTube players—always check usapickleball.org for the latest rulebook.

Starting a rally

Pickleball begins with an underhand serve. The paddle must contact the ball below waist level, and the serve is hit diagonally into the opponent’s service court. Only one serve attempt is allowed (no second serve like tennis).

In doubles, both partners serve before the side-out passes to the other team—except for the very first serve of the game, where only one partner serves.

The double-bounce rule

After the serve, the receiving team must let the ball bounce once before returning it. Then the serving team must also let the return bounce once before hitting it. After those two bounces, volleys are allowed (except in the kitchen—see below).

This “two-bounce” rule slows the game down and gives beginners time to get into position.

Scoring

Most recreational games use rally scoring to 11, win by 2. That means:

• Only the serving side can score a point.
• Games are usually best-of-one to 11, but many groups play to 15 or 21.
• Switch ends when one side reaches 6 in an 11-point game (common local rule).

Tournament and league play may use different formats; always confirm before you start. Pickleball Now lets organizers set point targets per activity.

The kitchen (non-volley zone)

The 7-foot zone on each side of the net is the non-volley zone. You cannot volley (hit the ball out of the air) while standing in this zone or if your momentum carries you into it after a volley.

You can enter the kitchen to play a ball that has bounced—that’s the soft “dink” shot you’ll see in almost every advanced rally.

Common faults

• Volleying from inside the kitchen.
• Hitting the ball out of bounds or into the net.
• Volleying before the double-bounce rule is satisfied.
• Serving into the kitchen or wrong service box.
• Touching the net with paddle or body during a live ball.

Doubles positioning basics

After the serve and return, most teams move toward the kitchen line together. Control at the net wins more points than power from the baseline at the beginner level.