Whether you’re a seasoned athlete looking for a new challenge or a novice just stepping into the realm of racket sports, pickleball is an exciting and accessible game for all skill levels. In this article, we’ll walk you through the ten most fundamental pickleball rules that you need to understand before you step onto the court. These rules provide the basic framework of the game, helping to ensure fair play while maximizing fun. Grab your paddle, and let’s dive into the essentials of pickleball!
Initiating the Game: An underhand stroke is needed to serve, and the ball must be hit below the waist level. The ball must be served across the court diagonally to the opponent’s designated service area.
Two-Bounce Requirement: The ball must bounce once on each side before it can be returned by the respective teams. This means the receiving team must allow the ball to bounce once before returning the serve, and the serving team must let it bounce once again before returning that shot.
Kitchen Zone: A 7-foot area on either side of the net, known as the non-volley zone or the “kitchen,” forbids players from hitting the ball before it bounces. This rule prevents players from aggressively smashing the ball from close to the net.
Mistakes Leading to Loss of Points: Any action leading to the ball going out of bounds, getting hit into the net, being volleyed before a bounce has occurred on each side, or being volleyed from the non-volley zone results in a fault.
Point System: A game is typically played to a target of 11 points, with a minimum win margin of 2 points. The team that serves is the only one that can score points.
Avoiding Double Strikes: Double strikes of the ball are not permitted unless it ocurrs in a single swing. A player who accidentally or intentionally hits the ball twice commits a fault.
Order of Serving: In a doubles match, each player on the serving team has a chance to serve and score points until they commit a fault. However, in the first serving sequence of each game, only one partner on the serving team can serve before a fault switches control to the other team.
Changing Court Sides: Players change their side of the court after the completion of each game and when the total score reaches 6 in a game to 11. This is usually optional during open rec play.
Ball Landing on Lines: A ball that lands on any line is considered to be in play. This includes the lines for the serve, the non-volley zone, and the outer boundary. The only exception is when serving, no part of the ball can land on the non-volley-zone line.
Break Periods: Each team has the right to take a 1-minute break, known as a timeout, once per game. This can be used at any time and for any reason.
Remember, these are the basic rules to get you started. For a more comprehensive understanding of the game, it’s recommended to read the official rule book.