The Double Bounce Rule requires the ball to bounce twice after a serve before anyone can volley it: once on the receiver’s side (the serve) and once on the server’s side (the return). This rule eliminates the “serve-and-volley” advantage seen in tennis. It forces the serving team to stay back at the baseline, making the Third Shot Drop the most important skill (and gear requirement) for winning points in 2026.
Pickleball is one of the most accessible games for anyone to pick up and learn. But there are a few minor rules to the game that everyone must understand. One of those rules is the double bounce rule, which is an odd rule for many pickleball beginners to grasp initially.