Beginner guide
Pickleball Rules for Beginners
You don't need to know every rule before your first game, you need to know six. The kitchen rule, the two-bounce rule, how to serve, how to score, what counts as out, and how to call the score. Everything else you'll pick up naturally.
The six rules you need to know
Learn these six and you can play your first game without slowing anyone down.
Serve diagonally
Stand behind the baseline. Serve cross-court into the opposite service box. The ball must land past the kitchen line. One serve attempt, if you fault, the other team gets the ball.
Two bounce rule
The serve must bounce before the receiver hits it. The return of serve must also bounce before the serving team hits it. After these two bounces, both teams can volley freely.
Kitchen rule
You cannot volley (hit out of the air) while in the kitchen or touching the kitchen line. You can step in after the ball bounces. Momentum carrying you in after a volley is also a fault.
Only serving team scores
In doubles, you only score when your team is serving. Winning a rally while receiving just earns you the serve. Games go to 11, win by 2.
Call the score before serving
Before every serve, call the score: serving team score, receiving team score, server number. Example: '4-2-1'. It's required by the rules and helps prevent disputes.
Ball in or out
A ball landing on the line is in. Each team calls lines on their side. If there's any doubt, the ball is in. Give the benefit of the doubt to the hitting team.
How scoring works in doubles
1. Only the serving team can score points.
2. If the serving team wins the rally → score a point → same server continues.
3. If the receiving team wins the rally → side out (service transfers to other team, no point scored).
4. In doubles, each player on the serving team gets a serve before side out, except at the game start when only one player serves.
5. First team to 11, win by 2.
Score call format
Before every serve: serving score – receiving score – server number
Example: "4-2-1" = serving team has 4, receiving team has 2, first server is serving
Common beginner faults
Mistakes that end the rally against you.
Serving into the kitchen
The serve must clear the kitchen and land in the diagonal service box.
Volleying before the two-bounce rule is satisfied
Both the serve and return must bounce before either team can volley.
Volleying from the kitchen
Any volley (ball hit out of the air) while in the kitchen or on the line is a fault.
Ball lands out of bounds
If a ball lands outside the court boundaries, the team that hit it loses the rally.
Ball hits the net on the serve
Unlike tennis, there is no let on a serve, a net ball is a fault.
Not calling the score
Not calling the score before a serve is technically a fault, though usually just reminded in recreational play.
Quick glossary
Frequently asked questions
What is the double bounce rule in pickleball?
The double bounce rule (also called the two-bounce rule) requires that the ball must bounce once on each side before either team can volley (hit the ball out of the air). After the serve bounces and the return of serve bounces, both teams can then volley freely. This prevents the serving team from rushing the net immediately after serving.
What is the kitchen rule in pickleball?
The kitchen (non-volley zone) is the 7-foot area on each side of the net. You cannot volley the ball (hit it out of the air) while standing in the kitchen or touching the kitchen line. You can step into the kitchen to hit a ball that has bounced. This rule prevents players from standing at the net and smashing every ball downward.
How does pickleball scoring work for beginners?
In doubles pickleball, only the serving team can score points. If the serving team wins a rally, they score a point and the same server continues. If the receiving team wins the rally, service switches to the other team (a 'side out'). Games go to 11 points, win by 2. In doubles, each team gets two serves (one per player) before a side out, except at the start of the game when only one player serves first.
What are the basic serving rules in pickleball?
Serves must be hit underhand with the paddle below the wrist. The serve must land in the opposite diagonal service box (cross-court), past the kitchen line. You cannot serve into the kitchen. You get only one serve attempt (no fault serve rule). Call the score before every serve. The serve must be hit from behind the baseline.
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