Pickleball Rules

Underhand motion

The serve must be made with an underhand swing. The paddle must contact the ball below the server's waist (navel level).

Diagonal cross-court

Serves must land in the opponent's diagonal service box, the box on the opposite side of the net from the server.

Clear the kitchen

The serve must clear the non-volley zone (kitchen) and its line. A serve that lands in or on the kitchen line is a fault.

One serve attempt

Unlike tennis, only one serve attempt is allowed. A missed serve results in a side-out (or server change in doubles).

Both feet behind baseline

The server must have at least one foot behind the baseline when contacting the ball. Stepping on or over the baseline is a foot fault.

Drop serve option

Players may use a drop serve, dropping the ball and hitting it after a bounce. No restriction on paddle height applies for drop serves.

Let serves are live

If the serve hits the net and lands in bounds, it is in play. Let serves are not replayed (rule change effective 2021).

Bounce on receive

The receiving team must let the serve bounce before returning it. Volleying the serve is a fault.

Bounce on return

After the receiving team returns the serve, the serving team must let that return bounce before they can volley. This is the second required bounce.

Free play after two bounces

Once each team has let the ball bounce once, both teams may volley freely or let the ball bounce, there are no further restrictions on volleying.

Why it exists

The two-bounce rule prevents serve-and-volley dominance and forces both teams to rally from the baseline before either team can control the kitchen line.

No volleying in the kitchen

You may not volley while standing in the kitchen or touching the kitchen line. This applies even if the ball is not in the kitchen.

Momentum carries over

If you volley and your momentum carries you into the kitchen, it is a fault, even if the ball has already bounced or the rally is over.

Enter for bounced balls

You may enter the kitchen to hit a ball that has bounced inside it. There is no restriction on standing in the kitchen for ground strokes.

Exit before next volley

After entering the kitchen to hit a bounced ball, you must fully exit (both feet outside the kitchen and its line) before volleying again.

Kitchen line is part of kitchen

The non-volley zone line is part of the kitchen for volleying purposes. Touching the line while volleying is a fault.

Serving team scores

Only the serving team can score points. Winning a rally as the receiving team earns the serve, not a point.

Games to 11, win by 2

Standard games are played to 11 points, but you must win by at least 2. If tied at 10-10, play continues until one team leads by 2.

Doubles server rotation

In doubles, both players on the serving team get to serve before the serve transfers to the opposing team, except at the start of each game, when the first serving team gets only one server.

Score is called before each serve

The server must call the score before serving. In doubles: serving team score, receiving team score, server number (1 or 2). Example: '5-3-2'.

Server side position

In singles, the server stands on the right (even) side when their score is even, and the left (odd) side when their score is odd. In doubles, the same applies to the serving team's positions.

Serve fault

Serve lands in the kitchen, doesn't reach the service box, goes out of bounds, or is an overhead serve.

Two-bounce violation

Volleying the serve or volleying the first return before the required bounce.

Kitchen volley

Volleying from inside the kitchen or while touching the kitchen line.

Ball out of bounds

A ball that lands outside the court boundaries. Lines are in, a ball on the line is good.

Ball hits net

A ball that hits the net and doesn't clear it is a fault for the hitting team.

Double hit

Hitting the ball twice in the same swing is a fault (unless it happens in one continuous motion).

Carry or catch

Catching or carrying the ball on the paddle is a fault.

Body ball

If the ball hits any part of your body or clothing (except the paddle hand below the wrist), it is a fault.

Lines are in

A ball that lands on any line is considered in bounds, except the kitchen line on a serve. A serve that hits the kitchen line is a fault.

Call your own side

In recreational play, each team calls lines on their own side of the court. Disputes default to giving the benefit of the doubt to the hitter.

Referee calls in tournaments

In sanctioned tournament play, referees make line calls. Players may request a line call review in some tournament formats.