Game of Pickleball is played on a court, the rules of the game more closely resemble table tennis or badminton than traditional tennis. Please watch these 3 short instructional videos (provided by PurePickleball) to familiarize yourself with this fun game 🙂. We still recommend reading up on the sport with the information provided for you below.
Beginner – How to Play Pickleball (part 1 of 3); Intro and Definitions
Beginner – How to Play Pickleball (part 2 of 3); Serving and Scoring
Beginner – How to Play Pickleball (part 3 of 3); Rules and Gameplay
— Basic Overview —
Pickleball is played on a badminton-sized court: 20’ x 44.’ The ball is served diagonally (starting with the right-hand service-square), and points can only be scored by the side that serves.
Players on each side must let the ball bounce once before volleys are allowed, and there is a seven-foot Non-Volley Zone on each side of the net, to prevent “spiking.” The server continues to serve, alternating service courts, until he or she faults. The first side scoring eleven points and leading by at least two points wins.
— The Serve —
Serves are to be made diagonally, starting with the right-hand service-square and alternating each serve. The serve must clear the seven-foot Non-Volley-Zone in front of the net and land in the diagonal service court (without touching the line).
Serves should always be done underhand with the paddle below the waist, and the server must keep both feet behind the back line when serving. The serving side will continue to serve until the there is a fault on the service, at which point the service will be given to the opposing side.
The Server must keep both feet behind the back line when serving. The service is made underhand with the paddle contacting the ball below the waist. The Server must hit the ball in the air on the serve. The Server is allowed to drop the the ball and hit it off the bounce. The service is made diagonally cross court and must clear the Non-Volley Zone, including the line (a serve that hits the non-volley zone line is out) Only one serve attempt is allowed. Also, each team must play their first shot off of the bounce. That is, the receiving team must let the serve bounce and the serving team must let the return of the serve bounce before playing it. Once these two bounces have occurred, the ball can either be volleyed or played off the bounce.
— Scoring —
At the start of each new game, the 1st serving team is allowed only one fault before giving up the ball to the opponents. Thereafter both members of each team will serve and fault before the ball is turned over to the opposing team. When the receiving team wins the serve, the player in the right hand court will always start play.
— Volleys —
To volley means to hit a ball in the air without first letting it bounce. In Pickleball, this can only be done when the player’s feet are behind the Non-Volley Zone line (seven feet behind the net). Note: It is a fault if the player steps over the line on his volley follow-through.
— Fault —
A fault is committed when the ball:
- Touches any part of the non-volley zone on the serve (including the line).
- Is hit out of bounds
- Does not clear the net
- Is volleyed from the Non-Volley Zone
- Is volleyed before a bounce has occurred on each side