Pickleball Rules Explained Simply for Beginners

Pickleball is a paddle sport that combines elements of tennis, badminton, and table tennis. It is played with 2 (singles) or 4 players (doubles) on a court the size of a badminton court.
A solid paddle and a lightweight, perforated plastic ball are used. The game is known for being easy to learn, accessible to all ages, and very social.

A pickleball court measures 6.1m x 13.4m and is divided into several important zones:
- The net: located in the center, it measures 86cm at the ends and 86cm in the middle.
- The service zones: on each side of the net, divided into left and right.
- The non-volley zone (the kitchen): an area of 2.1m on each side of the net. Volleying is prohibited in this zone — this is the most important rule in pickleball.
Understanding these zones is essential before you start playing.

Pickleball serving follows specific rules that every beginner should know:

- The serve must always be underhand — the paddle must be below waist level.
- The server must have both feet behind the baseline.
- The ball must land in the diagonally opposite service court.
- Only one attempt is allowed (no second serve like in tennis).
- The serve always starts from the right side of the court.

If the serve hits the net and lands in the correct service court, the point is replayed (let).

Pickleball scoring is unique and often surprising for new players:

- Only the serving team can score a point.
- A game is typically played to 11 points, with a mandatory 2-point lead to win.
- In doubles, each player on the team serves before the serve passes to the opponent — except at the beginning of the game where the starting team only has one server.
- The score is stated in 3 numbers in doubles: serving team's score, opponent's score, server number (e.g., 4-2-1).

This is one of the most important rules—and one most often forgotten by beginners.

At the beginning of each rally, the ball must bounce once on each side before players can volley:

- The receiving team lets the ball bounce before returning it.
- The serving team also lets the ball bounce on the return.
- After these two bounces, players can volley freely (except in the kitchen).

This rule prevents aggressive serves and returns and makes the game more balanced.

The kitchen is the most strategic area in pickleball. Here's what you absolutely need to know:

- You cannot volley (hit the ball before it bounces) if you are in the kitchen or touching its line.
- You can enter the kitchen to play a ball that has bounced — but you must exit it before volleying.
- This rule also applies if your momentum carries you into the kitchen after a volley.

Mastering the kitchen is mastering pickleball.