Pickleball Rules for Beginners
Also known as: basic pickleball rules, pickleball rules explained, rules of pickleball, beginner pickleball rules, simple pickleball rules
Serve underhand and diagonally into the opposite service court, past the kitchen. The serve and the return must each bounce, and nobody may volley while touching the kitchen. In standard scoring only the serving side scores, and games usually go to 11, win by 2.
Each rally starts with a serve from behind the baseline, hit diagonally across the net. The ball must clear the non-volley zone, or kitchen, and land in the correct service court. A serve that clips the net and lands in is in play. A serve that lands on the kitchen line is out. You get one serve per rally, not two. In doubles, both partners serve before a side out, except at the very start of each game.
The receiving side must let the serve bounce before hitting it. Then the serving side must let the return bounce. This is the two-bounce rule. After that, players may volley or play the ball off the bounce. The kitchen is the 7-foot zone on each side of the net. You may stand in it, but you may not volley while touching it or its lines. A ball that lands on any other line is in. You lose the rally if you hit the ball out or into the net. You also lose it if the ball touches you or your clothing. Your paddle and your paddle hand are the exceptions.
In traditional side-out scoring, only the serving side scores. The server switches serving sides after each point won. They keep serving until their side loses a rally. Games usually go to 11, and you must win by 2. In doubles the score is called as three numbers, such as 4-2-1. Rally scoring, where every rally scores a point, is an approved option. Players call the lines on their own side. A ball you cannot clearly call out is in.
Tips by skill level
Learn three rules before your first game. Serve underhand past the kitchen. Let the first two shots bounce. Keep your feet out of the kitchen when you volley.
Once the basics are automatic, learn the edge cases. The kitchen rule covers momentum after a volley, and a ball that hits you is your fault even if it was going out.
Example
Four friends play their first game. The server calls 0-0-2 and serves underhand crosscourt past the kitchen. The return bounces before anyone volleys, and both teams move up and dink until someone pops a ball up.
Why it matters
Most first-game confusion comes from four rules: the underhand serve, the two-bounce rule, the kitchen and the score call. Learning those lets you play a fair game on day one.
Common mistakes
- Volleying the return of serve before it bounces
- Volleying with a foot on the kitchen line
- Serving into the kitchen or onto the kitchen line
- Calling only two numbers of the score in doubles side-out scoring
Frequently asked questions
What are the basic rules of pickleball?
Serve underhand and diagonally past the kitchen. Let the serve and the return each bounce. Don't volley while touching the kitchen. Only the serving side scores in standard play, and games usually go to 11, win by 2.
Is a ball on the line in or out in pickleball?
A ball that lands on any line is in, with one exception. A serve that lands on the kitchen line is out.
How many serves do you get in pickleball?
One per rally. There is no second serve as in tennis. In doubles side-out scoring, the first server serves until their side loses a rally, then the partner serves.
Sources
Related terms
- Kitchen (Non-Volley Zone)The kitchen is the 7-foot non-volley zone on each side of the net. You may not hit a volley (a ball out of the air) while standing in it or touching its line. You must let the ball bounce first.
- Two-Bounce RuleThe two-bounce rule requires the ball to bounce once on each side before either team may volley. The serve must bounce on the return side. The return must bounce on the serving side, and only after those two bounces may either team hit a ball before it bounces.
- ServeThe pickleball serve is an underhand stroke hit diagonally into the opposite service box, with contact below the waist and an upward arc. Under the two-bounce rule the striking side cannot follow it to the net, which makes depth and placement — not pace — the qualities that matter.
- Fault (General)A fault is any rule violation that immediately ends a rally, including serve errors, non-volley zone violations, out-of-bounds shots, and illegal contact. The side that commits it loses the rally. A fault by the receiving side scores a point for the servers, and a fault by the serving side loses the serve.
- Side OutA side out is the moment the serve passes from one team to the other. Under side-out scoring, it happens when the serving team has no server left in its rotation who has not yet faulted.
- Serve Rotation (Doubles)In doubles, a side keeps possession while each player takes a turn delivering, switching courts after every point won. This continues until both have faulted and possession passes to the opponents.
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