Pickleball Rules – A Complete Guide to How the Game Works
Do you want to learn pickleball rules? Then you’ve come to the right place. Pickleball is relatively easy to start playing, but the sport contains some unique rules that distinguish it from tennis, badminton, and padel.
In this guide, we will go through the rules step by step – from serve and scoring to the two-bounce rule, the kitchen, lines, and the differences between singles and doubles.
If you are completely new to the sport, you can also start with our complete guide to pickleball for beginners.
Pickleball Rules in Brief
The most important basic rules are:
- Pickleball is played as singles or doubles.
- The serve is hit diagonally to the opponent's service court.
- The serve must clear the kitchen and the kitchen line.
- After the serve, the ball must bounce once on each side before volleying is allowed.
- You may not volley when standing in the kitchen or on the kitchen line.
- Lines are normally considered in, with the exception of the kitchen line on a serve.
- Matches must normally be won by at least a two-point margin.
Singles or Doubles
Pickleball can be played as:
- Singles – one player against one player.
- Doubles – two players against two players.
The same court size is used for both forms of play.
The rules for the rally itself are largely the same, but the serving order and scoring differ between singles and doubles.
How a Rally Starts
Every rally begins with a serve.
The server stands behind the baseline and hits the ball diagonally to the opponent's service court.
After the serve, the receiver must let the ball bounce before returning it. After that, the serving team must also let the return bounce before hitting their next shot.
Only after these two bounces may both teams begin to volley.
Serve in Pickleball
The serve is one of the rules that distinguishes pickleball from many other racket sports.
The serve must be hit diagonally to the service court on the opposite side.
When serving, the server must have at least one foot in contact with the ground behind the baseline and may not stand on or inside the baseline when hitting the ball.
The serve must also clear both the net and the non-volley zone.
Volley Serve
In a traditional volley serve, the ball is hit before it bounces.
The serving motion must adhere to the rules for a volley serve, including that the stroke is made with an upward motion and with correct paddle position at impact.
Drop Serve
There is also a drop serve.
In this case, the player drops the ball to the ground and hits it after it bounces. The drop serve is not subject to the exact same stroke requirements as the volley serve.
→ Read more in our guide on how the serve works.
Where Must the Serve Land?
The serve must land in the diagonally opposite service court.
The serve may land on:
- the sideline
- the baseline
- the centerline
But it may not land in the kitchen or on the kitchen line.
The kitchen line is thus considered part of the non-volley zone on a serve.
May the Serve Touch the Net?
Yes. If the serve touches the net but still lands correctly in the right service court, play continues.
So there is no longer an automatic re-serve just because the serve touches the net.
The Two-Bounce Rule
The two-bounce rule is one of pickleball's most important rules.
After the serve:
- the receiver must let the serve bounce once before returning it
- the serving team must let the return bounce once before their next shot
Only then may players volley.
The rule prevents the serving team from rushing straight to the net and smashing the receiver's return.
What is a Volley?
A volley means you hit the ball before it has bounced on the ground.
Volleying is permitted when the two-bounce rule has been met – but not if the player is in the kitchen.
The Kitchen – The Non-Volley Zone
The area closest to the net is most often called the kitchen in Sweden. The official name is the non-volley zone, often abbreviated as NVZ.
The kitchen extends 2.13 meters from the net on both sides.
The most important rule is:
You may not volley when standing in the kitchen or touching the kitchen line.
May You Enter the Kitchen?
Yes.
You may enter the kitchen whenever you want, and you may play a ball from there if the ball has first bounced.
It is therefore not forbidden to be in the kitchen. It is volleying from that area that is forbidden.
The Momentum Rule
You may also not hit a volley outside the kitchen and then fall, step, or have such forward motion that you end up in the kitchen as a result of the shot.
This also applies if the ball is already dead when you eventually lose your balance into the area.
Lines – In or Out?
During a normal rally, a ball that hits a line is considered in.
The important exception is the serve:
The kitchen line is considered part of the kitchen, and therefore a serve that hits the kitchen line is a fault.
When is the Ball Out?
The ball is out if it lands completely outside the court lines.
In matches without a referee, players are normally responsible for line calls on their own side.
If you are not sure if the ball was out, it should normally be considered in.
Scoring in Pickleball
Traditionally, side-out scoring is used in pickleball. In this system, only the serving team or the serving player can score points.
Matches are often played to 11 points and must be won by at least a two-point margin.
Other match lengths may be used depending on the competition and format.
Rally Scoring
Rally scoring is also used in some competition formats. In this system, points can be awarded after every rally regardless of which team serves.
The scoring system that applies should therefore always be checked in the rules of the specific competition.
→ Read our complete guide to scoring in pickleball
Serving Order in Doubles
In traditional side-out scoring, both players in a team normally have the opportunity to serve before the serve goes over to the opponents.
There is one important exception at the beginning of the game: the team that starts serving only gets one server before the first side-out.
Therefore, a traditional doubles game starts with the score:
0–0–2
The third number indicates the server number.
How to Read the Score in Doubles
In traditional scoring, three numbers are stated:
- the serving team's score
- the receiving team's score
- server number
Example:
6–4–1
This means that the serving team has 6 points, the opponents have 4, and the team's first server is serving.
Serving Order in Singles
In singles, the system is simpler.
The server starts from the right side when their own score is even and from the left side when the score is odd.
- 0, 2, 4, 6 etc. → serve from the right.
- 1, 3, 5, 7 etc. → serve from the left.
Common Faults in Pickleball
A rally is lost, among other things, if a player or team:
- hits the ball into the net and it does not clear
- hits the ball out of bounds
- lets the ball bounce twice on their side
- violates the two-bounce rule
- volleys from the kitchen
- touches the kitchen after a volley due to their momentum
- makes an illegal serve
- is hit by a ball that is still in play
Common Rule Mistakes Among Beginners
Some mistakes are particularly common when you are just starting to play:
- thinking that you can never enter the kitchen
- forgetting the two-bounce rule
- volleying with a foot on the kitchen line
- serving to the wrong court
- forgetting who is supposed to serve in doubles
- thinking that a serve on the kitchen line is in
- moving forward too early after one's own serve
→ See more common mistakes in pickleball
Pickleball Court Dimensions
A pickleball court is:
- 6.10 meters wide
- 13.41 meters long
The same court size is used for singles and doubles.
On each side of the net, there is a 2.13-meter deep non-volley zone.
The net is approximately:
- 91.4 cm high at the sidelines
- 86.4 cm high in the middle
Rules in Singles and Doubles – What's the Difference?
Most rules are the same, but there are some important differences.
In doubles:
- two people play per team
- the serving order is more advanced
- traditional scoring uses three numbers
In singles:
- one person plays per side
- the score determines from which side you serve
- a larger part of the court must be covered by a single player
Rules in Competition
If you are going to play an organized competition, you should always read the information for that specific competition.
The competition organizer may, for example, specify:
- which scoring system is used
- how many points each game is played to
- group play or playoff format
- rules regarding timeouts
- ball model and court surface
→ See upcoming pickleball competitions in Sweden
Tips When Learning the Rules
Don't try to memorize the entire rulebook before you start playing.
First, learn:
- the serve
- the two-bounce rule
- the kitchen rule
- basic scoring
- the serving order
After that, many of the details will come naturally through match play.
→ Pickleball for Beginners – Complete Guide
Video – How Pickleball Works
An instructional video can be a good complement when learning the rules, as you can simultaneously see the serve, the two-bounce rule, the kitchen, and the players' positions on the court.
When watching a rules video, you should particularly observe:
- where the server stands
- where the serve lands
- the first two bounces
- how players move towards the kitchen line
- when volleying begins
Frequently Asked Questions About Pickleball Rules
May You Enter the Kitchen in Pickleball?
Yes. You may walk and stand in the kitchen. Volleying from the kitchen or the kitchen line is forbidden.
Must the Serve Go Diagonally?
Yes. The serve must go to the diagonally opposite service court.
May the Serve Hit the Net?
Yes. If the serve goes over the net and lands correctly, play continues.
May the Serve Land on the Line?
The serve may land on the sideline, baseline, or centerline of the service court. However, it may not land on the kitchen line.
Must the Ball Bounce Twice After the Serve?
Yes, but once on each side. The serve must first bounce on the receiver's side, and the return must then bounce on the serving team's side. After that, volleying is allowed.
Can You Score Points When Not Serving?
In traditional side-out scoring, only the serving team can score points. In rally scoring, the receiving team can also score points after a rally. Which system is used depends on the game format and competition.
How Many Points Do You Play To?
Many matches are played to 11 points and must be won by a two-point margin. Other match lengths occur in organized competitions.
Is the Line In in Pickleball?
Yes, normally a ball hitting a line is considered in. The exception is the kitchen line on a serve, which is considered part of the non-volley zone.
What Does 0–0–2 Mean?
It is the starting score in traditional doubles play with side-out scoring. The last number indicates that the starting team begins with their second server, meaning the team only gets one service turn before the first side-out.
Learn the Rules – and Start Playing
Pickleball's basic rules are relatively simple once you see them in practice. Learn the serve, the two-bounce rule, and the kitchen first, and then start playing matches.
The more you play, the more natural scoring, serving order, and positioning will become.
→ Learn more about pickleball – technique, tactics, and fundamentals
