Pickleball Rules
Basic Rules Overview:
• Pickleball is most commonly played as doubles (two players per team) and singles can be played on the same court.
• Games are normally played to 11 points, win by 2.
The Serve:
• Points are scored only by the serving team.
• The serve must be made underhand. The serve can be hit out of the air or after one bounce.
• The serve is initiated behind the baseline; neither foot may contact the baseline or court until after the ball is struck.
• The serve is made diagonally crosscourt and must land past the non-volley zone within the confines of the opposite diagonal court.
• Only one serve attempt is allowed, except in the event of a let (the ball touches the net on the serve and lands on the proper service court; let serves are replayed).
Service Sequence:
• In the first service sequence of each new game, the team to serve first is only allowed one serve.
• If the serving team wins the rally (point scored), the server switches sides and initiates the next serve from the left/odd court.
• In doubles, when the serving team loses the rally (no points exchanged), the server’s partner then serves from their current side of the court. In singles, when the serving team loses the rally (no points exchanged), service moves to the opposing team.
• The second server continues serving until their team loses a rally, then the opposing team will serve.
• In singles, the server serves from the right/even court when their score is even and from the left/odd when their score is odd.
• In doubles, when the serve switches to the next team, the player on the right side of the court begins serving
Two-Bounce Rule:
• When the ball is served, the receiving team must let it bounce before returning, and then the serving team must let it bounce before returning, thus two bounces.
• After the ball has bounced once in each team’s court, both teams may either volley the ball (hit the ball before it bounces) or play it off a bounce (ground stroke).
Non-Volley Zone:
• The non-volley zone is the court area within 7 feet on both sides of the net.
• When volleying a ball if the player steps in the non-volley zone or on it’s lines, or should momentum cause them or anything they are wearing/carrying to touch the non-volley zone or its lines, it is a fault.
• A player may legally be in the non-volley zone any time other than when volleying a ball.