5 Basic Rules of Pickleball Every Beginner Should Know

Pickleball, like other sports, has a few unique rules. 5 basic rules specific to pickleball are the double bounce, when to stay out of the Non-Volley Zone, where to serve the ball, how to serve the ball, and how to keep score and rotate.

While there are many different rules in pickleball, the following are important to know as a beginner before venturing on the court.

Legal Serves

There are two different ways to serve that are considered legal in pickleball – a volley or drop serve.

The volley serve is a serve that a player hits without letting the ball bounce before striking it. In order for the serve to be considered legal, the server’s arm must be moving in an upward motion at the time the ball is struck. Contact with the ball must be made below the waist.

With the drop serve, a player can simply drop the ball, without propelling it upward or downward, and hit the serve after it bounces.

A player only gets one attempt to serve.

Serve Within the Boundaries

A serve must be made diagonally across the court and land within the diagonal service court on the opposite side.

The server needs to be positioned behind the baseline when serving.

The served ball must go past the Non-Volley Zone (kitchen) line. If it touches the line, it is considered a fault. However, if the ball touches any other line, it is considered playable.

Double-Bounce Rule

After the serve, both the serving team and the receiving team must let the ball bounce once before returning it. After the two bounces, the ball can be volleyed (hit in the air) or played off a bounce.

This rule ensures that there is an opportunity for both teams to play a groundstroke before volleying.

Non-Volley Zone (Kitchen)

The Non-Volley Zone is the 7-foot area located on each side of the net. It’s also known as the kitchen.

Players cannot volley the ball (hit it in the air without it bouncing) while standing within this zone. However, they can enter the zone/kitchen to play a ball that has already bounced.

Hence the term you often hear in pickleball – “stay out of the kitchen!”

Scoring and Rotation

There are two different ways to score when playing pickleball – traditional and rally. When playing recreationally, traditional scoring is most often used. Rally scoring is typically used in a team format or to speed up a game.

In traditional scoring, points are scored only by the serving team, and games are usually played to 11 or 15 points, with a two-point advantage required to win. The score must be called out before serving.

When a player wins a point, they rotate sides with their partner. For example, if they won the point when serving on the right side, they serve their next ball from the left side. Players do not rotate if they did not win a point.

Each person on a team has a chance to serve before the ball is given to their opponent.

Basic Rules of Pickleball

Once you’ve played a few games, these rules will become easy to remember. Until you become comfortable with them, other players on the court should be able to help you during a game.

There you have it! These are 5 basic pickleball rules, but there are additional rules and nuances to the game. Click here for more information on pickleball rules, or visit the USA Pickleball Association. In the meantime, this will get you started so you can hop on the court as a beginner.

FAQs: Basic Rules for Beginners

About Teresa

Teresa is the idea-maker behind PickleballMAX. Teresa joins Todd to manage and market PickleballMAX. She creates pickleball content and assists with pickleball tournaments. In 2023, she wrote a pickleball devotional book titled Pickleball Is [Not] Life.