How to Play Pickleball - 9 Simple Rules for Beginners | Pickleheads (2024)

Ready to learn how to play pickleball? You're not alone. Pickleball is now the fastest-growing sport in America, and it's tons of fun.

Whether you're an absolute beginner or a seasoned player looking to refresh your grip on the game, I've got you covered with this quick guide. Follow these 7 simple rules and you'll be out playing in no time.

To get started, all you need is a quality pickleball paddle, pickleball balls to play with, and a pickleball court near you. The best way to learn the basics is with a private lesson or beginner's clinic. They often provide equipment if you're not ready to invest in gear yet.

How to play pickleball

Pickleball is played on a badminton-sized court (20' x 44') with a net height of 36" at the sidelines and 34" at the center. Each end of the court has a 7’ area called the non-volley zone (or 'kitchen') where players aren’t allowed to hit volleys (a shot hit out of the air).

The sport is most often played in "doubles" (two players on each team). I'll mostly be covering the rules for doubles, so check out my guide on how to play singles pickleball if you want to learn more.

Let's get into the 7 main rules for pickleball. These are just a brief overview, so check below for a deep dive into each rule.

Rule #1: each rally begins with a serve

The pickleball game (and each rally) starts with a serve. The player on the right side of their court always starts the serve. You serve diagonally to your opponent:

The person serving can either hit the ball after it bounces or out of the air (a "volley serve") and their serve must clear the kitchen (including the line).

When hitting a volley serve, it must be hit with an underhand forehand or backhand stroke with contact below the waist. Your paddle must also move in an upward arc when you strike the ball.

Learn more about how to serve in pickleball:

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Rule #2: the ball must bounce once on each side before either team can volley

Before any player can hit a shot out of the air (called a volley), the ball must bounce once on each side (known as the "two-bounce rule").

So, if your partner is serving and you start up at the kitchen, you're in a dangerous position. Why? This is because the returning team can hit a shot right at you. If you react with a volley, it's considered a fault and you'll lose the point because you didn't let the ball bounce first on your side.

Without this rule, the serving team can easily rush the net and gain an unfair advantage every time.

Rule #3: each point continues until a fault

After the serve, play continues until a rally is won either by someone hitting a winning shot or a "fault" is committed. A fault ends the rally. In pickleball, there are four basic fault types:

• The serve lands outside of the required service area or beyond the kitchen (including the line).
• The ball lands out of bounds (behind the baseline or outside the sideline).
• The ball hits the net and falls on your side.
• The ball bounces twice on one side before the player can return it.

Rule #4: you can't volley in the kitchen

The 7’ zone on each side of the net marks the non-volley zone, or 'kitchen'. As the name suggests, you can never hit a volley while any part of your body is in the kitchen (or even on the kitchen line). You can’t let your momentum carry you into the kitchen after a volley either.

That said, you can hit the ball if it bounces in the kitchen—just not out of the air. If your opponent hits a short shot landing in the kitchen, you can enter and play it from the kitchen.

Learn more about pickleball kitchen rules

Rule #5: you only win points on your serve

In traditional pickleball scoring, you only win points on your serve and you continue serving until you lose a rally. After winning each point on your serve, you switch sides (left and right) with your partner and serve to the other opponent.

When your team loses a point, your teammate begins serving following the sequence described above until another point is lost by your team (the serving team). Once that happens, the serve “sides out” (switches) to the other team.

Rule #6: the correct score must be called before serving

In pickleball scoring, you’ll hear players announce three numbers, like "0-0-2". Here’s what each number means:

Let’s say the game is tied at 3-3. If you start the serve, you’ll announce “3-3-1”, so everyone knows you are the first player in rotation serving.

If you lose the rally, the ball doesn’t go to your opponents. It goes to your teammate who will announce "3-3-2".

If your partner loses their serve, a "side out" occurs. This means that they've lost their two serves and it's now their opponent's turn to serve. Their opponents then call out "3-3-1" before starting their serve.

There is one exception to this rule: the first player to serve at the beginning of a new game calls out "0-0-2". This is because the starting team only gets one serve since they have the advantage of being able to score points first to start the match.

Rule #7: first team to 11 points wins—but you must win by 2

Following all the rules above, the game continues until one team gets 11 points. However, they must win by 2.

So, if a game is tied 10-10, the next score doesn’t end the game. Play continues past 11-10 until one team can win by 2 points. As a result, some games can continue for a very long time. You might see final scores of 12-10, 15-13, or even 21-19. These are often the most fun games.

What you need to play pickleball

Before you start, you'll need:

• Pickleball gear: paddles, balls, and maybe even a pickleball net (if your local courts don't have permanent nets).
• Pickleball clothing: whether it's a pair of the best pickleball shoes or some brand-new socks, investing in pickleball-specific clothing can help you play better.
• A local pickleball court
• Brush up on the latest pickleball rule changes.

Tip: there are so many bad paddles out there and trust me, I've tested a lot of them. Why not take my 30-second paddle fitting quiz to see which paddle suits your play style and budget best?

How to set up a pickleball court

If a court already has lines drawn, you’ll rarely have to set up. Just show up and play.

Other times, you might have a court with permanent lines, but no net. You'll need a portable net for these. Once assembled, place it in the center of the court like you would in tennis.

Types of shots in pickleball

Let's go over some of the shots you can make in pickleball:

How to serve in pickleball

Every rally in pickleball begins with the serve. Unlike in tennis, the purpose of the pickleball serve is to put the ball in play. According to USA Pickleball Official Rules:

• For a volley serve (where the ball is hit before it bounces), the serve must be hit with an underhand stroke so that contact with the ball is made below the waist.
• The arm must be moving in an upward arc and the highest point of the paddle head must be below the wrist when it strikes the ball.
• The highest point of the paddle head cannot be above the wrist. In other words, the pickleball serve is an underhand forehand or backhand stroke that finishes with an upward motion:

While the pickleball serve is typically hit out of the air, USA Pickleball updated the rules in 2021 to allow for a "drop serve". This lets you drop the ball and hit your serve off the bounce.

Where to serve in pickleball

In pickleball doubles, you always serve to the diagonally opposite service court. Your serve must completely clear the kitchen line, and land between the sideline and baseline to count. The serve can land "on the line" for the baseline and sideline, but not on the kitchen line.

Where to stand when serving

You must stand behind the baseline when serving in pickleball. Your feet cannot touch the baseline or sideline during your serve.

You should remain behind the baseline as the serving team until after a third shot is hit. If you were to run up to the kitchen after serving, you would risk violating the two-bounce rule.

Hint: the returning team can stand in a "one-up, one-back" formation since the serve will bounce on their side first. This allows them to immediately start to volley after their return is made.

Serving strategies

While the goal of the pickleball serve is to place the ball in play, you can use it to your advantage. Here are three strategies for improving your pickleball serve:

• Serve deep. Short serves cause your opponent to run toward the kitchen line. You want to keep them back as long as possible, so a deep serve is best.
• Hit to a weakness. Serving to your opponent's weaker side (forehand or backhand) may result in more errors or weaker returns by them.
• Add spin (advanced). By changing the angle of your paddle on your serve follow-through, you can introduce spin. Spin can throw your opponents off guard, and cause unforced errors on the return.

Learn more about pickleball serving rules

What is an illegal serve in pickleball?

An illegal serve in pickleball is any serve that violates any of the serving rules. Just remember:

• A serve must land into the opposite (diagonally) service area.
• A volley serve (out of the air) must be hit underhand with an upward motion.
• The volley server must strike the ball at a height lower than their waist.
• The server's feet must be behind the baseline when serving.
• It must be your turn to serve, so follow the rotation and make sure to serve in the correct order.

Types of serving mistakes

Here are some additional serving mistakes in pickleball that will also result in a fault:

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How to start a game & keep score

The pickleball game always begins with a serve. So, who serves first? According to the USA Pickleball rulebook, "any fair method shall be used to determine which player or team has the first choice of serve".

You can flip a coin. I've seen some local courts dictate the north side always serves first. So, either ask a local or come up with your own method.

Once the serving side is chosen, the player on the right side of the court goes first. They announce the starting score, which is always "0-0-2". Each team starts with 0 points, while the "2" indicates the starting team serves at position 2 (see Rule #6).

This means that when a fault occurs or a rally is lost, there will be a "side out" and the serve will go to their opponents. After the first side out, each team gets two chances to serve (first server then second server) or until they lose two serves or rallies before it sides out to the other team.

Remember: a "side out" happens when the serving team uses up their two serves. At this point, the opposing team gets their chance to serve.

There's a lot to take in here, so let's recap how to start a pickleball game:

• Decide the starting team based on local rules or a coin toss.
• The player on the right side of the court serves first.
• The first server announces "0-0-2" as the starting score.
• Players serve (out of the air or off the bounce) to the diagonal side
• If the service is "good", play continues.
• After the first point is over (if won by the serving team), the next serve is hit from the left side of the server's court. Points then alternate from left to right until the serve "sides out".

Learn more about how pickleball scoring works

What is the two-bounce rule in pickleball?

The "two-bounce rule" means that the ball must bounce once on each side after a serve before any player can volley the ball out of the air.

Let's use doubles as an example. When a player serves the ball and it lands in their opponent's court, that counts as the first bounce. After the opponent returns the ball, the serving team must wait for the ball to bounce again before hitting it.

This means players can only "volley" the ball once the two-bounce rule has been fulfilled. If a player is standing close to the net before fulfilling this rule, they cannot legally hit it out of the air.

So, it wouldn't make any sense for the serving team to start at the kitchen. You should only start at the kitchen if you're on the receiving team but not currently receiving the serve. This is because the ball will always have bounced twice before ever being hit to you.

Once the two-bounce rule is fulfilled, all players are free to move to the kitchen area and begin volleying. This is often the most strategic place to be in pickleball.

How to play pickleball doubles

Pickleball doubles involves two players on each team and is by far the most popular way to play pickleball. Here's a quick guide on where to stand:

Since doubles is the most common variation, all the rules I've discussed so far apply here unless otherwise mentioned. This goes for things like serving, scoring, volleying, and the two-bounce rule.

Learn even more about pickleball doubles rules

How to play pickleball singles

Doubles might be the most popular way to play pickleball, but you can also play singles. This version works just like doubles, except that you only have one player on each side instead of two.

One major difference is in which side the player serves from after a side out (based on their score).

Another difference is in the scoring. Unlike in doubles, the server calls out only two numbers: their score (first), and the opponent's score (second).

Here are the five main scoring rules in pickleball singles:

• The first serve for each side starts on the right side.
• If the server wins the rally, they move to the left side of the court.
• If the receiver wins the rally, neither player switches sides.
• The server continues serving (switching sides from right to left) until they lose a rally.
• There's only one serve per rotation. If the server loses a rally, it is a side out and the serve goes to their opponent.

There's no second server in this version. So, if you lose the rally on your serve, a side out occurs and the serve goes to your opponent. How do you know which side of the court to serve from in pickleball singles?

In singles, the serve is always made from the right side of the court when the server has an even number of points (0, 2, 4, etc). When the server has an odd number of points (1, 3, 5, etc), the serve is made from the left side.

Note: apart from these small changes, all other pickleball rules for serving, faults, line calls, and the non-volley zone are exactly the same as in doubles.

Learn more about how to play pickleball singles

Can you play pickleball by yourself?

If you can't find a partner to play with, why not get in some solo drills? These can help boost your fitness and improve your skills, ready for your next game.

There are plenty of great pickleball drills to choose from. For beginner players, I recommend the "paddle up" and "selfie ball bounce" drills to help your coordination and reflexes.

Here are some ways to maximize your practice sessions:

• A practice wall: any flat, vertical surface will do, like a garage door or wall. Bouncing the ball against a wall repeatedly is a great way to work on your accuracy, shot finesse, and reflexes.
  • Some players set up a portable net or line to make sure their shots are at the correct height. You can also mark out targets on the surface, or buy a "dink pad" to hang on your wall.
• A rebound net: these are great for solo practice as they bounce the ball back at you to mimic an opponent. The nets can be set up in a driveway, yard, or basem*nt and can be tilted at different angles to produce different return shots. They're much quieter than using a wall, which should help keep the neighbors happy.
• A pickleball machine: if you're serious about drilling solo, a pickleball machine is the best way to improve your skills quickly. These can feed you every possible combination of speed, angle, spin, and direction. This allows you to practice real-game scenarios.

The Erne is easily the best pickleball machine in 2024. It holds over 150 balls and can be controlled and programmed via an app on your phone to deliver complex drill routines.

Read my full Erne pickleball machine review

Tips for pickleball beginners

Here are my favorite beginner tips to help you win more games:

• Transition up to the kitchen after you hit your serve return to take charge of the court. I see so many beginners struggling to win points only playing from the baseline.
• Keep your paddle in front of you in the ready position (above your chest). Pickleball is a game of fast reactions, so holding your paddle at your waist will slow you down.
• Use a loose grip on touch shots. Aim for a 3/10 in how tightly you hold the grip. The tighter you hold, the more likely you are to pop up your dinks and drop shots.
• Don't flick your wrist on your touch shots—especially dinks. Try moving your arm as one from your shoulder. Dinks require precision, and using your wrist can make your shots unpredictable.
• Bend your knees and get low. Whether you're hitting a drive or a touch shot, your power and accuracy will improve by getting low and hitting from a stable base.
• Skip the lob. While catching your opponent off guard with a lob feels good, it's a low-percentage shot. After all, pickleball courts are small. Go for dinks instead and play a higher-percentage game.
• Be patient. You might want to hit every ball hard, but you'll win more games if you save the power for when you have the advantage (like on a pop-up).
• Learn how to drop. The drop shot is by far the hardest shot in pickleball. It separates the beginners from everyone else. Get a drilling partner or pickleball machine and start hitting drop after drop.
• Serve and return deep. The deeper you can hit, the harder your opponents will have to work up to the kitchen.
• Practice as often as you play. In a drilling session, you can repeatedly practice a shot that you might only get a couple of chances at in a real match. If you're serious about improving your skills, book lessons with a pickleball coach.
• Buy a decent paddle. You'd be amazed how much a quality paddle can improve your game. Take our paddle quiz to find the right one for you.

Learn even more mistakes to avoid as a beginner

Find pickleball courts near you

The best way to learn how to play pickleball is to go out and play! Pickleball has become America's fastest-growing sport for a reason—it's really easy to pick up. Plus, there are plenty of places to play pickleball.

Here are three great ways to find courts near you so you can practice everything you've learned in this article.

Use our pickleball court finder

Our court finder tool is the easiest way to find a court near you. By setting your location, you can search on a map of over 17,000 places to play pickleball. See which courts have lines, if you need to bring a net, hours of operation, amenities, and more.

Remember: our court finder is not a reservation system, so always check with your local court's rules. You may need to pay a small fee or wait to play if the courts are busy.

Find pickleball courts near you

Check your local parks

Parks and recreation centers manage pickleball courts all over the country, and new ones are being added all the time. While these courts are often free to play, you should always check whether you need to make a reservation or pay a fee.

Visit tennis centers

Many tennis centers are adding pickleball, either by building new courts or outfitting existing tennis courts with lines for pickleball. Check to see if they have open play sessions dedicated to pickleball. Just check if you need to bring your own net.

Bottom line

Pickleball is an easy and fun game to learn how to play. Let's have another look at the 7 main rules:

1. Every rally starts with an underhand serve (forehand or backhand).
2. The ball must bounce once on each side before you volley.
3. Each point continues until a fault or the rally is lost.
4. A player cannot hit the ball out of the air or volley while on or inside the kitchen line.
5. You only win points on your serve.
6. The correct score must be called before serving.
7. You must win games by two points.

Now get out there and play!

Recent updates

July 2024

After partnering with USA Pickleball, we worked together to improve this article, keeping all the information up to date and adding new helpful sections. I also revised the rules so that they're easier to understand, especially for beginners. Learn more about our partnership with USA Pickleball.