Pickleball Rules: A Complete Guide for Players

We’re sure you’ve heard about it by now, but pickleball is the game that is taking the world by storm. 

More than just a hobby or fad, pickleball is a recognised sport with its own global governing body known as the International Federation of Pickleball (IFP). Many countries also have national pickleball associations.

Everything from the rules of pickleball to the perforated plastic pickleballs, specialised rackets, and unique court dimensions are standardised by the IFP to promote consistency across the sport.

In order to play pickleball fairly, you’ll need to be familiar with the unique rules that make up the game. This guide will cover everything you need to know about the game, including the pickleball rules, origins, and gameplay.

What is Pickleball?

Pickleball is a non-contact paddle sport that combines elements of tennis, badminton, and table tennis. It’s played on a smaller court with a lower net and a perforated plastic ball. 

The basic objective of pickleball is similar to that of most net-based sports, one side serves and the two sides rally until one side is unable to return the ball or commits a rule infraction. The game can be played in either singles or doubles formats.

Pickleball is known for its fast-paced rallies, strategy-based play, and accessibility for players of all ages and fitness levels. The growing popularity of Pickleball has been attributed to its short learning curve and low cost compared to other sports clubs.

The Sports and Fitness Industry Association has named pickleball the fastest-growing sport in the world for three years in a row.

History of Pickleball

Pickleball was invented in 1965 by Joel Pritchard, Bill Bell, and Barney McCallum as a children's game on Bainbridge Island, Washington in the United States. The three dads were originally looking for a fun activity for their children. Initially, they used table tennis paddles and a wiffleball. 

The sport quickly evolved, gaining structured rules and a dedicated following. Over the decades, the popularity of pickleball has grown exponentially, particularly in North America. Today, it has millions of dedicated players worldwide and has attracted investors such as NBA players LeBron James and Kevin Durant, NFL quarterback Tom Brady, and entrepreneur Gary Vaynerchuk.

The International Federation of Pickleball (IFP) was established to promote the growth and development of pickleball worldwide and to standardise its rules and regulations. The IFP organises international tournaments, provides resources for new and existing national pickleball associations, and works to gain recognition for pickleball as an official sport in more countries. 

The efforts of the IFP have contributed significantly to the growing popularity of Pickleball around the world.

Basic Rules of Pickleball

The official rules for Pickleball detail the specifications for the court, equipment, serving rules, and scoring system. Every pickleball player should familiarise themselves with these basic rules to get started

The Court and Equipment

Pickleball court dimensions and outlines are as follows:

• The regulation size of a pickleball court for both doubles and singles is 20 feet (6.1 m) by 44 feet (13 m), the same size as a doubles badminton court.
• The non-volley line is seven feet (2.1m) from the net. The area bounded by the non-volley line, the sidelines, and the net, including the lines, is known as the non-volley zone or "kitchen". 
• The service court is the area between the non-volley line and the baseline.
• A centre line divides the service court into left and right sides. 
• The net is 36 inches (91.44cm) high at the sidelines and 34 inches (86.36cm) high at the centre.

Essential equipment includes a pickleball paddle, a perforated plastic pickleball, and a net. The paddles used are slightly larger than table tennis paddles but smaller than tennis rackets.

Courts are often set up on concrete, Astroturf, and indoor basketball courts, however, tournaments are usually played on a specialised polyurethane sports surface.

Serving Rules

The pickleball rules on serving mandate that in order to orchestrate a legal serve, the server must keep both feet behind the baseline with at least one foot touching the ground. The serve must be underhand and crosscourt (diagonal) to the opposite service box. Drop serves are legal as long as they are underhand.

The serve must clear the net, not land in the non-volley zone (the kitchen), and the ball must bounce once in the service box before being returned. Unlike in tennis, the server only gets one fault and they lose their serve.

Scoring System

The pickleball rules for scoring indicate that the game is usually played to a score of 11. Only the serving team can win a point and the winning team must win by two points. The receiving team must get the “side down” and get their serve back before they can earn points. In tournament play, games can be played to either 15 or 21. 

Only the server should announce the score. The player that is standing in the right-hand service area of the serving side always starts. 

There is a sequence for announcing the score that must be followed. The correct way to announce the score is the serving team’s score first, the opponent's score second, and the server number last. 

For example, if the server announces 5-4-1, this means the serving team has 5 points, the opposing team has 4 points, and server number 1 is serving.

Detailed Gameplay Rules

In addition to those basics, there are also more detailed gameplay rules you should know, which we have outlined below. Competency in these rules is the last step in learning the ins and outs of pickleball.

The Two-Bounce Rule

The two-bounce rule refers to a stipulation that only applies while serving and returning a serve. 

During a serve, the ball must bounce once in the receiver's box before being returned. When the serve is returned, the ball must also bounce once in the server’s box. In other words, the serve and the first hit after the serve cannot be a volley nor can it be volleyed – both the serve and the return must bounce. 

After the serve and return you may volley the pickleball. This rule gives the receiving team a fair chance to return the serve and leads to longer rallies.

The Non-Volley Zone (The Kitchen)

The “Kitchen”, or Non-Volley Zone, is a rectangle that is 7′ X 20 feet on both sides of the net. This area was put in place to cut down on the number of “spikes” and potential injuries. So, players have to stay back from the net when hitting the ball in the air.

The Kitchen rules are the most severe. You cannot step on the NV-line or into the NV-Zone when making a volley shot in the air. Your forward momentum cannot take you into the NV zone after you hit the ball. Even your clothing or paddle falling in is considered a fault.

However, you can step into the kitchen after making a groundstroke and you can go into the Kitchen to get a ball that bounces in there first.

Faults and Violations

Common faults and violations in pickleball include hitting the ball out of bounds, failing to let the ball double bounce (bounce twice), volleying in the kitchen/NV zone, and incorrect serving. 

Double hits and carries are also considered faults.

Strategies and Tips for Following the Rules

The simplified pickleball rules have been established to deliver a consistent experience across all regions. Playing by the rules not only guarantees fair play but also increases everyone’s enjoyment of the game. 

Common Mistakes to Avoid

To improve your gameplay and follow the rules properly, there are some common mistakes you should learn to avoid making. 

These include serving out of bounds or illegally, volleying in the kitchen, hitting the net with your paddle or body, and failing to communicate with your partner. 

Effective Communication with Partners

While the pickleball rules are the same in doubles, clear communication is an unsung hero in doubles pickleball. Call out your shots, let your partner know where you are going, and plan strategies. 

Remember that pickleball is a social game and you should be interacting with your partner regularly throughout the game. Effective communication helps prevent confusion and errors while keeping the game fun.

Build Your Own Pickleball Court! 

A good understanding of the rules and regular practice will positively affect your pickleball playing experience. 

Now that you have a solid understanding of pickleball rules and know some common mistakes to avoid, it's time to hit the court! Grab a paddle, find a partner, and start playing pickleball today! 

With Dream Courts, you can build your very own pickleball court and customise it to match your preferences. We specialise in supplying courts across Australia and are the official partner of the NBL. Shop Dream Courts today and create your all-new dream pickleball court.

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