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The Rules of Pickleball: Your Guide to Understanding the Game
Pickleball’s popularity is booming, and for good reason! It’s a fast-paced, accessible sport that people of all ages and skill levels can enjoy. But, if you’re new to the game, the rules can feel a little overwhelming. Let’s break them down in a simple, easy-to-understand way so you can hit the court with confidence.
Pickleball Rules – The Essentials
Here’s a rundown of the most important pickleball rules:
- The Serve:
- Serves are underhand and the paddle must contact the ball below waist level.
- At the time of the serve, your feet can’t touch the court or extend past the baseline.
- The serve must go diagonally cross-court into the opponent’s service zone.
- Only one serve attempt is allowed (no second serves like in tennis).
- The Double Bounce Rule: The ball must bounce once on each side of the court before anyone can volley it (hit it in the air). This includes the return of serve.
- The Kitchen (Non-Volley Zone): This is the 7-foot zone on each side of the net. Volleying is prohibited when you’re inside the kitchen or on the line. If your momentum accidentally carries you in after a volley, it’s a fault.
- Scoring:
- Only the serving team can score.
- Games are usually played to 11 points with a win-by-two margin.
- Side Outs: When the serving team makes a fault, they lose the serve (“side out”), and the receiving team then becomes the serving team.
Key Terminology
- Volley: Hitting the ball in the air before it bounces.
- Dink: A soft shot meant to land in the opponent’s kitchen.
- Fault: A violation of the pickleball rules, resulting in a point for the opponent or a side out.
Additional Pickleball Rules
Here are some more nuanced rules to keep in mind:
- Service Rotation: When playing doubles, both players of a team get to serve before the service goes to the opponent. The first server of the game serves from the right side of the court. When their score is even, they serve from the right, and when odd, from the left.
- Lets: A let is a serve that hits the net cord and lands in the correct service zone. In this case, the serve is retaken.
- Lines: A ball landing on the line is considered good.
Where to Learn More
To get a fully comprehensive look at the official rules of pickleball, there are a few fantastic resources:
- USA Pickleball Official Rulebook: (https://usapickleball.org/what-is-pickleball/official-rules/rules-summary/)
- Pickleball Canada: (https://pickleballcanada.org/play-and-learn/basic-rules/)
Get on the Court and Play!
Now that you know the pickleball rules, it’s time to grab a paddle and get out there! Ready to find the perfect paddle to get started? Check out my comprehensive buyer’s guide on pickleball paddles [Best Pickleball Paddles] to choose the best one for your playing style. Remember, practice makes perfect, and a little friendly competition never hurts. Have fun with this addictive sport!