If you're new to pickleball, congratulations. You've found a sport that looks easy for about five minutes.
And congratulations again. You are now officially infected with the virus called pickleball.
From this point forward, you may find yourself changing your phone contact list to things like “John Pickleball,” “Mike Pickleball” and “Sarah Pickleball.” Because apparently knowing someone’s last name is no longer important. You just need to remember where you met them and whether they like to play at the kitchen.
Then someone tells you about the kitchen, the two-bounce rule, dinking, serving rules, and why you apparently can’t just smash the ball whenever you feel like it.
Don’t worry. The basic rules of pickleball are actually pretty simple once you understand them.
1. The serve has to go crosscourt
The serve starts the point and must be hit diagonally into the opposite service court. You serve from behind the baseline and alternate sides depending on the score.
The serve must clear the non-volley zone, commonly called the kitchen, and land in the correct service box.
And yes, you can hit a good serve. But if you hit it so hard that it goes into the parking lot, unfortunately that does not count as an ace.
2. The two-bounce rule
This is one of the first rules beginners learn. After the serve, the receiving team must let the ball bounce before returning it. Then the serving team must also let that return bounce before hitting it.
So: Serve → bounce → return → bounce → now you can volley.
After those first two bounces, players can volley the ball before it bounces.
This rule is one of the reasons pickleball isn’t simply a game of standing at the kitchen line and trying to destroy each other.
At least not immediately.
3. The kitchen is not actually a kitchen
The non-volley zone extends 7 feet from the net on both sides. You can stand in the kitchen and you can hit a ball after it bounces in the kitchen. What you cannot do is volley the ball while standing in the kitchen.
And here’s the part that catches people: if you volley the ball outside the kitchen but your momentum carries you into the kitchen afterward, that’s still a fault.
If your paddle, clothing or anything you’re carrying touches the non-volley zone while you’re volleying, it is also a fault.
So don’t jump into the kitchen like you’re diving for the last slice of pizza.
4. The ball has to stay in
The ball is out if it lands completely outside the lines. If any part of the ball touches the line, it is in.
The exception is the non-volley-zone line on a serve. A serve that lands on the kitchen line is a fault because that line is part of the kitchen.
And this is where things can get interesting. If you need to stare at the ball for 15 seconds before deciding whether it was in, you probably didn’t have a very good view.
When in doubt, be honest. It’s recreational pickleball, not Wimbledon.
5. You only get one serve
In pickleball, you generally get one serve attempt. If you miss it, it’s a fault.
There are specific rules around lets and other situations, but you don’t get three chances to warm up your serve like you’re bowling.
Get it in and play.
6. Know the score
This is one of the things that makes pickleball a little different.
As far as I know, pickleball is the only sport where you call three numbers when you call the score.
In traditional doubles scoring, you call out three numbers before serving:
Serving team’s score → receiving team’s score → server number.
For example: “5-3-2.”
That means the serving team has 5 points, the receiving team has 3, and the second server is serving.
When you’re new to pickleball, this can sound completely ridiculous.
“Wait... why are there three numbers?”
Don’t worry. You’ll get used to it.
Eventually you’ll be standing on the court confidently yelling “7-6-2” while having absolutely no idea how you got there.
We’ve all been there.
7. Don’t call the ball out from across the court
If the ball is on your side, you are generally responsible for making the call. If you clearly see your partner’s ball is out, you can help them, but don’t start making calls on the other side of the court.
And if you aren’t sure?
The ball is in.
This is recreational pickleball. Winning a point because you called a ball out that you couldn’t possibly see is not exactly going to improve your reputation.
8. The net is allowed to be hit
A ball can touch the net and still be legal. If your shot clips the net and lands in the correct area, play continues.
On a serve, the same basic principle applies as long as the serve is otherwise legal and lands in the correct service court.
The net isn’t your enemy. Although after hitting it five times in a row, you may start to feel differently.
9. The most important rule: have fun
Pickleball has a lot of rules, but you don’t need to memorize the entire rulebook before you step onto the court.
Learn the basics, respect your opponents, make honest calls and keep the game moving.
If you’re playing with more experienced players, don’t be afraid to ask questions. Good players should help newer players understand the rules instead of making them feel uncomfortable for not knowing them.
That’s how the sport grows.
Want to try pickleball without breaking the bank?
You don’t need to spend hundreds of dollars to find out if pickleball is for you.
If you’re just getting started and want to try the sport without breaking the bank, take a look at our HISPORTS Paddle Clearance. We often have previous-generation paddles and great deals from brands like JOOLA, Selkirk, HEAD, Wilson and others.
You can get yourself on the court, learn the game and figure out what you actually like before investing in a more expensive paddle.
Final thought from Coach Alex
Pickleball is easy to start but surprisingly deep once you get into it.
The rules are there to keep the game fair and enjoyable, but don’t let them intimidate you. Get on the court, play, make a few mistakes and learn as you go.
And if you aren’t sure whether that ball was in?
Just remember the most important rule:
When you’re playing against me, it was definitely in.
I’m mostly kidding.
If you want to improve your game beyond the rules, check out Lessons with Coach Alex at HISPORTS.