How to Play Pickleball

Pickleball is a fun, fast-paced game that blends elements of tennis, badminton, and ping pong. Whether you’re a beginner or looking to refine your skills, this guide will walk you through the essentials of playing pickleball like a pro!

  • 🎾 The Basics of Pickleball

    • Pickleball is played on a 20’ x 44’ court, similar to badminton.
    • The net is 36” high at the sidelines and 34” at the center.
    • It can be played as singles (1 vs. 1) or doubles (2 vs. 2).
    • The objective is to hit the ball over the net and land it in the opponent’s court, aiming to score points while avoiding faults.

  • 🏁 Getting Started: Serving the Ball

    • The serve must be underhand, with the paddle contacting the ball below the waist.
    • The ball must be served diagonally into the opposite service court.
    • The server must stand behind the baseline and hit the ball into play without bouncing it first.
    • A serve that touches the net but lands in the correct service box is a “let” and can be replayed.

  • 🔄 Understanding the Double Bounce Rule

    • After the serve, the receiving team must let the ball bounce once before returning it.
    • The serving team must then let the return bounce once before hitting it.
    • After these two bounces, both teams can hit volleys (without bouncing) or groundstrokes (after bouncing).

  • 🚫 The Non-Volley Zone (The Kitchen)

    • The 7-foot area on both sides of the net is called the Non-Volley Zone (NVZ) or "The Kitchen."
    • Players cannot volley (hit the ball in the air) while standing in the NVZ.
    • You can enter the Kitchen only to hit a ball that has bounced inside it.
    • If your momentum carries you into the Kitchen after volleying, it’s a fault.

  • 📊 Scoring & Winning the Game

    • Only the serving team can score points.
    • A game is typically played to 11 points (win by 2).
    • Some competitive games go up to 15 or 21 points.
    • In doubles, each player on a team serves before the other team gets a turn.

  • ⚠️ Common Faults & Mistakes to Avoid

    • Serving out of bounds or into the net.
    • Stepping into the Kitchen while volleying.
    • Not letting the ball bounce during the first two hits (Double Bounce Rule).
    • Hitting the ball out of bounds.