Pickleball Rules

The Basics

Pickleball can be played as singles (1 vs 1) or doubles (2 vs 2). Both formats use the same 20 ft × 44 ft court. A coin toss or agreed method determines who serves first and which side of the court teams start on.

The server must call the score before every serve. In doubles, the score is called as three numbers: serving team's score — receiving team's score — server number (1 or 2). Example: "5 – 3 – 1" means the serving team has 5 points, receiving team has 3, and this is the first server. The opening serve of a game is always called "0 – 0 – 2".

Serving Rules

All serves must be made underhand and hit into the diagonally opposite service court. There are two legal serve types:

Positioning rules

• The server must stand behind the baseline within the extension of the centreline and sideline.
• Both feet must be behind the baseline at the time of the serve — neither foot may touch the baseline, court, or outside the imaginary extension lines.
• The serve must clear the non-volley zone (kitchen) and land in the correct service court.
• Serves that hit the top of the net and land in-bounds are valid (a "let serve" is no longer replayed under standard rules).
• In doubles, serving alternates between right and left service courts as long as the server's team keeps winning points.

The Two-Bounce Rule

The two-bounce rule (sometimes called the double-bounce rule) prevents both sides from rushing the net immediately and produces longer rallies and more strategic play. Once the first two shots have been exchanged and bounced, normal play continues.

The Kitchen (Non-Volley Zone)

The non-volley zone (NVZ) — universally nicknamed "the kitchen" — is the 7-foot rectangular area on each side of the net, including its boundary lines. The kitchen rule is central to pickleball strategy.

What you CANNOT do in the kitchen:

• Volley the ball (hit it before it bounces) while standing in the kitchen or on any kitchen line.
• Step into the kitchen or on a kitchen line as momentum from a volley — even after playing the shot from behind the line.

What you CAN do:

• Enter the kitchen to play a ball that has already bounced.
• Stay in the kitchen as long as you like — but you must re-establish both feet outside the NVZ before playing a volley.

Mastering kitchen play — through soft "dink" shots that force opponents into the kitchen — is the hallmark of advanced pickleball strategy.

Scoring Overview

Pickleball uses side-out scoring: only the serving team can win a point. If the serving team faults, no point is awarded — the serve simply passes to the other team (or next server in doubles). Standard games are played to 11 points, and you must win by 2. Tournament games may also be played to 15 or 21.

Want the full scoring breakdown? Read our Pickleball Scoring Guide →

Faults

A fault ends the rally. When the serving team faults, the serve passes to the next server (or the opponents). When the receiving team faults, the serving team scores a point. Common faults include:

Line Calls

Each team is responsible for making line calls on their side of the net. A ball that lands on any court line is considered in — with one exception: a serve that lands on the kitchen line (NVZ line) is a fault.

If a team is unsure whether a ball was in or out, the call must be made in favour of the opponent — i.e. if in doubt, the ball is in. Players may ask opponents for assistance with a line call; if the opponent saw the ball clearly, their call is binding.

Quick Reference

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