Pickleball Rules Overview
Scoring
- Only the serving team can score a point
- Games are typically played to 11, win by 2
- Tournament games may go to 15 or 21
- Doubles score call: Server – Receiver – Server# (1 or 2)
- Singles score call: Server – Receiver
Serving
- Serve must be hit underhand, below the waist
- Serve diagonally into the opposite service box
- Both feet must be behind the baseline when serving
- In doubles, each partner serves before a side-out (except the very first serve of the game)
- A let serve (hits the net and lands in) is replayed
The Kitchen (NVZ)
- The non-volley zone (NVZ) extends 7 ft from the net on each side
- You cannot volley (hit the ball out of the air) while standing in the kitchen
- You may enter the kitchen to play a ball that has bounced
- You must exit the kitchen before volleying again
Double-Bounce Rule
- After the serve, each side must let the ball bounce once before volleying
- Once both sides have hit a ground stroke, volleys are allowed
Faults
- Ball lands out of bounds
- Ball hits the net
- Volleying from the kitchen
- Violating the double-bounce rule