Pickleball Rules for Beginners: Everything You Need to Know

July 15, 2025

Pickleball is the fastest-growing sport in America, and for good reason — it's easy to learn, social, and absurdly fun. But before you step onto the court, you need to know the basics.

Here's a no-nonsense guide to pickleball rules so you can play your first game without that "wait, what just happened?" feeling.

The Court

A pickleball court is 20 feet wide and 44 feet long — the same size as a doubles badminton court. There's a 7-foot zone on each side of the net called the non-volley zone, better known as the kitchen.

The kitchen is sacred ground. You cannot hit a volley (a ball out of the air) while standing in it. This single rule is what makes pickleball strategy so different from tennis.

Serving

Serves are made underhand — the paddle must contact the ball below your waist
You serve diagonally to the opposite court
The ball must bounce once on the receiving side before being returned
The serve must clear the kitchen (non-volley zone)
Only one serve attempt per turn (no second serves like tennis)

The Two-Bounce Rule

This is the rule that confuses people the most, but it's simple:

The serve bounces on the receiving side (bounce #1)
The return bounces on the serving side (bounce #2)
After those two bounces, either team can volley or play off the bounce

This rule prevents the serving team from rushing the net immediately, which keeps rallies going longer and makes the game more fun.

Scoring

Games are typically played to 11 points, win by 2
Only the serving team can score
In doubles, each player on a team gets to serve before the serve passes to the other team (except at the start of the game)

The score is called as three numbers: your score, opponent's score, and which server you are (1 or 2). So "4-3-2" means your team has 4, they have 3, and you're the second server.

The Kitchen (Non-Volley Zone)

You cannot volley the ball while standing in the kitchen. You also can't volley and then let your momentum carry you into the kitchen. However, you can step into the kitchen to hit a ball that has already bounced.

This rule creates the dinking game — those soft, strategic shots that barely clear the net. It's where the best points happen and honestly where the most fun is.

Faults

A fault ends the rally. Common faults include:

Hitting the ball out of bounds
Not clearing the net
Volleying from the kitchen
Violating the two-bounce rule
Hitting the ball into the net on a serve

Ready to Play?

That's really all you need to know to start. The best way to learn is to play — everything clicks after a few games. And if you want to look the part while you're learning, check out our pickleball shirt collection.