Official Rules

Pickleball Rules

Everything you need to know to start playing — from serving and scoring to the kitchen and line calls.

Pickleball is played as singles or doubles on a 20 × 44-foot court with a net, solid paddles, and a perforated plastic ball. Games are typically played to 11 points, win by 2, with only the serving team able to score. The rules are simple enough to learn in minutes, but the strategy runs deep.

Serving Rules

Every rally begins with a serve. The server stands behind the baseline and hits the ball diagonally to the opponent's service court. The serve must clear the net and land beyond the non-volley zone (kitchen) line.

Volley Serve

The paddle must contact the ball below the server's waist (navel level). The arm must move in an upward arc, and the highest point of the paddle head must be below the wrist at contact. This is the traditional underhand serve.

Drop Serve

The server drops the ball (no tossing or throwing) and hits it after it bounces. There are no restrictions on how the paddle contacts the ball on a drop serve — no waist, arc, or wrist rules apply. Many beginners find this serve easier to learn.

Key Serve Rules

Only one serve attempt is allowed (no second serves like tennis)
The serve must be made diagonally cross-court
The serve must clear the kitchen and kitchen line
Both feet must be behind the baseline at contact
A “let” serve (hits the net and lands in the correct court) is played — there are no let replays

The Two-Bounce Rule

After the serve, the receiving team must let the ball bounce once before returning it. Then the serving team must also let the return bounce once before playing it. After these two bounces, either team may volley the ball (hit it out of the air) or play it off the bounce.

This rule prevents the serving team from rushing the net immediately after serving and eliminates the “serve and volley” advantage. It levels the playing field and encourages longer, more strategic rallies.

The Kitchen (Non-Volley Zone)

The kitchen is a 7-foot zone on each side of the net. It's officially called the non-volley zone (NVZ), and it's the most unique rule in pickleball.

Kitchen Rules

You cannot hit the ball out of the air (volley) while standing in the kitchen or touching the kitchen line
Your momentum cannot carry you into the kitchen after a volley — even if you hit the ball from behind the line
Anything you're wearing or carrying that touches the kitchen during a volley is a fault (hat, paddle, sunglasses)
You can enter the kitchen at any time to play a ball that has bounced — you just can't volley from there
In doubles, your partner cannot hold you back to prevent you from entering the kitchen after a volley

Scoring

Games are played to 11 points, and you must win by 2. Tournament games may be played to 15 or 21. Only the serving team can score points — if the receiving team wins the rally, they earn the serve but no point.

For a deeper breakdown of how to call the score, keep track of server numbers, and understand the 3-number scoring system in doubles, see our complete scoring guide.

Faults

A fault ends the rally. If the serving team commits a fault, they lose the serve. If the receiving team commits a fault, the serving team scores a point.

Common Faults

Hitting the ball into the net
Hitting the ball out of bounds
Volleying from the kitchen or touching the kitchen during/after a volley
Violating the two-bounce rule
Hitting the ball before it crosses the net
A serve that lands in the kitchen or on the kitchen line
The ball striking a player or anything they're wearing

Singles vs Doubles

Doubles

Two players per side (most common format)
Both players on a team get to serve before a side-out (except at the start of the game)
Score is called as three numbers: serving score, receiving score, server number

Singles

One player per side
Only one serve per side-out
Score is called as two numbers: server score, receiver score
Server serves from the right when their score is even, left when odd

Line Calls

A ball that lands on any line is considered “in” — except on the serve, where a ball landing on the kitchen line is a fault. Players are responsible for making line calls on their own side of the court.

If you're unsure whether a ball was in or out, the benefit of the doubt goes to your opponent — the ball is considered in. In tournament play, referees and line judges may be used for close calls.

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