Guide to Pickleball Rules for Beginners
Pickleball is rapidly gaining popularity as one of the most enjoyable and accessible sports world wide. Pickleball rules can be confusing at first, but I promise after reading this and playing 2-3 games, all of these details will fall into place. In this guide, we’ll break down the basic rules of pickleball for beginners, provide a link to the official rules, and highlight recent rule changes to keep you informed. Just remember, once you have played a couple of games–everything will easily make sense and become second nature.
What is Pickleball?
Before diving into the rules, let’s briefly recap what pickleball is. Pickleball combines elements of tennis, badminton, and ping pong. It’s played on a court that is 20 feet wide and 44 feet long. Players use solid paddles and a wiffle ball. The game can be played as singles (two players) or doubles (four players), making it a versatile option for players of all ages. Most players will play doubles and quickly advance to a 3.0 level of play. Some players will stay at this level while others will train and play more and slowly move up levels as their skill rises.
Basic Pickleball Rules
A brand new player should review the following before they head to the court. It will make the rules far less confusing. The most difficult part, in the beginning, is usually the scoring and getting the ball consistently over the net. Good news: you will quickly advance once you play a couple of games!
1. The Court
A standard pickleball court is divided into two sides by a net. The dimensions are:
20 feet wide by 44 feet long.
This is ¼ of a standard tennis court
The net height is 36 inches at the ends and 34 inches in the center. So hitting into the middle will provide an easier chance of getting your shot over the net.
2. Serving
Underhand Serve: The serve must be made underhand, with the paddle contacting the ball below the waist. You must drop the ball downward without any spin. You can hit the ballas it bounces back up or you can hit the ball out of the air before it bounces.
Diagonal Serve: The ball must be served diagonally to the opponent’s service area.
Serving Sequence: Players take turns serving. If you win the point, then you continue serving but switch sides with your partner. You continue serving until there is an error. Then your partner has a chance to serve until an error is made. (At the beginning of the game only: the first player serving at the start of the game continues to serve until there is an error on their side. Then the serve goes to the other side)
Designated Box: The serve must land in the opposing sides designated service box; if it lands outside, it’s considered a fault and the point is over.
3. Scoring
Points Scoring: Points are only scored by the serving team. If the serving team wins the rally, they get a point. If the receiving team wins the rally they gain no point.
Games and Matches: Games are typically played to 11 points, and a team must win by at least 2 points.
4. The Double Bounce Rule
After the serve, the receiving team must let the ball bounce once before returning it. The serving team must also let the ball bounce before playing it. This is why you see the serving side “Serve and stay at the backline” and the receiving side have 1 receiver behind their backline and the other player at the net.
5. Non-Volley Zone (NVZ)
The NVZ, also known as the kitchen, is a 7-foot area on both sides of the net. Players cannot volley (hit the ball in the air) while standing in this zone.
Players can enter the NVZ to play a ball that has bounced, but they must exit the zone before volleying.
This is the most misunderstood place on the court. Just remember: You can go into the kitchen anytime you want. But, you cannot hit the ball out of the air while you are in the kitchen. You can only hit the ball out of the air if you are outside of the kitchen.
6. Faults
A fault occurs when:
The ball is hit out of bounds.
The ball does not clear the net.
The player steps into the NVZ to volley the ball.
The player fails to serve the ball into the correct service area.
7. Winning the Game
The first team to reach 11 points with a 2-point lead wins the game. Matches are often played as the best of three games.
Official Rules of Pickleball
For a comprehensive understanding of pickleball rules, you can refer to the official rulebook provided by the USA Pickleball Association. This is the rule book for Recreation play. Here’s the link: https://usapickleball.org/what-is-pickleball/official-rules
Recent Rule Changes (Last 3 Years)
In the past three years, several rule changes have been implemented to enhance the game and keep it engaging. Here are the notable changes:
Modified Serving Rules: As of 2021, the server must announce the score before serving. This change promotes clarity and ensures everyone is on the same page regarding the game status.
Serving below the waist in upward manner and No Spin: Previously, servers where swinging the paddle sideways like a tennis racquet to get more power. In addition, they were spinning the ball against the paddle to create an erratic ball flight across the net. Both of these have been banned with much controversy. You will still see players doing this at recreation play. Mostly, a good player will respect these rules and develop their serve around these restrictions.
Ball In/Out: The most controversial part of the game is calling balls in/out. The players that have the ball on their side of the court are the ones that call the balls in/out. The new rule is if 25% of the ball is in the court–it is considered in. But this is a matter of perspective of where you are standing on the court. As you are learning the game, the best advice is to follow: “If you are not sure the ball is 100% out – then it is in”. Play by this standard and not only will the play progress but you and your opponent won’t be second-guessing your call.
NVZ Foot Faults: The enforcement of foot faults in the NVZ has become stricter. Players must be aware of their positioning and ensure they don’t violate this rule during gameplay. Just consistently stay 3-4 inches away from the kitchen line at all times.
Conclusion
Understanding the basic rules of pickleball is essential for beginners looking to enjoy this engaging sport. Serving and scoring rules are usually confusing for the new player. Don’t worry, it will quickly make sense after a couple of games.
For more in-depth knowledge and the latest updates, check the official USA Pickleball rules linked above. Whether you’re playing casually or competitively, it’s best to develop your game around the rules so that you limit any controversy on the court. No one wants to play with someone who makes the game difficult or unfair. Just relax, follow the rules, respect your opponent’s calls, and compete at the highest level you can!