Pickleball has exploded in popularity and for good reason. It’s beginner-friendly, social, and easier to learn than you might think. Whether you’re stepping onto the court for the first time or just want to understand what you’re watching, this introductory guide breaks everything down in simple terms.
1. Understanding the Pickleball Court
A pickleball court looks similar to a mini tennis court but has its own unique layout.
Court Dimensions:
44 ft long x 20 ft wide (same size for both singles and doubles)
Divided into right and left service areas
The Non-Volley Zone (NVZ) commonly called the kitchen extends 7 ft from the net on both sides
Key Court Areas:
Baseline: Where you serve from
Sidelines: Outer boundary lines
Service Boxes: Right and left sections behind the kitchen
Non-Volley Zone (Kitchen): You cannot volley (hit the ball in the air) while standing inside it
Centerline: Divides the service boxes
Kitchen Rule (The Big One):
You can’t volley while touching the NVZ line or standing inside it
You can step into the kitchen after the ball bounces there
You must exit the kitchen before hitting a volley again
Beginners often step on the line so watch your feet!
2. Scoring: How Pickleball Points Work
Pickleball uses rally-by-serve scoring, meaning only the serving team scores points.
Basic Match Format
Games are played to 11 points
Win by 2
Tournament games may go to 15 or 21
How the Score Is Called
You call three numbers:
Your team’s score
Opponent’s score
Server number (1 or 2)
Example:
“4 – 2 – 1” means your team has 4, opponents 2, and server 1 is serving.
Serving Rotation in Doubles:
Each team begins a rally with two servers, except for the very first serve of the game
If server 1 loses the rally → server 2 serves
If server 2 loses the rally → serve passes to the other team
Only the serving team can earn points
Singles Scoring:
Same scoring rules, but there’s no server 1 or 2
Server calls: server score – receiver score
3. Serving Rules: Simple & Structured
Pickleball serves are unique and must follow a few specific rules.
Serve Must:
Be hit underhand
Be struck below the waist
Use a continuous motion
Land in the diagonal service box
Clear the kitchen (it cannot land in the NVZ)
Foot Faults:
During the serve:
At least one foot must stay behind the baseline
You cannot touch the court or step on the baseline until after contact
4. The Two-Bounce Rule
This rule keeps the game balanced and prevents net-dominant play.
The Two-Bounce Rule Means:
The return of serve MUST bounce before the serving team hits it
The serving team’s return after that also MUST bounce
After these two bounces (one on each side), volleys are allowed
This creates longer rallies and gives beginners more time to react.
5. Basic Rules to Start Playing Confidently
Once you know the big rules, the rest is simple. Here are the essentials:
✔ Out-of-Bounds
Balls landing outside the court lines are out—lines count as in.
✔ Faults
Faults result in:
Loss of serve or side-out
A point for the serving team (if committed by receivers)
Common faults include:
Volleying in the kitchen
Hitting the ball out
Hitting the net and failing to clear
Serving into the kitchen
Double hits
Touching the net with your body or paddle
✔ Let Serves
As of 2021 pickleball rules, let serves no longer exist if the serve hits the net and lands in, it’s playable.
Final Thoughts
Pickleball is simple to start and incredibly fun to improve at perfect for families, beginners, and competitive players alike. With a basic grasp of scoring, the court layout, and the big rules like the kitchen and two-bounce rule, you’ll feel confident stepping onto the court right away.