BASIC OVERVIEW

Pickleball is played on a badminton-sized court: 20’ x 44.’ The ball is served diagonally (starting with the right-hand service-square), and points can only be scored by the side that serves. Players on each side must let the ball bounce once before volleys are allowed, and there is a seven-foot non-volley zone on each side of the net, to prevent “spiking.” The server continues to serve, alternating service courts, until he or she faults. The first side scoring eleven points and leading by 1 or 2 points, determined at the beginning of the game. Pickleball can be played with singles or doubles.

THE PICKLEBALL SERVE

Serves are to be made diagonally, starting with the right-hand service-square and alternating each serve. The serve must clear the seven-foot non-volley-zone in front of the net and land in the diagonal service court.

Serves should always be done underhand with the paddle below the waist, and the server must keep both feet behind the back line when serving. The serving side will continue to serve until there is a fault on the service, at which point the service will be given to the opposing side.

The Server must keep both feet behind the back line when serving. At the start of each new game, the 1st serving team is allowed only one fault before giving up the ball to the opponents. Thereafter both members of each team will serve and fault before the ball is turned over to the opposing team. When the receiving team wins the serve, the player in the right hand court will always start play.

VOLLEYS

To volley means to hit a ball in the air without first letting it bounce. In Pickleball, this can only be   done when the player’s feet are behind the non-volley zone line  “The Kitchen”. Note: It is a fault if the player steps “on” and/or “over” the white line during the volley follow-through.

DOUBLE-BOUNCE RULE

Each team must play their first shot off of the bounce. That is, the receiving team must let the serve bounce and the serving team must let the return of the serve bounce before playing it. Once these two bounces have occurred, the ball can either be volleyed or played off the bounce.

FAULT

A fault is committed when the ball:

Touches any part of the non-volley zone on the serve (including the line).

Is hit out of bounds.

Is volleyed from the non-volley zone.

Is volleyed before a bounce has occurred on each side.

SCORING

A team shall score a point only when serving. A player who is serving shall continue to do so until   a fault is made by his/her team. If playing doubles, each player on a team shall keep serving until their team makes a fault, then the serve moves to the opposing team - this is called a “Side Out”. The game is played to 11 points, however a team must win by 1 or 2 points (determined at the beginning of the game).

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