Pickleball rules, explained simply
By the PaddleBag team · Updated October 1, 2026 · Basahin sa Tagalog
Pickleball is easy to pick up, but a few rules trip up every new player. Here's everything you need to play your first game — the serve, the two-bounce rule, the kitchen, and how scoring works.
The court and the basics
A pickleball court is 20 feet wide and 44 feet long — the same size as a badminton doubles court. Most games are doubles (2 vs 2), but singles uses the same court.
Games are usually played to 11 points, and you must win by 2. Only the serving side can score a point.
The serve
- Serve underhand, diagonally, into the opposite service box.
- For a volley serve, hit the ball below your waist with an upward swing.
- You can also drop the ball and hit it after it bounces (the drop serve). Don't add spin with your hand when you release it.
- The serve must clear the kitchen — landing on the kitchen line is a fault.
- You get one serve attempt. A serve that clips the net and lands in the right box is in play.
The two-bounce rule
After the serve, the ball must bounce once on each side before anyone can volley (hit it in the air). The receiving team lets the serve bounce, and the serving team lets the return bounce. After those two bounces, you can volley or play off the bounce.
The kitchen (non-volley zone)
The kitchen is the 7-foot zone on each side of the net. You can't volley while standing in the kitchen or touching its line — and if your momentum carries you into it after a volley, that's a fault too.
You can step into the kitchen any time to play a ball that has bounced. Just get back out before you volley again.
Scoring and calling the score
In doubles, the score is called as three numbers: serving team's score, receiving team's score, then server number (1 or 2). Each player on the serving team serves before the serve passes to the other team — except at the start of the game, when only one player serves. That's why the first call is "0-0-2".
When the serving team wins a rally, they score a point and the server switches sides with their partner. In singles, the score is two numbers and you serve from the right when your score is even and the left when it's odd.
Some leagues and pro events use rally scoring (a point on every rally), but most open play still uses the traditional scoring above.
Common faults
- Hitting the ball out of bounds or into the net.
- Volleying before the two-bounce rule is satisfied.
- Volleying from the kitchen, or stepping into it on your follow-through.
- Serving into the wrong box or into the kitchen.
A ball that lands on any line is in — except the kitchen line on the serve.
Ready to play?
The fastest way to learn is to play. Find a court near you and join an open play session.
FAQ
What is the kitchen rule in pickleball?
You can't volley (hit the ball in the air) while standing in the 7-foot non-volley zone next to the net, or while touching its line. You can enter it to hit a ball that has bounced.
Why do you start a pickleball game at 0-0-2?
In doubles, only one player on the first serving team serves at the start of the game, so they are treated as the second server. The score is called 0-0-2.
Can you serve overhand in pickleball?
No. Volley serves must be hit underhand with the ball contacted below the waist. A drop serve, hitting the ball after it bounces, is also allowed.
What happens if the serve hits the net?
There are no lets on the serve. If it clips the net and lands in the correct service box, the ball is in play.