Understanding pickleball rules is essential for fair play and improving your game. This guide covers all the official rules you need to know.
Court Dimensions
A pickleball court is 20 feet wide and 44 feet long, the same size as a doubles badminton court. The net is 36 inches high at the sidelines and 34 inches at the center.
The Non-Volley Zone (Kitchen)
The kitchen is a 7-foot zone on each side of the net. You cannot volley the ball (hit it before it bounces) while standing in the kitchen. This rule prevents players from camping at the net and smashing every ball.
Serving Rules
- Serves must be underhand with paddle contact below the waist
- The server must keep both feet behind the baseline
- The serve must land in the diagonal service court
- Only one serve attempt is allowed (no "let" serves)
The Double Bounce Rule
After the serve, each team must let the ball bounce once before returning it. After these two bounces, players can volley or play off the bounce.
Scoring
- Games are typically played to 11 points, win by 2
- Tournament games may be played to 15 or 21
- Only the serving team can score
- In doubles, both players serve before the serve passes to the opponents