Pickleball is the fastest-growing sport in the country, and part of what makes it so popular is how easy it is to learn. Whether you’re playing doubles (two players per side) or singles (one per side), the rules are straightforward once you understand the basics. Here’s a breakdown of how to play pickleball, from serving to scoring to the all-important Kitchen rule.

Starting the Game

Pickleball can be played as either doubles or singles:

• Doubles: Two players on each side.
• Singles: One player on each side.

To start, decide who serves first, any fair method works. In doubles, the player on the right-hand side of the court serves first.

Serving in Pickleball

Pickleball serves must be underhand (below the waist with the paddle below the wrist) or a drop serve. Key rules for serving:

• The serve must be hit crosscourt into the service box.
• Serves must land beyond the Kitchen line. If a serve hits the Kitchen or the Kitchen line, it’s out.
• All serves must be made from behind the baseline and between the center and sideline.

The Two-Bounce Rule

Pickleball has a unique two-bounce rule:

• The serve must bounce.
• The return of serve must also bounce.
• After that, both teams are free to volley (hit the ball out of the air) or let it bounce.

This rule ensures longer rallies and makes the game accessible for all ages.

Faults in Pickleball

A rally ends when a player commits a fault. Common faults include:

• Double bounce (ball bounces twice before being hit).
• Hitting the ball out of bounds.
• Hitting the ball into the net.
• Volleying in the Kitchen (see below).

Any shot landing on the court lines is considered in, except for serves, which must clear the Kitchen.

The Kitchen Rule

The Non-Volley Zone (NVZ), nicknamed the Kitchen, is the 14-foot area around the net (7 feet on each side). You cannot volley (hit out of the air) while standing in the Kitchen or if your momentum carries you into it after hitting a volley.

However, you may:

• Enter the Kitchen to hit a ball after it bounces.
• Stand in the Kitchen (not recommended) as long as you are not volleying.

The Kitchen rule prevents easy smashes from right at the net and makes strategy more important.

Scoring in Pickleball

Pickleball scoring can feel confusing at first, but here are the basics:

• Only the serving team can score points.
• If the serving team wins the rally, they earn a point and switch sides (left/right). The same server continues but serves to the opposite box.
• If the serving team loses the rally, no points are awarded and the serve passes to the next player.
• In doubles, each player on a team gets a turn to serve before a side-out sends the serve to the other team. The only exception is at the start of the game, when the first serving team gets only one server (hence the traditional “0-0-2” call to begin).
• In singles, the server switches sides based on their score: even scores serve from the right, odd scores from the left.

Calling the Score

In doubles, the score has three numbers:

1. Serving team’s score
2. Receiving team’s score
3. Server number (1 or 2)

In singles, only two numbers are called (your score, then your opponent’s).

Most games are played to 11 points, and you must win by 2 points.

Pickleball Etiquette

Pickleball is as much about community as competition. A few etiquette tips:

• Call “out” balls loudly and clearly, but only if you’re certain.
• Call the score before each serve.
• Tap paddles or give kudos after the game, it’s tradition.

Pickleball is simple to learn but endlessly strategic to master. Grab a paddle, find a court, and join the fastest-growing sport in America.