Pickleball is played on a court the same size and shape as a badminton court and uses a shorter tennis style net. You can play as either singles or doubles. It uses hard bats (pickleball paddles) and hard airflow balls.
Gameplay
Serving
- Underhand serve only
- The paddle must contact the ball below your waist
- Serve diagonally across the court
- The ball must land beyond the "kitchen"
The "kitchen"
The kitchen is the 7-foot area near the net. You cannot volley while standing in the kitchen or touching its line.
Double bounce rule
After the serve:
- Receiving player/team must let the ball bounce once
- Serving team must also let it bounce once
- After those two bounces, either side can volley or play off the bounce
This rule is designed to prevent immediate net attacks.
Scoring
- Games are usually 11 points
- You must win by 2 clear points
- Only the serving player/team can score
- In doubles, each player on a team serves before the serve switches sides (except a the start of the game)
Faults (loosing a rally)
You loose the point/rally if:
- The ball goes out
- The ball hits the net and doesn't cross
- Volley from inside the kitchen
- Serve lands in the kitchen or out of bounds
- Ball bounces twice before you hit it
Tips for beginners
- Stay near the kitchen line after the return
- Keep your paddle up and ready
- Don't swing too hard
- Aim for consistency over power