The pickleball rules seem complicated initially, but they’re not too difficult to understand.
Before diving right into the game, you need to ensure you understand the rules. If you don’t, you’ll find yourself wondering what you’re doing or how you lost a point.
To get started, you only need to learn about the basics of pickleball for beginners. Keep reading to learn more about this unique indoor and outdoor sport.
Serve
In pickleball, the serve is the starting point of the game. The server must serve the ball underhand and diagonally to the opponent’s court, aiming for the service court. The serve must be made from behind the baseline and underhand.
If the ball lands outside the service court, it’s considered a fault, and the serve goes to the other team. If the ball hits the net and lands in the correct service court, the serve is called a “let,” and the server gets another chance to serve. The server will continue serving until their team loses a point or the serve changes to the other team.
Double Bounce Rule
The double bounce rule is a unique feature of pickleball that sets it apart from other racquet sports. After the serve, both teams must let the ball bounce once on each side before hitting it. This means that the receiving team must let the serve bounce before returning it, and the serving team must let the return bounce before hitting it.
After the two bounces, the ball can be hit in the air or on the bounce. The double bounce rule helps to keep the game fair and allows players of different skill levels to play together.
Non-volley Zone
The non-volley zone, also known as the kitchen, is a 7-foot area on either side of the net where players cannot volley the ball (hit it in the air without letting it bounce first). This rule is in place to prevent players from smashing the ball and to keep the game fair for all players.
A player can step into the kitchen to hit a ball that has already bounced, but they must immediately step out of the zone. Players can also hit the ball while standing in the kitchen if the ball has bounced outside of the zone.
So, if you are wondering where to play pickleball, check your local community center or parks to see if they have pickleball courts available!
Scoring
Pickleball games are played to 11 points, and the winning team must win by two points. Only the serving team can score points; if the receiving team wins a rally, they become the serving team.
To win a point, the ball must land in the opponent’s court or if the opponent faults (hits the ball out of bounds, doesn’t clear the net, or steps into the non-volley zone while volleying). If both teams reach 10 points, the game enters “win by two,” and the first team to have a two-point lead wins.
Learn the Pickleball Rules and Be Game-ready
Overall, the basic pickleball rules are easy to understand. Still, it would help if you always read up on the game and the specifics of your club or tournament before you start playing.
Get out there, learn how to play pickleball, try it out, and have fun!
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