Have you ever played pickleball and wondered why a winning shot did not earn your team a point? Or have you hit the ball near the net and discovered that your feet were in a restricted area?

Pickleball is easy to enjoy once we understand its basic rules. Let's explore serving, double bounces, scoring, and court positions so we can play with greater confidence.

Know the Court and Kitchen Zone

A standard pickleball court measures 44 feet long and 20 feet wide (13.41 by 6.10 meters). A net separates the two sides, standing 36 inches high at the sidelines and 34 inches at the center. Each side has right and left service courts divided by a centerline.

The kitchen, officially called the non-volley zone, extends 7 feet (2.13 meters) from the net on each side. We cannot hit the ball out of the air while touching this zone or its boundary line.

Instead, we need to let the ball bounce before returning it. If our momentum carries us into the kitchen after a volley, we also commit a fault.

Serve Underhand and Aim Diagonally

A traditional volley serve must travel diagonally into the opposite service court. We stand behind the baseline, with both feet outside the court when making contact. The ball must land in the correct service area without touching the kitchen line.

For a volley serve, contact must be below waist level, with the paddle head below the wrist. We can also use a drop serve, letting the ball fall naturally before hitting it after the bounce. Both methods are useful for beginners learning to control direction and distance.

In doubles, the score also tells players where to stand. The player who started the game on the right side serves from the right when the team's score is even and from the left when it is odd. Checking the score before serving helps us avoid confusion.

Follow the Double-Bounce Rule

The double-bounce rule is central to pickleball. After the serve, the receiving team must let the ball bounce once before returning it. The serving team must then allow that return to bounce once on its own side before hitting the next shot.

After these two required bounces, either team can volley or wait for another bounce. We should avoid rushing toward the net too early. A controlled return that travels deep into the court gives us time to move into position and prepare for the next exchange.

A useful tactic is the third-shot drop. After the required bounces, the serving team gently sends its third shot toward the kitchen. This can make an aggressive return more difficult and create an opportunity to move closer to the net. Accuracy and control are often more helpful than simply hitting hard.

Understand Scoring and Winning

Under traditional scoring, only the serving side can earn points. If the receiving team wins a rally, it gains the serve but does not score. This can surprise beginners who are used to games where either side earns a point after every rally.

A standard game usually ends at 11 points, with a lead of at least two points required. At 10–10, play continues until one team leads by two, such as 12–10 or 13–11. Matches often use a best-of-three format, although some competitions use different target scores. We should agree on the scoring system before starting.

Understand Singles and Doubles

Doubles features two players on each side, making communication especially important. Partners can call shots, cover different areas, and avoid chasing the same ball. Singles uses the same court dimensions, but each player covers the entire side alone.

Avoid Common Beginner Mistakes

We can prevent common faults by remembering four points: keep our feet out of the kitchen when volleying, use a legal serve, allow both required bounces, and understand when points can be earned. We should also check our position behind the baseline before serving.

Lykkers, a few slow practice rallies that focus only on the two required bounces and staying out of the kitchen are an easy way to make these rules feel natural before a real match.

Have you played pickleball before, or are you preparing for your first match? Tell us which rule you find hardest to remember, and share your experience with other readers.

How to Play Pickleball: The Ultimate Guide on Pickleball Rules

Video by ThatPickleballGuy - Kyle Koszuta