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What Are the Basic Rules of Pickleball?

 
Max. D Gray
By Max. D Gray. January 23, 2025
What Are the Basic Rules of Pickleball?

Pickleball is a racket sport that combines elements of tennis, paddle tennis, badminton and ping-pong. It is played on a smaller court than a tennis court, meaning it is very economical in terms of space. While it has been around since the mid-1960s, it has grown exponentially in popularity within the last few years. The court is more similar to a badminton court than a tennis court, with the main objective is to hit the ball and move it to the opponent's court over the net. It is becoming fashionable due to its dynamism and simplicity of play.

If you want to know more about this racket sport, in this oneHOWTO article we ask what are the basic rules of pickleball? In addition to learning how to play, we discover the size of a pickleball court.

You may also be interested in: Jai Alai Rules and Gameplay Explained
Contents
  1. What is pickleball?
  2. What are the basic rules of pickleball?
  3. Pickleball court measurements

What is pickleball?

Pickleball is a racket sport played on a court similar to badminton, but the two sides of the court are divided by a lower net. A paddle is used to hit the ball, with the ball itself having holes in it. The main objective of the game is to hit the ball over the net and into the opponent's court, always following specific rules of pickleball.

One of the reasons why pickleball stands out as a sport is for its dynamism and simplicity of play. It combines the best of some racket sports, making its practice both a familiar and unique experience. Its rules are very easy to learn, making it very accessible for beginner players of all ages.

Despite being good for beginners, pickleball allows for the development of precise techniques and advanced strategies that also make it a great challenge for experienced players. Its format is highly adaptable, making it perfect for both recreational games and high-level competitions. As it is played on a smaller court and with a controlled ball speed, the physical intensity required is lower compared to other racket sports such as tennis, but it maintains the dynamism and fun.

Learn more about another racket sport which has recently grown in popularity with our article asking what is the difference between tennis and padel?

What are the basic rules of pickleball?

Although there are some more complicated or specific rules which will be followed at higher levels of the sport, there are some basic rules to follow. These will allow you to play pickleball from the off. The basic pickleball rules are:

  • A set is normally won by the first team to score 11 points, although the winning team must win by a minimum of two points.
  • In service, the ball is hit from an underhand stroke and each team must hit its first shot after the ball bounces.
  • After the ball bounces on each side once, both teams may hit the ball without it bouncing again.
  • Volleying the ball is not permitted within the no-volley zone and no player may step over the line when volleying the ball.
  • If the player touches the no-volley zone while gaining momentum to hit the ball, a foul is called.
  • A team scores points only when it serves.
  • Points are lost if any player volleys the ball in the non-volley zone, does not returning the ball to opponent's side of the court before the second bounce and violating the double bounce rule.
  • After serving, the ball must be allowed to bounce before hitting and returning it to the other side of the court. It is essential that the ball bounce once on both courts for volleys to be allowed. This is known as the double bounce rule.
  • The hand is considered an extension of the paddle.
  • A player loses the point if the ball hits any other area of their body or clothing.
  • At the start of the service, both feet must be placed behind the service line.
  • The serve is made diagonally and beyond the non-volley zone.
  • Only one service attempt is allowed. There is a new rule that eliminates the ‘let’ (the ball touches the net on the serve and lands in the service box), so now the service is not repeated for a ‘let’.
  • At the start of a new set, only one player from the first serving team may serve and miss before the ball reaches the opponents.
  • When the serving team scores a point, the server (returning player) moves to the other side of the court from the serving team.

If you want to learn the rules of another fun game to play with friends, we explain how to score on a dart board.

What Are the Basic Rules of Pickleball? - What are the basic rules of pickleball?

Pickleball court measurements

The pickleball court measures 20 feet wide by 44 feet long (6.1 meters by 13.41 meters). This is the same for both singles and doubles matches. The minimum recommended space around the court is 6.6 ft ( 3 m) on each baseline and 9.8 ft (2 m) on each sideline. This ensures that the player can move safely. The no-volley zone is 7 ft (2.13 m) from the net on each side.

The court measurements must be made up to the outer area of the lines. These lines must be of the same color and measure 2" (5 cm) wide. Regarding the height of the net, it must measure 36" (91.4 cm) at the sidelines and 34" (86.4 cm) in the middle. The net can be tightened or slackened to achieve these measurements.

Now that you know what pickleball is, its rules and how to play, you may want to learn about another fast and frenetic sport with our article explaining how to play jai alai.

If you want to read similar articles to What Are the Basic Rules of Pickleball?, we recommend you visit our Sports category.

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