Pickleball rules

The Rules of Pickleball

Pickleball is governed by the USA Pickleball Association, which determines, maintains and changes the Official Rulebook for the sport. The rulebook is updated annually and has a transparent process, allowing players to submit rule change recommendations and sharing the results on their website. 

While pickleball is a social sport that is easy to learn, the rules are complicated – particularly if there is interest in playing tournaments. For the people of pickleball, there are some basic rules for those taking to the court for the first time. You will likely forget these rules initially, but fellow picklers will gladly assist you until it becomes routine. 

• Pickleball starts with an underhand serve that travels crosscourt and bounces to the receiver. Underhand means the paddle makes contact with the ball below the waist and the paddle is below the wrist. 
  • Common mistakes include:
    • Serving sidearm
    • Serving into the non-volley zone (considered out of bounds on the serve)
    • Serving into the wrong side of the court (ball must travel crosscourt)

• The shot hit after a service return must be off a bounce. To put it simply, the serve must bounce, the receiver returns the serve and that ball must bounce before it is hit.
  • Common mistakes include:
    • The server takes a few steps off the baseline after serving, putting them out of position to let the ball bounce
    • Once the server learns to stay on the baseline, players often forget the ball does not have to bounce after the first 2 bounces are complete, letting balls they could have volleyed bounce

• The non-volley zone, known as the kitchen, is a 7-foot area on your side of the court, extending from the net. The ball may not be hit out of the air when a player is standing in the kitchen or touching a kitchen line. Additionally, if a paddle or hat falls in the kitchen, or a player steps in the kitchen after hitting a ball in the air, that counts as being in the kitchen.
  • Common mistakes include:
    • Players think all balls must bounce in order to step in the kitchen (a player can go in the kitchen as long as they do not hit the ball in the air)
    • Players think they can’t go in the kitchen at all
    • Players think they can’t hit the ball out of the air if they are near the kitchen (they can, as long as they don’t go in)

The Official Rulebook for pickleball is published by the USA Pickleball Association (USA Pickleball) and has been adapted by the International Federation of Pickleball (IFP). The Official Rulebook applies to both recreational pickleball play and tournament pickleball play; however, to complicate things, some tournaments do not play by the USAPA rulebook.

Some other rules that most pickleball social groups appreciate include the following:

• Introducing yourself to all players on the court
• Not crossing a court during a point
• Wearing shoes
• Bring a ball and put your name on it
• Call the score loud enough for everyone to hear
• Know the rules and be a good sport
• At the end of the game, meet at the net and compliment your opponent’s performance