Learn the game
Pickleball rules, scoring, kitchen and faults
Use this as a beginner-friendly reference for the core rules of pickleball: court size, serving, scoring, the two-bounce rule, kitchen faults, and doubles rotation.
Rule 1
Court Basics
Played on a 20×44 ft court — same size for singles and doubles.
The court is similar in layout to a badminton court. It has a 7-foot non-volley zone on each side of the net, called the 'kitchen'. The net stands 36 inches high at the ends and 34 inches at the centre.
Rule 2
Serve Rules
Underhand, paddle below the wrist, diagonally crosscourt — must clear the kitchen.
The serve is underhand with the paddle contact below the wrist and the ball below the waist. Server stands behind the baseline between the centerline and the sideline. The serve must travel diagonally to the opposite service box and clear the kitchen line — landing on the kitchen line is a fault.
Rule 3
Scoring Basics
Games to 11, win by 2. Only the serving team scores.
Pickleball is typically played to 11 points, and you must win by 2. In traditional scoring, only the serving team can score a point. In rally scoring (a newer format), either team can score. Tournament games may go to 15 or 21.
Rule 4
Double Bounce Rule
Ball must bounce once on each side before volleys are allowed.
After the serve, each side must let the ball bounce once before volleying. This means the receiving team must let the serve bounce, and the serving team must let the return bounce before either team can volley. After these two bounces, play becomes open.
Rule 5
Non-Volley Zone (Kitchen)
You cannot volley while standing in or touching the kitchen line.
The 7-foot zone on either side of the net is the Non-Volley Zone (NVZ), commonly called 'the kitchen'. You may not hit a volley (ball in the air) while standing inside or on the NVZ line. You can enter the kitchen to play a ball that has bounced.
Rule 6
Singles vs Doubles
Same court, same rules — but positioning strategy differs.
Doubles is the most popular format, with two players per team. Singles uses the full court but with slightly adjusted serving rules — only the right service box when score is even, left when odd. Doubles adds teamwork, communication, and positional strategy.
Rule 7
Line Calls
If the ball touches any line, it's IN — except the kitchen line on a serve.
Every boundary line (baseline, sideline, centerline) is considered part of the court. A ball touching any line is in. The only exception: a serve that hits the non-volley zone line is a fault, even though it touches a line. Players make calls on their own side and should give the benefit of the doubt.
Rule 8
Foot Faults & Momentum
No part of you (or your gear) may touch the kitchen during a volley — even after.
When volleying, your feet, body, paddle, and even items you're wearing must stay out of the kitchen — and out of touching the kitchen line. If your momentum from a volley carries you into the kitchen, it's still a fault. You can only enter the kitchen to play a ball that has already bounced.
Rule 9
Common Faults
Out of bounds, hits the net, wrong service box, or two bounces — instant fault.
Common faults end the rally: hitting the ball out of bounds, hitting the net (and ball doesn't cross), serving into the wrong box, letting the ball bounce twice before returning, or volleying from inside the kitchen. The other team gets the point or service.
Rule 10
Drop Serve
Drop the ball, let it bounce, then hit — a legal serve alternative.
Added to the rulebook in 2021: instead of striking the ball from your hand, you may drop it from any height (no toss or push down), let it bounce on the court, and then hit it. All other serve rules still apply — paddle below wrist, diagonal, clear the kitchen line. You can hit a drop serve with any motion — not just underhand.
Rule 11
Server Rotation (Doubles)
Both teammates serve in turn — except the very first serve of the game.
In doubles, when your team wins the serve, the player on the right side serves first. After each won point you switch sides and continue serving. After a fault, your partner serves (and switches sides on each won point). When both partners have faulted, the serve goes to the other team. Exception: the team serving first in a new game only gets one server before handing it over.
Rule 12
Score Call (Doubles)
Always announce three numbers before serving: us — them — server 1 or 2.
Before every serve in doubles, the server must call the score out loud as three numbers: serving team's score, receiving team's score, and the server number (1 or 2). Example: '5-3-2' means serving team has 5, receivers have 3, and this is server #2. In singles, only two numbers are called.