Within this post I will be discussing the general rules of pickleball an individual should know when participating or watching a match. This post will outline the five general rules, these rules include: starting the game, scoring within the game, the double bounce rule, non-volley zone, faults and how a team wins the match. I discovered this information in a more in-depth PDF created by Pickleball Canada that was created in 2010 but updated yearly since.

  1. Starting the Match
  • Serve: The game begins with a serve. The serve must be underhand, with the paddle contacting the ball below the server’s waist. The server must have both feet behind the baseline and serve diagonally to the opposite side of the court.
  • Service Sequence: When playing doubles, each player on a team serves until their team commits a fault, except for the first service sequence of the game when only one player serves before turning the serve over to the opponents.
  1. Scoring
  • Points: Points can only be scored by the appropriate serving team. Games are typically played to 11 points, and a team must win by 2 points.
  • Calling the Score: Before serving, the server must call out the score, stating their team’s score first, then the opponent’s score, and finally the server number (either 1 or 2 in doubles).
  1. The Double-Bounce Rule
  • When the ball is served, the receiving team must let it bounce before returning, and then the serving team must let it bounce before returning, thus the “double-bounce” rule. After these two bounces, the ball can be volleyed or played off the bounce.
  1. Non-Volley Zone (The Kitchen)
  • Zone Rules: The area within 7 feet on both sides of the net is called the non-volley zone or the kitchen. Players cannot volley the ball (hit it in the air) while standing within this zone. This rule prevents players from executing smashes close to the net.
  • Entering the Zone: Players can enter the non-volley zone to play a ball that has bounced but must exit before playing a volley.
  1. Faults
  • Faults: A fault is any action that stops play because of a rule violation. Common faults include:
    • Failing to serve the ball into the correct service court.
    • Volleying the ball before it has bounced once on each side.
    • Hitting the ball out of bounds.
    • Volleying the ball from within or while stepping on the non-volley zone.
    • Double hitting the ball or carrying it.
  1. Winning the Game
  • Winning: A game is won by the first team to score 11 points with a margin of at least 2 points. If both teams are tied at 10-10, play continues until one team wins by 2 points.

Conclusion

In conclusion an individual must understand and respect these rules in order to advance in the sport. Understanding these rules will increases one’s knowledge and forward there on court IQ within the match.