What are the basic rules of pickleball?
B · Beginner · The game · 1 of 5Pickleball is played with solid paddles and a plastic ball on a 20 ft by 44 ft court, in singles or doubles. Rallies start with an underarm serve. The ball must bounce once on each side before anyone volleys, and no one may volley in the zone by the net. Only the serving side scores.
How it works
- Court: 20 ft by 44 ft.
- Formats: singles, doubles.
- Serve: underarm, diagonal.
- Two bounces: before any volley.
- Kitchen: no volleys in it.
- Scoring: serving side only.
- Game: 11, win by two.
- Net: 34 in at centre.
The glossary has the court, the net, the non-volley zone, the point, the game and the two-bounce rule.
Tricky cases
What is the kitchen?
The non-volley zone; the rulebook does not use the nickname.
Can the receiving side score?
Not in standard scoring.
Is singles on a smaller court?
No. Same court.
Can the ball touch the net in a rally?
Yes, and stay in play.
Why the rule exists
The non-volley zone and two-bounce rule stop players smashing every ball from the net, so rallies last.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Scoring | Server only | L 4.A |
| Rally scoring | Provisional | L 14.A |
| Volleys | Not in the zone | L 11.A |
From the rule book
USA Pickleball, Official Rulebook (2026), Rules 1, 3, 4, 10 and 11. Checked 15 October 2026. Official document: USA Pickleball Official Rulebook 2026.