How to Play Pickleball
Pickleball is the fastest-growing sport in America, and for good reason — it's fun, easy to learn, and great exercise. If you've never played before, this guide will get you on the court in no time.
What You Need
Solid paddle (not stringed)
Plastic ball with holes
Court shoes (not running shoes)
Badminton-sized court with net
Many community centers and parks have public courts with paddles and balls available. You don't need to buy anything to try it out.
The Basics in 5 Minutes
The Court
A pickleball court is the same size as a doubles badminton court (20' x 44'). The net is 34" high at the center. The most important zone is the "kitchen" — a 7-foot area on both sides of the net where you can't hit the ball out of the air (volley).
The Serve
Serve underhand, diagonally cross-court. The ball must bounce once on the receiving side before being returned. Stand behind the baseline and hit below your waist. Only one serve attempt per point.
The Two-Bounce Rule
After the serve, the ball must bounce once on each side before anyone can volley. This means: serve bounces, return bounces, then anything goes. This rule prevents serve-and-volley dominance.
The Kitchen Rule
You can't volley (hit the ball in the air) while standing in the kitchen or touching the kitchen line. You CAN enter the kitchen to play a ball that has bounced. This rule creates the strategic dinking game.
Scoring
Games are typically to 11 points, win by 2. Only the serving team can score. In doubles, the score is called as three numbers: your score, their score, and which server (1 or 2). For example: "4-3-2" means you have 4 points, they have 3, and you're the second server.
🎯 The Goal
Get to the kitchen line and keep the ball low. Points are usually won at the net through patient dinking (soft shots in the kitchen) or by putting away high balls. Don't try to hit winners from the baseline — get to the net!
Your First Game Checklist
- ✅ Serve underhand, diagonally
- ✅ Let the serve bounce before returning
- ✅ Let the return bounce before hitting (two-bounce rule)
- ✅ Don't volley in the kitchen
- ✅ Move forward to the net after the two bounces
- ✅ Keep the ball low — aim for their feet
- ✅ Have fun!
Finding Courts & Players
Pickleball is everywhere. Here's how to find games:
- Local parks: Many parks now have dedicated pickleball courts
- Community centers: Often have open play times for all levels
- Apps: Playtime Scheduler, Pickleball Brackets show local games
- Facebook groups: Search "[your city] pickleball" for local communities
- YMCAs and rec centers: Many offer beginner clinics
Etiquette Tips
- Call "ball on court" if a ball rolls onto your court during play
- Return balls to the correct court between points
- Paddle tap at the net before and after games
- Call your own lines honestly (if it's close, give it to your opponent)
- Be patient with beginners — everyone started somewhere
Next Steps
Once you've played a few games, check out these resources to improve:
Welcome to the game. You're going to love it.