Pickleball is one of the easiest sports to learn, but if you’ve never played before, some of the rules can seem a little confusing. What’s the kitchen? Why do you have to let the ball bounce twice? And why does the score sometimes have three numbers?
The good news is that you don’t need to memorize an entire rulebook to start playing.
Whether you’re getting ready for your first game or just need a refresher, here are 9 essential pickleball rules every beginner should know.
1. Serve Underhand (or Use a Drop Serve)
Every pickleball rally starts with a serve, and there are two ways to do it.
The Volley Serve: This is the traditional underhand serve. Your paddle must move in an upward motion when striking the ball, contact must be below your waist, and the highest point of the paddle head must be below your wrist at contact.
The Drop Serve: You can also release the ball from your hand or paddle, let it bounce, and then hit it. Unlike a traditional volley serve, there are no restrictions on your paddle’s motion when using a drop serve.
The key is that you must drop the ball naturally, without throwing it upward or pushing it downward.
Beginner Tip: Focus on getting your serve consistently into the correct service box before worrying about speed or power.
2. Serve Diagonally
In pickleball, every serve must travel diagonally across the net into the opposite service court.
The serve must clear the non-volley zone, commonly known as the kitchen, including its boundary line.
If your serve lands on the kitchen line, it’s a fault. However, a serve that lands on the centreline, sideline or baseline of the correct service court is considered in.
Beginner Tip: Aim toward the middle of the diagonal service box rather than trying to hit the lines. Consistency wins more points than risky serves.
3. Follow the Two-Bounce Rule
This is one of pickleball’s most important rules, and one that makes the game unique.
After the serve:
– The receiving team must let the ball bounce before returning it.
– The serving team must then let the return bounce before hitting it.
– After those two bounces, either team can hit the ball in the air (volley) or after a bounce.
This rule prevents the serving team from immediately rushing the net and attacking the return.
Beginner Tip: If you’re serving, remember to stay back long enough to let the return bounce. Moving forward too early is one of the most common beginner mistakes.
4. No Volleys in the Kitchen
The kitchen is the seven-foot area on either side of the net, officially called the non-volley zone.
You cannot volley the ball while standing inside the kitchen or touching its boundary lines.
Here’s something many beginners misunderstand: you are allowed to stand in the kitchen whenever you want. You simply cannot volley from there.
You can enter the kitchen to hit a ball that has bounced, and you can remain there between shots. However, before volleying again, both feet must be completely outside the kitchen.
Your momentum also matters. If you volley a ball and your momentum carries you into the kitchen afterward, it’s a fault—even if the ball has already landed on your opponent’s side.
Beginner Tip: Think of the kitchen as a no-volley zone, not a no-entry zone.
5. Call the Score Before Every Serve
Before each serve, the score must be announced.
In traditional doubles pickleball, the score has three numbers:
Your team’s score – Opponent’s score – Server number
For example, 4–2–1 means your team has four points, your opponents have two, and you’re the first server in your team’s current service turn.
The third number can be either 1 or 2, depending on which player is serving.
At the beginning of a standard doubles game, the score is called 0–0–2, because the first serving team gets only one server before the serve switches sides.
Beginner Tip: Don’t worry if scoring feels confusing at first. Almost every new player struggles with it, and it becomes much easier after a few games.
6. Only the Serving Team Can Score
In traditional pickleball scoring, known as side-out scoring, only the serving team can earn points.
If the serving team wins a rally, it earns a point and continues serving.
If the receiving team wins a rally, it doesn’t earn a point. Instead, the serve moves to the next eligible server or switches teams.
Some tournaments and organized formats use rally scoring, where either team can earn a point on every rally. However, traditional side-out scoring remains a common format for recreational pickleball.
Beginner Tip: When you’re receiving, your first goal is to win the serve back. When you’re serving, that’s your opportunity to build your score.
7. Both Players Get a Chance to Serve in Doubles
In traditional doubles pickleball, both players on a team normally get an opportunity to serve before the serve switches to the opponents.
When the first server loses a rally, the second server takes over.
When the second server loses a rally, it’s called a side out, and the opposing team takes over serving.
There’s one exception: at the beginning of each game, the first serving team gets only one server. That’s why the opening score is 0–0–2.
Players also switch service positions after scoring a point while serving, which helps determine who serves from which side.
Beginner Tip: If you’re unsure whose turn it is, check the score and ask your partner. Even experienced players occasionally lose track!
8. Know Your Line Calls
In pickleball, a ball that touches a court boundary line is generally considered in.
If the ball touches the sideline or baseline, it’s good.
The one important exception is the kitchen line during a serve. If a serve touches the non-volley-zone line, it’s a fault.
During regular rallies, a ball landing on the kitchen line is in.
Players are responsible for making fair line calls on their own side of the court. If you cannot clearly determine that a ball landed out, you should give your opponent the benefit of the doubt.
Beginner Tip: If you’re not sure whether a ball was in or out, call it in. Good sportsmanship is just as important as winning the point.
9. Win by Two Points
Most recreational pickleball games are played to 11 points, but reaching 11 doesn’t automatically mean you’ve won.
You must win by at least two points.
For example:
– 11–7: Game over
– 11–10: Keep playing
– 12–10: Game over
– 13–12: Keep playing
Some tournaments use games to 15 or 21 points, but the win-by-two rule is commonly used unless the event specifies otherwise.
Beginner Tip: Don’t assume the game is over when someone reaches 11. Always check the score difference.
Ready to Put These Rules into Practice?
Reading the rules is a great start, but the best way to learn pickleball is to get on the court.
At 11 Sports & Social Club in Orillia, our beginner-friendly Learn to Play sessions are designed for people with little or no pickleball experience.
You’ll learn the fundamentals, practise serving and scoring, understand court positioning, and start playing real games in a welcoming environment.
No paddle? No problem. Paddles and balls are provided, and you’re welcome to come on your own or bring a friend.
Ready to give pickleball a try?
Explore our Learn to Play programs and register today!
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