Pickleball Rules: Complete Guide

Everything you need to know • Updated for 2026

Pickleball rules are simpler than tennis, but there are a few unique twists — especially the kitchen rule and the two-bounce rule. Master these basics and you'll be ready to play.

📖 In This Guide

Basic Game Structure
Serving Rules
Two-Bounce Rule
Kitchen (NVZ) Rule
Scoring
Faults
Doubles Rules
Singles Rules

🎯 Basic Game Structure

Court: 20 feet wide × 44 feet long (same as doubles badminton)
Net height: 36 inches at sidelines, 34 inches at center
Game to: 11 points, win by 2
Only serving team scores
Players: Singles (1v1) or Doubles (2v2)

🏓 Serving Rules

How to Serve

Underhand: The paddle must contact the ball below your waist
Upward motion: The paddle must be moving upward when it hits the ball
Behind the baseline: Both feet must be behind the baseline when you serve
Diagonal: Serve diagonally to the opposite service court

Where the Serve Must Land

Must clear the net
Must land in the diagonal service court (past the kitchen line)
Must land in bounds (lines are in)

Common Fault: Hitting the kitchen line on a serve. The serve must land past the kitchen (non-volley zone). The kitchen line itself is part of the kitchen.

Drop Serve (Alternative)

You can also drop the ball and hit it after it bounces. This is called a "drop serve." The ball must drop naturally (no throwing it down) and can bounce as many times as you want before hitting it.

🔄 The Two-Bounce Rule

This is the most important rule to understand:

The serve must bounce before the receiving team hits it
The return must bounce before the serving team hits it
After both bounces, either team can volley (hit out of the air) or let it bounce

This rule prevents serve-and-volley dominance and creates longer rallies.

🍳 The Kitchen Rule (NVZ)

The "kitchen" is the 7-foot zone on each side of the net, officially called the Non-Volley Zone (NVZ). This is pickleball's signature rule:

You Cannot:

Hit a volley (ball out of the air) while standing in the kitchen
Step into the kitchen while volleying, including during your follow-through
Have your momentum carry you into the kitchen after a volley
Touch the kitchen line while volleying (the line is part of the kitchen)

You Can:

Step into the kitchen to play a ball that has bounced
Stand in the kitchen as long as you're not volleying
Have your paddle over the kitchen while volleying (as long as your feet are out)

Example: The ball bounces in the kitchen. You can step in and hit it. But if your opponent's shot is in the air and headed for the kitchen, you must wait for it to bounce before entering the kitchen to hit it.

Watch Your Momentum: If you volley a ball near the kitchen and your momentum carries you into the kitchen — even one step — that's a fault, even if the ball was already dead.

🔢 Scoring

Basic Scoring

Games are played to 11 points, win by 2
Tournament games may be to 15 or 21
Only the serving team can score
If the receiving team wins the rally, they get the serve (side out)

The Three-Number Score (Doubles)

In doubles, the score is called as three numbers: your score – opponent's score – server number

Example: "4-2-1" means your team has 4 points, they have 2 points, and you're the first server on your team.

How Serving Works in Doubles

The first server serves until they lose a rally
Then the second server serves until they lose a rally
Then the serve goes to the other team (side out)
Exception: At the start of the game, only one player serves on the first serving team

Read our complete scoring guide →

❌ Faults

A fault ends the rally. If the serving team faults, they lose the serve. If the receiving team faults, the serving team scores a point.

Common Faults

Ball hit out of bounds
Ball hit into the net
Volleying from the kitchen
Stepping into the kitchen during/after a volley
Serve doesn't land in the correct service court
Serve hits the kitchen or kitchen line
Violating the two-bounce rule
Ball hit before it crosses the net
Double hit (hitting the ball twice)
Ball touches a player or their clothing

What's NOT a Fault

Ball hits the net and goes over (during rally)
Ball lands on any line except the kitchen line on a serve
Paddle crosses the net after hitting the ball (following through)

🤝 Doubles-Specific Rules

Positioning

Each team has a left side and right side
Players switch sides after each point scored by their team
The server always serves from the right side when their team's score is even, left side when odd

Serving Rotation

At the start of the game, only one player on the first team serves (server 2)
After that, both players serve before a side out
When the serve comes back to your team, the player on the right side serves first

👤 Singles-Specific Rules

Serve from the right when your score is even, left when odd
Only two numbers in the score (your score – their score)
No "server 1" or "server 2" — there's just one server per side

Quick Reference

Rule	What to Remember
Serve	Underhand, below waist, diagonal, behind baseline
Two-Bounce	Serve bounces, return bounces, then volleys are allowed
Kitchen	No volleys in the 7-foot zone, wait for bounce
Scoring	To 11, win by 2, only serving team scores
Lines	All lines are in except kitchen line on serve
Net	Let serves are replayed, rally lets play on

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you hit the ball before it crosses the net?

No, you must wait for the ball to cross the net before hitting it. However, after hitting the ball, your follow-through can cross over the net.

What if the ball bounces twice on my side?

If the ball bounces twice on your side before you hit it, you lose the rally. You must hit the ball before its second bounce.

Can I lean over the kitchen to volley?

Yes, your paddle and even your body can be over the kitchen — as long as your feet aren't touching the kitchen or kitchen line when you volley.

What happens if the serve hits the net?

If the serve hits the net and lands in the correct service court, it's a "let" and you serve again. If it hits the net and lands out or in the kitchen, it's a fault.

Can my partner hit the ball twice in a row?

No, the ball must be hit alternately by each team. However, which player on your team hits it is up to you — either player can take any shot.