Basics & rules
How to Play Pickleball: A Complete Beginner's Guide
7 min readUpdated ArcStat Pickleball Guides
Pickleball is a paddle sport played on a badminton-sized court where players use solid paddles to rally a perforated plastic ball over a low net.
Pickleball is a paddle sport that combines elements of tennis, badminton, and ping-pong. Two or four players use solid paddles to hit a lightweight perforated plastic ball over a 34-inch-high net on a court the size of a badminton doubles court. Points are scored only by the serving side, and games are typically played to 11, win by 2.
The Court
A standard pickleball court measures 20 feet wide by 44 feet long (the same dimensions as a badminton doubles court). The net stands 36 inches high at the sidelines and 34 inches at the center. On each side of the net is a 7-foot zone called the non-volley zone (NVZ), also called the kitchen. Behind the NVZ on each side are two service courts divided by the centerline.
Equipment You Need
To start playing you need a pickleball paddle, at least one pickleball, and court access. Paddles are solid (no strings) and made from wood, composite, or graphite. Balls come in two varieties: outdoor balls have smaller, more numerous holes and are heavier; indoor balls have larger holes and are lighter. See the equipment guide for a full breakdown.
The Serve
The serve must be hit underhand with a downward arc, contacting the ball below the waist. The server stands behind the baseline and hits diagonally to the opposite service court. The serve must clear the kitchen (NVZ) and land in the correct diagonal box. Only one serve attempt is allowed, except when a let is called (ball clips the net and lands in bounds).
The Two-Bounce Rule
After the serve, each side must let the ball bounce once before hitting it. The receiving team lets the serve bounce. The serving team then lets the return bounce. After those two bounces, both teams may volley (hit the ball in the air) or play groundstrokes. This rule prevents serve-and-volley dominance and extends rallies.
Scoring Basics
Only the serving side scores points. When the serving side commits a fault (hits out, hits into the net, steps in the kitchen while volleying, etc.), the serve passes to the other team or partner. The first side to reach 11 points, leading by at least 2, wins the game. Tournaments often use best-of-three games.
Doubles vs. Singles
Doubles (two players per side) is the most common format. Singles uses the same court but only the right service court when the server's score is even, and only the left when odd. In doubles, communication and positioning (especially at the non-volley zone line) are central to good play. Most recreational and competitive league play in the Philippines uses doubles.
How a Pickleball Point Is Played
Total time: about 3 minutes · 5 steps
Serve diagonally
The server hits an underhand serve from behind the baseline, diagonally across the net into the opponent's service box. The ball must clear the kitchen.Receiver lets serve bounce
The receiving team must let the serve bounce before returning it. They cannot volley the serve.Serving team lets return bounce
After the receiver returns, the serving team must also let that return bounce before playing it. This completes the two-bounce rule.Open rally begins
After both bounces, both teams may volley or hit groundstrokes. Players typically advance toward the non-volley zone line, exchanging dinks and looking for an opportunity to attack.Fault ends the rally
The rally ends when a team commits a fault: hitting out of bounds, hitting into the net, volleying from the kitchen, or failing to clear the net. If the serving side faults, the serve transfers. If the receiving side faults, the serving side scores one point.
Frequently asked
How big is a pickleball court compared to a tennis court?
Can the ball touch the kitchen line on a serve?
What happens if the ball hits the net on a serve and goes in?
How many bounces are allowed after the two-bounce rule is satisfied?
Terms in this guide