Pickleball Rules

Pickleball is a dynamic racket sport that combines elements of tennis, badminton, and ping pong. The game is typically played on a court with the dimensions of a badminton court and a net similar to tennis. The rules of pickleball are straightforward:

1. Serve: The serve must be made underhand and diagonally cross-court. The server must stand behind the baseline and hit the ball into the opponent’s service court.
2. Double Bounce Rule: After the serve, both the serving team and the receiving team must let the ball bounce once before returning it. This ensures rallies are extended and provides equal opportunities for both teams.
3. Volley Zone: The area near the net, known as the non-volley zone or kitchen, is a no-volley zone. Players cannot hit the ball out of the air while standing inside this zone, except on volleys made from behind the line.
4. Faults: Common faults in pickleball include stepping into the non-volley zone while hitting a volley, hitting the ball out of bounds, or failing to let the ball bounce before returning it.
5. Scoring: Pickleball is typically played to 11 points, and points can only be scored by the serving team. If the serving team wins a rally, they score a point and continue to serve. If the receiving team wins a rally, they gain the serve but do not score a point.
6. Winning: A game of pickleball is won by the first team to reach 11 points, with a margin of at least two points. If the score reaches 11-10, the game continues until one team has a two-point advantage.
7. Rotation: In doubles play, players rotate positions after scoring points, with the server moving to the opposite side of the court and the partner rotating to serve.

Overall, pickleball is a fast-paced and engaging sport with simple rules that make it accessible to players of all ages and skill levels.