Pickleball rules

How a Match Works

Match Flow

• Your first match - how a doubles game goes TipWalks through a doubles match step by step, from before the start to the end of the game. A starting point for the rules you need in a match, such as keeping score and the serving order.

Positioning and Movement

• Where to stand when serving and receiving TipThe rules only set where the server and the receiver stand. Partners can stand anywhere. The receiving team usually moves forward after hitting the return.

Talking in Doubles

• Talking to your partner in doubles (so nobody freezes) TipIn doubles, it is easy for both players to leave a ball for the other. Prevent this with calls like "mine" or "yours," and by agreeing who takes middle balls. Shouting "out!" at a ball in the air is a call to your partner, not a line call.

Court and Equipment

Court Size and Lines

• Court size and lines The court is 20 feet wide and 44 feet long (6.10 x 13.41 m). Doubles and singles use the same court, and the net is a little lower in the middle.

Paddles and Balls

• Paddle rules A paddle's length plus width must be 24 inches (61 cm) or less, and its length must be 17 inches (43.2 cm) or less. In tournaments, use a paddle on USA Pickleball's approved list.
• Ball rules The ball is made of plastic with holes, and is about 2.9 inches (7.3 to 7.5 cm) across. Tournaments use balls approved by USA Pickleball.

Serving

How to Serve

• How to serve (volley serve and drop serve) There are two kinds of serve - the volley serve and the drop serve. For a volley serve, hit the ball below the waist with an upward paddle swing. For a drop serve, drop the ball and hit it after it bounces.

Where to Serve From and To

• Serve diagonally Serve from behind the baseline into the opponents' service court diagonally across. There is no second serve, and if the serve touches the net but lands in the right place, play continues.
• A serve that touches the kitchen line is a fault A serve must clear the kitchen. If it lands in the kitchen or on the kitchen line, it is a fault. If it touches any of the other three lines, it is in.
• Where your feet go when serving At the moment you hit the serve, at least one foot must be on the ground behind the baseline. Stepping on the baseline or into the court is a fault.

Serving Order and Procedure

• Serving order in doubles In doubles, both players on a team serve in turn before a side out. After a side out, the player on the right serves first. But the team that serves first in a game gets only one server.
• After scoring, only the serving team switches sides When the serving team scores, the server and partner switch sides, and the same server keeps serving. The receiving team does not move.
• Serve within 10 seconds of the score call Serve within 10 seconds after you finish calling the score. If 10 seconds pass, it is a fault.
• The "wait" signal (when you are not ready) Before the score call starts, you can show you are not ready yet by raising your paddle or hand above your head, or by turning your back to the net.

Scoring

Calling the Score

• The score call (three numbers) In doubles, the score is called as three numbers - serving team's score, receiving team's score, server number. A game starts at "0-0-2".

Points and Side Outs

• Only the serving team scores A point is scored only when the serving team wins the rally. If the receiving team wins, no point is scored, and the server changes.

Games and Matches

• A game is played to 11, win by 2 A normal game goes to 11 points, but play continues until one team leads by 2. Tournaments also have games to 15 or 21.

Singles

• Singles scoring and where to serve from In singles, the score is called with two numbers. The server serves from behind the right service court when their score is even, and from behind the left when it is odd.

Timeouts and Switching Ends

• Number and length of timeouts In tournaments, you can take up to 2 timeouts per game in games to 11 and 15, and up to 3 in games to 21. Each timeout is up to 1 minute.
• Switching ends In tournaments, teams switch ends after each game. In the final game, or in a one-game match, a game to 11 switches ends when one side reaches 6 points.

Rules During Play

Two-Bounce Rule

• Two-Bounce Rule At the start of a rally, both the receiving team and the serving team must let the ball bounce once before hitting it. If you break this rule, it is a fault, and you lose the rally.

In or Out

• A ball that touches the line is in If the ball touches the line even a little, it is in. The one exception is a serve that touches the kitchen line, which is a fault.

Net and Posts

• Touching the net during play is a fault While the ball is in play, it is a fault if your body, paddle, or anything you wear touches the net or the parts that hold it up. After the rally is over, it is not a problem.
• You cannot hit the ball before it crosses the net Hitting the ball on the far side of the net, before it comes to your side, is a fault. Crossing over in your follow-through after the hit is fine.
• A shot around the post (ATP) is legal A shot that goes around the outside of the post, not over the net, and lands in the opponents' court is legal. It may even travel lower than the net.

Hitting the Ball and Body Contact

• It's a fault if the ball hits your body or clothes If the ball hits a player's body, clothes, or anything they are wearing, it is a fault for that player's team. The paddle and the paddle hand (wrist down) are the exceptions.
• Hitting the ball twice (double hit) It is OK if the ball touches your paddle more than once during one continuous swing. It is a fault if you swing again or if you and your partner both hit it.
• Even outside the court, getting hit by a ball in the air is a fault DraftA ball is out only once it lands outside the court. Even if you are standing outside the court, if the ball hits your body before it lands, it is a fault on your team.
• The hand holding the paddle counts as part of the paddle If the ball hits the hand holding the paddle, below the wrist, it counts the same as hitting it with the paddle. If it hits your other hand, or your arm above the wrist, it is a fault.

Stopping Play (Hinders)

• Replay the rally when something gets in the way (hinder) If play is disrupted by something that is not a player's fault, such as a ball rolling in from the next court, any player can call a hinder and the rally is replayed.

The Kitchen

The area on each side of the net, up to 7 feet (2.13 m) from the net. You cannot volley inside it. Term: Kitchen

Volleying in the Kitchen

• No volleying in the kitchen It is a fault to volley while touching the kitchen or the kitchen line. To hit a ball that has bounced, you may go into the kitchen.
• After leaving the kitchen, get both feet down before you volley After you enter the kitchen, you cannot volley until both feet are on the ground outside the kitchen. Jumping from inside the kitchen and volleying in the air is also a fault.
• When an Erne is allowed DraftIf you go around outside the sideline without touching the kitchen, you may volley beside the net. Hitting the ball before it crosses the net is a fault.

Momentum

• Entering the kitchen from your volley's momentum is a fault After you volley, it is a fault if your momentum carries you into the kitchen or makes you touch it. This is true even after the ball is dead.

Faults and Etiquette

Faults at a Glance

• Common faults at a glance If you commit a fault, you lose the rally. Here are the common faults, grouped by situation: the serve, during the rally, the kitchen, and the net or body.

Line Call Etiquette

• Line call etiquette Each team calls the lines on its own side. Call it out only when you clearly see a gap. If you are unsure, or you and your partner disagree, the ball is in.

Server and Score Mistakes

• When the server or the score is wrong The best thing is to check before the serve. If you stop a rally, be careful about the timing. If you notice after the rally is over, the result stands, and you fix it before the next serve.