Official Pickleball Rules
A comprehensive guide to help both beginners and experienced players understand the rules of pickleball.
Court Dimensions
Standard measurements, layout & markings
Scoring System
How points are earned & games are won
Violations & Faults
Common rule infractions to avoid
Court Dimensions & Layout
Standard Court Measurements
The official pickleball court has these dimensions:
- Court size: 20 feet wide × 44 feet long
- Net height: 36 inches at the sidelines, 34 inches in the center
- Non-volley zone (kitchen): Extends 7 feet from the net on both sides
- Service courts: Each 10 feet wide × 15 feet long
The same court dimensions are used for both singles and doubles play.
Diagram showing standard pickleball court dimensions and markings
Basic Rules of Play
Serving Rules
The serve must be made underhand and below waist level, with the paddle head below the wrist. The server must:
- Keep at least one foot behind the baseline
- Serve diagonally to the opponent's service court
- Make contact with the ball below waist level
- Use an underhand stroke (paddle head below wrist when contacting the ball)
Failure to follow these serving rules results in a fault and loss of serve.
The Two-Bounce Rule
This is one of the most distinctive rules in pickleball:
- When the ball is served, the receiving team must let it bounce before returning it
- When the receiving team returns the serve, the serving team must let it bounce before hitting it
- After these two bounces, the ball can be either volleyed (hit before it bounces) or played off a bounce
This rule helps extend rallies and reduces the serving advantage.
Non-Volley Zone (Kitchen) Rules
The non-volley zone, commonly called "the kitchen," is the area within 7 feet of the net on both sides. When in this area:
- Players may not volley the ball (hit it before it bounces)
- Players cannot step on or into the kitchen (including the line) when volleying a ball
- Players cannot step into the kitchen or touch the kitchen line as a result of momentum from hitting a volley
- Players may enter the kitchen at any time to hit a ball that has bounced
Kitchen violations are common among beginners. Remember: you can be in the kitchen anytime, as long as you're not volleying the ball or have just volleyed it.
Scoring System
How to Score
- Only the serving team can score points
- Games are typically played to 11 points, win by 2
- Tournament games may be played to 15 or 21 points
- In doubles, each player on a team serves before the serve passes to the opponents (except for the first serve of the game)
Calling the Score
In doubles play, the score is called as three numbers:
- Serving team's score
- Receiving team's score
- Server number (1 or 2)
Example: "4-2-1" means the serving team has 4 points, the receiving team has 2 points, and the server is the first server of their team.
In singles play, there are only two numbers called since there is only one server per side (e.g., "4-2").
Common Faults
A fault results in a dead ball and either a lost serve or a point for the serving team. Common faults include:
Service Faults
- Incorrect service motion
- Serving from the wrong area
- Serving to the wrong court
- Foot fault (stepping on or over the baseline)
Line Faults
- Ball landing out of bounds
- Stepping in the kitchen during or after a volley
- Touching the net during play
- Crossing the plane of the net before hitting the ball
Gameplay Faults
- Hitting the ball before it bounces when the two-bounce rule is in effect
- Hitting the ball out of bounds
- Not clearing the net with your shot
- Carrying or catching the ball with the paddle
Other Faults
- Double hits (hitting the ball twice in one swing)
- Body or clothing touches the net during play
- Hitting the ball before it crosses the net to your side
- Distracting opponent during play
Pickleball Etiquette
While not official rules, these etiquette guidelines help maintain a positive playing environment:
- Call your own faults
- Give opponents the benefit of the doubt on line calls
- Don't argue over calls
- Keep negative comments to yourself
- Congratulate opponents on good shots
- Be ready to play when it's your turn to serve
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