What Is Pickleball? Rules, Equipment and How to Play

Pickleball is a paddle sport played as singles or doubles on the same 20-by-44-foot court. Players use solid paddles to hit a perforated plastic ball over a low net. The game has its own serving, bounce, scoring, and non-volley-zone rules, so it is more than a smaller version of tennis.

This beginner guide explains the court, equipment, rally sequence, scoring, and name. For the rules that govern sanctioned play, use the current USA Pickleball rulebook.

What is pickleball?

Pickleball is a court game in which one player or team serves diagonally and both sides try to win rallies by keeping the ball in play. A point can end when the ball lands out, does not clear the net, bounces twice, or a player commits another fault.

The court is smaller than a tennis court, but the game still involves placement, movement, reaction time, and shot selection. Players can hit groundstrokes after a bounce or volleys out of the air once the required opening bounces have occurred.

Pickleball court size and net height

A regulation pickleball court is 20 feet wide and 44 feet long for both singles and doubles. According to USA Pickleball court guidance, the net is 36 inches high at the sidelines and 34 inches at the center.

Each side also includes a seven-foot non-volley zone next to the net. Players commonly call this area the “kitchen.” The kitchen line is part of the non-volley zone.

For a diagram and a line-by-line explanation, see our pickleball court dimensions guide.

What equipment do you need?

• A pickleball paddle: a rigid paddle designed for the sport.
• A pickleball: a perforated plastic ball. Indoor and outdoor balls can use different hole patterns and playing characteristics.
• A court and net: a permanent pickleball court or a correctly marked temporary court.
• Court footwear and normal athletic clothing: choose equipment appropriate for the playing surface and your own needs.

Equipment used in sanctioned events must meet the applicable standards. Recreational facilities and leagues can also set their own participation rules, so check the event or venue before playing.

How does a pickleball rally begin?

Every rally begins with a serve made from behind the baseline and directed diagonally into the opponent’s service court. The serve must clear the non-volley zone and its line.

After the serve, pickleball uses the two-bounce rule:

1. The receiving side must let the served ball bounce before returning it.
2. The serving side must let that return bounce before hitting its next shot.
3. After those two required bounces, either side may volley the ball or play it after a bounce.

This sequence prevents an immediate serve-and-volley attack and gives both sides a chance to establish the rally. The official overview is available in USA Pickleball’s pickleball basics.

What is the kitchen rule?

A volley is a shot hit before the ball bounces. A player may not volley while standing in the non-volley zone or while touching its line. Momentum after a volley also cannot carry the player into the zone.

The kitchen is not an area that players must avoid at all times. A player may enter it to play a ball after the ball bounces. The restriction applies to volleys. Read our complete kitchen and non-volley-zone guide for examples.

How does pickleball scoring work?

Under traditional side-out scoring, only the serving side can score a point. Most games are played to 11 and must be won by two points, although event formats can use different target scores.

In doubles, each side normally has two server turns before a side-out, except for the opening service sequence. The score call identifies the serving team’s score, the receiving team’s score, and the server number. Singles uses a two-number score call.

See who serves first in pickleball and our score-calling guide for the next layer of detail.

Why is it called pickleball?

The sport began on Bainbridge Island, Washington, in 1965. USA Pickleball’s published history attributes the name to Joan Pritchard and the “pickle boat” term used for a crew made up of leftover rowers. The family dog named Pickles came later, which is why the familiar dog-name story does not match that timeline.

Our separate pickleball name-origin article examines that history and links to the supporting account from USA Pickleball.

Five rules beginners should remember

1. Serve diagonally from behind the baseline.
2. Let the serve and the return of serve bounce before either side volleys.
3. Do not volley from the kitchen or while touching its line.
4. Under traditional scoring, only the serving side scores points.
5. Call balls fairly and check the current rulebook or event rules when a situation is unclear.

For a more detailed first-game checklist, continue with the five basic pickleball rules.

Pickleball questions beginners ask

Can pickleball be played as singles?

Yes. Singles and doubles use the same standard court dimensions. Positioning and court coverage change because singles has one player on each side.

Is pickleball the same as tennis?

No. The sports use different court dimensions, paddles or racquets, balls, serving rules, scoring conventions, and non-volley-zone rules.

Can you stand in the kitchen?

Yes, provided you are not volleying the ball and your momentum from a volley does not carry you into the zone.

Where should a beginner start?

Learn the serve, two-bounce rule, kitchen rule, and score call first. Then practice keeping the ball in play before adding faster or more specialized shots.

The short definition

Pickleball is a singles-or-doubles paddle sport played with a perforated plastic ball on a 20-by-44-foot court. Its defining rules include a diagonal serve, two required opening bounces, a seven-foot non-volley zone on each side of the net, and a traditional scoring system in which only the serving side earns points.