The 30-second version
- Serve underhand, below the waist, diagonally cross-court — one attempt.
- Two-bounce rule: the serve and the return must each bounce before anyone can volley.
- The kitchen: you can’t volley while standing in the non-volley zone (the 7-ft area by the net).
- Scoring: you only score on your own serve; games go to 11, win by 2.
Part of our complete guide to pickleball rules.
Pickleball’s rules are refreshingly simple — you can learn enough to play in about ten minutes. This guide covers all of them plainly, and links to deeper guides on the trickier ones (scoring, the kitchen, serving). If you’re brand new, start with how to play pickleball, then use this as your rules reference.
The serve
The serve must be hit underhand, with contact below your waist, and sent diagonally cross-court to land in the opposite service box (past the kitchen). You get one serve attempt — there are no second serves. Both feet must stay behind the baseline until you make contact. A drop serve (dropping the ball and hitting it after the bounce) is also legal. Full detail in our serve rules guide.
The two-bounce rule
After the serve, the ball must bounce once on each side before anyone volleys: the serve bounces, the return bounces, and only then can players hit the ball out of the air. This is the rule beginners break most — see our two-bounce rule guide.
The kitchen (non-volley zone)
The kitchen is the 7-foot zone on each side of the net. You cannot volley (hit out of the air) while standing in it, or if your momentum carries you into it after a volley. You can step in anytime to play a ball that has bounced. It’s the most misunderstood rule — read the full kitchen rules and can you volley in the kitchen?
Scoring
You can only score a point on your own serve. Games are played to 11, win by 2. In doubles, the score is called as three numbers (your score, their score, server 1 or 2). Our scoring guide walks through it step by step.
Faults
A fault ends the rally. Common ones: hitting the ball out of bounds or into the net, volleying in the kitchen, breaking the two-bounce rule, serving into the net or wrong box, or the ball hitting a player. See our full list in what is a fault in pickleball?
Line calls
A ball touching any part of a boundary line is “in” — with one exception: a serve landing on the kitchen line is a fault. Players call the lines on their own side, and any genuine doubt goes to the opponent. More in our line call rules.
Singles vs. doubles
The rules are nearly identical; the main difference is scoring and serving position. In singles there’s one server and your serving position is based on your score (even = right side). Doubles uses the three-number score and both partners serve before the serve passes over (except the very first service turn of the game).
Equipment rules
Paddles must meet USA Pickleball specifications (size and surface limits), and sanctioned play uses USA Pickleball–approved balls. For casual rec play, any standard paddle and ball are fine — see our paddle guide and ball guide.
Frequently asked questions
What are the basic rules of pickleball?
Serve underhand and cross-court, let the serve and return each bounce before volleying (two-bounce rule), don’t volley in the kitchen, and score only on your own serve. Games go to 11, win by 2.
Why is it called the kitchen in pickleball?
“The kitchen” is the popular nickname for the non-volley zone — the 7-foot area on each side of the net where you can’t volley. The origin is debated, but the term stuck and is used everywhere.
Can you score a point on the other team’s serve?
No. You can only score a point when your own team is serving. If the receiving team wins a rally, they don’t get a point — they win the serve instead.
How many times can you let the ball bounce in pickleball?
The ball may only bounce once per side. The two-bounce rule means the serve must bounce and the return must bounce (one bounce each) before volleys are allowed, but during a rally a ball that bounces twice on one side is a fault.
What happens if the ball hits you in pickleball?
If a ball in play hits you or anything you’re wearing or carrying (other than the paddle in a legal hit) before it bounces, it’s a fault against you and the rally ends.
Want to learn faster?
Knowing the rules is step one — playing well is the fun part. I run private lessons and free Learn to Play sessions in Central Mass. Your first 1-on-1 is half off.