Quick answer: Skinny singles is half-court singles in pickleball. Two players use only one half of the court each, split by the centerline, so there is half the ground to cover. USA Pickleball’s official version is called mini-singles (Rule 14.B), and in it each player’s half is set by their own score.
The 30-second version
- The court: each player gets a 10-foot-wide half, bounded by the baseline, one sideline and the centerline. The other half is out.
- The official twist: under Rule 14.B, your half depends on your score, so about half the rallies run straight ahead, not crosscourt.
- The rec version: many groups play crosscourt only. That’s a house rule, not the rulebook, so agree on it first.
- Why play it: it trains dinks, drops and resets with only two people, and it’s half the running of full singles.
What is skinny singles in pickleball?
Skinny singles is a two-player game played on one half of a pickleball court, divided lengthwise by the centerline. A full court is 20 feet wide and 44 feet long, so each player defends a lane 10 feet wide. That’s the same width each player covers in doubles.
The game keeps the shape of doubles (dinks, third shot drops, kitchen battles) without needing four people. It’s also a gentler way into full singles, which asks one player to cover all 20 feet.
You’ll hear three names for it: skinny singles, half-court singles and mini-singles. The rulebook only uses the last one.
What are the official skinny singles rules?
The official skinny singles rules are short: Rule 14.B says all standard singles rules apply, with five changes. Here they are in plain English:
- Same court (14.B.1): you play on a standard pickleball court. No special court is needed.
- Half the court is live (14.B.1.a): only the right or left side on each player’s end is in play for a rally, based on that player’s score.
- The boundaries (14.B.1.b): your half is bounded by the baseline, your sideline and the centerline. The opposite half is out of bounds.
- An extra line (14.B.1.c): the centerline has to be extended through each kitchen, the non-volley zone. It can be any color.
- Positions by your own score (14.B.2): the server’s and receiver’s positions are each set by their own score.
- Every shot lands in the live half (14.B.3): serves and returns must land in bounds on the side of the opponent’s court that’s in play.
Everything else is standard singles. The two-bounce rule, the kitchen rules, the serve rules and the line-call rules all still apply. The 2026 rulebook also added a cross-reference in Rule 7.E: the normal rule that a serve goes diagonally now points to Rule 14.B.3 for mini-singles.
Which side do you play on in skinny singles?
In official mini-singles, you play on the right half when your own score is even and the left half when it’s odd. That’s the same rule a singles server follows (Rule 5.A.1), but in mini-singles the receiver follows it too, using the receiver’s own score.
Here’s what that does to the rally. Two players facing each other across the net have opposite rights and lefts. My right half and your left half are the same lane. So the scores decide whether the rally runs crosscourt or straight ahead:
| Server’s score | Receiver’s score | Server plays | Receiver plays | The rally runs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Even (0, 2, 4) | Even | Right half | Right half | Crosscourt |
| Odd (1, 3, 5) | Odd | Left half | Left half | Crosscourt |
| Even | Odd | Right half | Left half | Straight ahead |
| Odd | Even | Left half | Right half | Straight ahead |
The finding: under the official rule, any rally where the two scores have different parity runs straight down the line. Our own singles guide describes skinny singles as crosscourt only, and that’s the common rec version. The rulebook version is different. If you only ever practice crosscourt, the straight-ahead points will feel strange the first time you play by the book.
At 0–0 both players start on the right, so the game opens crosscourt, like doubles.
How do you play the crosscourt-only version?
Crosscourt-only skinny singles is a house rule, not a rulebook game, so settle it before the first serve. The common setup:
- Pick a diagonal: both players use their right halves (or both use their lefts) for the whole game, and every ball goes crosscourt.
- Switch diagonals: many groups swap to the other diagonal after a game, or at 6 points, so both forehands and backhands get work.
- Keep the scoring standard: side-out scoring to 11, win by 2, with the score called as two numbers (Rule 6.B.1). Our scoring guide walks through it.
The crosscourt version is the better drill for doubles, because most doubles dinks are crosscourt. The official version is the better test, because it makes you defend down the line too.
How do you mark the centerline through the kitchen?
Most courts in New England don’t have a centerline running through the kitchen, but Rule 14.B.1.c requires one for mini-singles. For a rec game you have three options:
- Throw-down markers: flat rubber lines or cones laid where the centerline would run. They’re removable and won’t mark the surface.
- Agree on it by eye: call the extension of the service centerline as the boundary and give close calls to your opponent.
- Ask first: never tape or chalk a town or club court without permission. Tape residue is a fast way to lose court access.
For sanctioned events, the line is the tournament’s job.
Why should you play skinny singles?
Skinny singles is the best two-person practice game in pickleball. It’s a real game with a score, not a drill, so there’s pressure on every shot. Here’s what it builds:
- Soft game: the narrow lane rewards patience. You’ll hit more dinks and third shot drops in 20 minutes than in an hour of doubles.
- Transition: you have to get from the baseline to the kitchen by yourself, so you learn to drop, step and split step before each contact.
- Fewer bodies: two players and a ball is enough. That matters when open play is crowded or your partner cancels.
- Easier on the legs: you cover a 10-foot lane, not the 20-foot width of full singles.
For more two-person games, our pickleball drills guide pairs well with this one.
What’s the best skinny singles strategy?
The best skinny singles strategy is to win the race to the kitchen line, then out-wait your opponent. The two-bounce rule still applies, so the server starts at a disadvantage, just like in doubles.
- Serve deep: a deep serve keeps the returner back for an extra moment.
- Return deep and come in: as the returner, a deep return buys the time you need to reach the kitchen line first.
- Drop the third shot: as the server, drop into the kitchen and follow it in. Driving into a set opponent loses most points.
- Use the centerline: the centerline is a boundary now. A ball that lands on the line is in, so aim near it, not past it.
- Know which way the rally runs: under the official rule, check both scores before each serve so you know whether to guard crosscourt or straight ahead.
Where can you play skinny singles in New England?
Anywhere two people can get one court. Our New England court directory lists public and club courts by state. From November to April, indoor time is the scarce resource up here, and skinny singles is a smart use of a rented hour for two. Our indoor pickleball guide lists where to find it.
Before you book a court for two, check the venue’s rules. Some open-play sessions require doubles rotation, so skinny singles fits better in a reserved slot.
What are the most common skinny singles mistakes?
The most common skinny singles mistakes come from playing it like full singles or skipping the setup talk. These four cost the most points:
- Not agreeing on the version: official mini-singles and crosscourt-only play out differently. Decide before you start.
- Calling the centerline in the kitchen by guess: without a marked line, close calls turn into arguments. Mark it or agree on a rule.
- Treating it like full singles: passing shots and hard drives are low-percentage in a 10-foot lane. Play it like doubles.
- Forgetting the receiver’s score: in the official game, the receiver’s position comes from the receiver’s own score, not the server’s.
For the full rules picture, start with our pickleball rules guide.
FAQ: skinny singles in pickleball
What is skinny singles in pickleball?
Skinny singles is a half-court singles game. Each player uses only one half of the court, split lengthwise by the centerline, so each defends a 10-foot-wide lane.
Is skinny singles in the official pickleball rules?
Yes. USA Pickleball calls it mini-singles, in Rule 14.B of the 2026 rulebook. All standard singles rules apply except for the court and position changes in that section.
Is skinny singles always played crosscourt?
Not under the official rule. Each player’s half is set by their own score, so when the two scores have different parity, the rally runs straight ahead. Crosscourt-only is a common house rule.
How do you score skinny singles?
The same as standard singles: side-out scoring to 11, win by 2, with the score called as two numbers, server’s score first.
Do you need a special court for skinny singles?
No. It’s played on a standard court, but the official rule requires the centerline to be extended through each kitchen. Any color line works.
