What Is Pickleball
New To Pickleball? Watch This First
Pickleball is one of the fastest-growing sports in the world – and it’s easy to see why. Fun, social, and simple to learn, it combines elements of tennis, badminton, and table tennis into a game that anyone can enjoy, no matter your age or skill level.
The game is played on a smaller court than tennis (the same size as a badminton doubles court) with a slightly lower net. Instead of heavy racquets, players use solid paddles, and the ball is a lightweight, perforated plastic one – similar to a wiffle ball. These differences make pickleball less physically demanding than tennis, while still keeping it exciting and competitive.
Games are usually played as doubles (two vs two), though singles is also popular. The rules are simple: the serve must be underhand, the ball must bounce once on each side before volleys can begin, and points are only scored by the serving team. The rally often involves quick exchanges at the net, with players carefully placing shots in and around the “kitchen” – the no-volley zone at the front of the court.
What makes pickleball truly special is its accessibility. Beginners can pick up the basics within minutes, while experienced athletes love the fast rallies and tactical depth. It’s a sport where grandparents can play with grandchildren, friends can connect over a casual hit, and competitive players can push themselves in leagues and tournaments.
At Love Pickle Club, we believe pickleball is more than just a game – it’s a community. Whether you’re here to move, laugh, compete, or simply meet new people, pickleball is the perfect way to get active and have fun. Come join us, pick up a paddle, and see why the world has fallen in love with pickleball.
Discover the Game Everyone’s Talking About
We’ve created a free, easy-to-read Pickleball eBook packed with everything you need to get started – and fall in love with the game. Inside, you’ll learn the rules, key techniques, popular shots, essential terminology, and plenty more.
Whether you’re brand new or looking to sharpen your skills, this guide is your ultimate companion. Download it FREE now and unlock everything you need to know about pickleball – all in one place!
Pickleball Rules Summary
The Play
Once the starting serving side is determined, the service starts from the right side of the court. One serve only.
The serve must land in the diagonal service court, beyond the kitchen line — on the opponent’s side of the court.
If the service lands good, play continues with a one-bounce or volley rally by each team, until a fault occurs.
Service continues from alternating (right/left) sides until a rally is lost — then the serve passes to the next player.
In Doubles, the serve passes to your partner until the side is called out.
For the first serving start of a game, the serving side has only one partner that can serve, before passing the serve to the opponent side.
The Two-Bounce Rule restricts any volleys by either team until the ball has bounced twice — once on each side of the net, at the start of any rally.
A shot hitting the top of the net is good, providing the ball lands in the proper part of the court area.
Non - Volley ( Kitchen Zone )
The non-volley zone is the court area within 7 feet on both sides at the front of the net.
Volleying is prohibited within the non-volley (kitchen) zone.
Players can hit a bounce rally in this zone, but lose the point if any part of the player touches the non-volley line or zone area when hitting a volley.
Scoring
Points are scored only by the serving side.
Games are usually played to 11 points, and a team must win by 2 points (e.g. 12–10).
A match may consist of several games won.
The server side score is called first (e.g. 7–5) before each rally is played.
In Doubles, a third number is used to identify the partner currently serving (e.g. 7–5–1 or 7–5–2).
Faults
A fault is any action that stops play because of a rule violation — the serve passes to the next player:
• The Two-Bounce Rule is not followed.
• During the serve, your foot steps on or crosses the baseline.
• The ball strike hits you (or your partner’s) body or anything they wear/carry.
• The serve lands outside the service court area or hits the Non-Volley line.
• The serve is started before all players are ready and the score is called.
• The stroke hits outside the perimeter of the court or any permanent court fixture.
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- 3. Install and sign in (or create an account)
- 4. Start booking, playing, and belonging!