Pickleball is governed by a straightforward set of rules that most players can learn in a single session. The core rules cover serving, the two-bounce rule, the non-volley zone (the kitchen), scoring, faults, and line calls. This guide covers every rule you’ll encounter — from your first recreational game to sanctioned tournament play.
Every rally begins with a serve. Pickleball has strict serving rules that differ significantly from tennis. All serves must be hit underhand — there are no overhead serves in pickleball.
There are two legal serve types. A volley serve is hit before the ball bounces — the server tosses or drops the ball and strikes it in the air. All the arm swing, contact point, and paddle head requirements listed above apply to the volley serve.
A drop serve allows the server to drop the ball and let it bounce before striking it. The drop must be a natural drop from any height — the ball cannot be thrown, tossed upward, or bounced. There are no restrictions on arm swing, contact point, or paddle head orientation on a drop serve.
In doubles, the serve is made from the right service box when the server’s score is even and from the left service box when the score is odd. The serve must land in the diagonally opposite service box — it cannot land in the kitchen or on the kitchen line (that is a fault).
NoteOnly one serve attempt is allowed per rally. If the serve is a fault, the server loses the serve (or the rally, in rally scoring). There is no second serve in pickleball.
The two-bounce rule (also called the double-bounce rule) is one of pickleball’s most important and distinctive rules. It states that after the serve, each team must let the ball bounce once before hitting it.
The two-bounce rule prevents the serving team from rushing the net immediately after the serve and prevents the returning team from smashing a volley return. It promotes longer rallies and is the reason the third shot drop is so strategically important — the serving team is forced to advance from the baseline.
The non-volley zone — universally called “the kitchen” — is the 7-foot area on each side of the net bounded by the kitchen line, sidelines, and the net. It is the most strategically significant zone in pickleball and the source of more rule questions than any other.
You cannot volley the ball (hit it before it bounces) while standing in the non-volley zone or while touching the NVZ line. This applies to your feet, body, clothing, and anything you’re wearing or carrying — including your paddle.
If a player volleys a ball and their momentum carries them into the NVZ or onto the NVZ line after contact, it is a fault — even if the ball was already dead. A player who volleys near the kitchen line must be in full control and not step in as a result of the swing’s follow-through.
WarningThe most frequent NVZ fault is momentum after a volley. Even if you hit a clean, legal volley from outside the kitchen, if your follow-through or forward motion carries any part of your body or paddle into the kitchen before you re-establish balance outside it, the fault stands. A dropped paddle, hat, or any object worn by the player that falls into the kitchen during a volley also counts as a NVZ fault. Always be deliberate about resetting your position after aggressive net play.
Pickleball uses two scoring systems: traditional (side-out) scoring and rally scoring. The format used depends on the event or the agreement between players.
For a complete breakdown of both scoring systems, server positioning, and common scoring mistakes, see our Pickleball Scoring Explained guide.
A fault ends the rally. The team that committed the fault either loses the serve (traditional scoring) or loses the point (rally scoring). Common faults include:
Pickleball uses the same basic line-call principles as tennis and other racquet sports, with one notable exception.
A let is a replay of a rally. Lets occur in two situations:
Under current USA Pickleball rules, a serve that clips the net and lands in is replayed as a let. Verify the current rulebook at usapickleball.org if you’re playing in a sanctioned event, as rules can be updated annually.
A ball is out of bounds when it lands outside the court boundaries — beyond the baselines, sidelines, or (on a serve) in the kitchen. A ball that hits a permanent object such as a wall, ceiling, or overhead obstruction before bouncing in the court is also out.
A ball that passes over the net and then bounces back onto the server’s side due to spin or wind is still in play — the opponent can legally reach over the net to play it, as long as they do not touch the net. If the opponent cannot reach it and it bounces twice on the originating side, the player who hit it wins the rally.
At the start of each game, the first serving team determines which player serves first. That player is server 1. When the serving team wins a rally, the same player continues to serve from the opposite service box (switching sides after each point). When server 1 faults, server 2 takes over from the correct side. When server 2 also faults, it’s a side-out and the other team serves.
The first service turn of every game is a special case: only one player serves before a side-out (to reduce the first-server advantage). This is why the score at the start of every game is called “0-0-2” — the “2” signals that the second server is already serving, meaning a side-out will occur after just one server.
Your position on the court (left or right service box) is always determined by your team’s score, not the server’s individual score. Even score = right side. Odd score = left side. This applies to both the server and their partner. If a team is on the wrong side when a point is scored, they correct their position before the next serve.
Both players on a doubles team may call balls in or out on their side. Either player may call a let. Disagreements between partners on a line call result in the ball being called in (benefit to the opponent).
Singles pickleball uses the same rules as doubles with a few differences:
For sanctioned play, all equipment must meet USA Pickleball standards.
A player may legally hit the ball around the outside of the net post rather than over the net. This is an around-the-post (ATP) shot. There is no height restriction on an ATP — the ball does not need to clear the net. The ball must still land in the opponent’s court.
If a ball crosses the net and then spins or blows back across to the originating side before the opponent can return it, the player who hit it wins the rally. The ball does not need to be played.
A player may reach over the net to play a ball only if the ball has already crossed to their side of the net. A player may never reach over the net to strike a ball that is still on the opponent’s side. Touching the net at any time while the ball is in play is a fault.
Players may not deliberately distract, hinder, or intimidate their opponents during a rally. Calling the score before the serve is required — intentionally calling it incorrectly or at a misleading time is considered a distraction. Accidental noise or movement that affects play can result in a let.
A hinder is any outside interference that prevents a player from making a legitimate shot. Players must agree that a hinder occurred. A ball from another court rolling onto the playing surface mid-rally is a common example. If agreed, the rally is replayed.
Yes — but only after the two-bounce rule has been satisfied. The serve must bounce once on the receiving side, and the return must bounce once on the serving side. After those two bounces, either team may volley (hit the ball before it bounces). You may never volley while standing in the Non-Volley Zone (kitchen) or touching the kitchen line.
No. You cannot volley (hit the ball before it bounces) while standing in or touching the kitchen or the kitchen line. You can step into the kitchen to hit a ball that has bounced inside it, and you can stand in the kitchen at any other time — just not to volley.
The two-bounce rule requires the return of serve to bounce before the returner hits it, and the serving team’s third shot to bounce before they hit it. After those two bounces, the ball can be volleyed or played off the bounce freely. It does not mean every ball must bounce twice during a rally.
A ball landing on any boundary line is in bounds during a rally. The exception is on the serve — a served ball that lands on the kitchen line is a fault.
No. Pickleball allows only one serve attempt. If the serve lands out, in the kitchen, or otherwise fails to land in the correct service box, it is a fault and the server loses their serve.
A fault ends the rally. In traditional scoring, a fault by the serving team ends their serve (the second server takes over, or a side-out occurs). A fault by the receiving team results in a point for the serving team. In rally scoring, a fault by either team results in a point for the non-faulting team.
No. If the ball hits the net post, cables, or any support structure outside the net fabric, it is a fault and the rally ends. The ball must cross over the net fabric cleanly to remain in play.
The core rules are the same in singles and doubles — the two-bounce rule, NVZ rules, serving rules, and fault rules all apply equally. The key differences are: in singles, each player serves the entire time their team is serving (no server number is called); the score is called as two numbers; and there is no partner to position. Serving court position (right for even scores, left for odd) still applies in singles.
Yes. The Erne is a legal shot where a player steps or jumps outside the sideline to volley a ball near the net post without being inside the NVZ. The player must reach their position outside the court without stepping through the kitchen — they can go around the outside of the NVZ or jump over the kitchen corner. As long as they don’t touch the kitchen or kitchen line, the shot is legal.
| Rule | Quick Answer |
|---|---|
| Court size | 20 ft x 44 ft (same for singles and doubles) |
| Net height | 36 in at sidelines, 34 in at center |
| Kitchen (NVZ) depth | 7 feet from the net on each side |
| Serve type | Underhand volley serve or drop serve — both legal |
| Serve placement | Must land diagonally opposite, not in kitchen or on NVZ line |
| Two-bounce rule | Ball must bounce once on each side before volleying |
| Volleying in kitchen | Never allowed — fault every time |
| Momentum into kitchen | Fault, even after a clean volley outside the kitchen |
| Serve let | Eliminated in 2021 — net serves that land in are live |
| Game length | 11 points, win by 2 (standard) |
| Who can score | Serving team only (traditional scoring) |
| Line calls | Ball on any line is IN, except serve landing on NVZ line (fault) |
| Serve court — even score | Right service court |
| Serve court — odd score | Left service court |
Have a rules question that isn’t covered here? Reach out to our support team at [email protected] — we’re happy to help.