Courtside guide · 2026 rules

Know the lines.
Own the rally.

The rules you need for your first game—explained in plain language, in the order you will use them on court.

Learn your first rally ↓Book a court ↗
Service courtService court
The kitchen · 7 ft
Net
The kitchen · 7 ft
Service courtService court
11Typical winning score
+2Required winning margin
2Bounces before volleys
7 ftKitchen depth per side
Four pickleball players competing on a blue court
Read the court in real playPhoto by Hoi Pham on Unsplash ↗

Play this sequence

Your first rally,
step by step.

  1. 01

    Serve diagonally

    Serve from behind the baseline into the opposite service court. Use a legal volley serve with an upward motion and contact below the waist, or use a legal drop serve.

  2. 02

    Let the serve bounce

    The receiving team must play the serve after one bounce. A serve that lands in the kitchen or touches the kitchen line is a fault.

  3. 03

    Let the return bounce

    The serving team must also let the return of serve bounce. These two required groundstrokes are the two-bounce rule.

  4. 04

    Now the rally opens

    After both required bounces, either team may volley the ball or play it after a bounce—while respecting the kitchen rule.

The rule everyone asks about

The kitchen is a no-volley zone—not a no-entry zone.

You may step into the kitchen whenever you are not volleying. If the ball bounces there, step in and play it. When volleying, neither you nor anything you wear or carry may touch the kitchen or its boundary line.

Your momentum counts too. If it carries you into the kitchen after a volley, the play is a fault—even if the ball is already dead.

Traditional scoring

Only the serving team scores.

  • Games are normally played to 11, win by 2.
  • In doubles, call three numbers: serving score, receiving score, server number.
  • The opening score is called 0–0–2 because the first serving team starts with one service turn.
  • The server switches left and right after each point won.

Line calls

On the line is in—with one serve exception.

A ball touching any court line is in. On a serve, however, the kitchen line belongs to the non-volley zone, so a serve touching that line is short and is a fault.

Not sure?Give your opponent the benefit of the doubt.

Common faults

The rally stops when…

  • The ball lands out or does not clear the net.
  • The ball bounces twice before a return.
  • A player volleys before both required bounces.
  • A volley is made while touching the kitchen.
  • A player, clothing, or paddle touches the net during play.
  • The live ball strikes a player or something they are wearing.
Pickleball paddle and bright green ball beside white court lines
Lines decide the pointPhoto by eedgar ivann on Unsplash ↗

See it, then play it

One court.
A few key lines.

The baseline controls where you serve. The centerline splits the service courts. The kitchen line marks the no-volley zone. Once those three ideas click, the rest of the game becomes much easier to follow.

Good games start here

Play fair.
Keep it moving.

  • Call the scoreSay it clearly before every serve.
  • Make honest callsCall “out” only when you clearly see space between the ball and line.
  • Respect the courtWait until the rally ends before crossing behind active players.
  • Finish wellTap paddles and thank the other players after the game.

Quick answers

Before you serve.

Can I stand in the kitchen?

Yes, as long as you are not volleying. You may enter to play a bounced ball.

Can the serve touch the net?

Yes. If it clears the net and lands in the correct service court beyond the kitchen line, play continues.

Who serves first?

Players may use any fair method to choose the first server or side.

Are tournament formats always the same?

No. Tournament formats may use different game lengths or authorized scoring options. Check the event rules before competition.

Rules make sense faster on court.

Ready for your first rally?

Choose your court and time ↗
Pickleball Rules: A Beginner-Friendly Guide | Smash&Bites