Basic Pickleball Rules

Pickleball is a sport that has gained significant popularity in recent years thanks to its accessibility, fun, and dynamic nature. Although you can learn to play quickly, knowing the basic rules is essential to fully enjoy the experience. Below, we explain the main rules of pickleball so you can start playing with confidence.

1. The Track

Pickleball is played on a 13.41-meter-long by 6.10-meter-wide court, similar to the badminton court, but with a low net, 0.91 meters high on the sides and 0.86 meters high in the center. The court is divided into two equal halves by the net, and each half has two zones:

• Service zone : The two large rectangles on each side.
• No-volley zone (or "kitchen") : An area of ​​2.13 meters on each side of the net where volleying (hitting the ball without letting it touch the ground) is not allowed.

2. The Serve

The serve is one of the key aspects of pickleball and has very specific rules:

• It should be done below the waist, with an upward movement.
• The serving player must be behind the baseline.
• The serve is performed diagonally, crossing the ball towards the opponent's service area.
• The ball must bounce once on the opponent's side before it can be returned to them.
• If the ball touches the net and lands in the correct service zone, the serve is repeated (this is called a "let").

3. Double Pot Rule

After the serve, the ball must bounce once on each side before it can be volleyed. That is, the team receiving the serve must let the ball bounce before returning it, and the same goes for the serving team when returning the ball. Only after this exchange of bounces is it possible to hit the ball in the air (volley).

4. The Volley and the Non-Volley Zone (Kitchen)

One of the most interesting features of pickleball is the no-volley zone, also known as the "kitchen." This area, which extends 2.13 meters from the net to each side of the court, is where volleying is not allowed. In other words, you cannot hit the ball in the air if you are inside this zone. To volley, the player must be completely outside the no-volley zone, and you cannot fall into this area after making a hit.

5. Annotation

Pickleball is generally played to 11 points, and must be won by a lead of at least 2 points (i.e., if the score is 10-10, play continues until one player or team has a 2-point lead).

An important aspect is that only the serving team can score points. If the team receiving the serve wins the point, no points are awarded, but they gain the right to serve in the next round. In doubles games, when a team loses serve, the second player on that team serves before the right of service passes to the opposing team.

6. Faults

In pickleball, a foul is committed when:

• The ball hits the net and does not pass to the opponent's court.
• The ball bounces out of bounds.
• A player hits the ball before it has bounced at least once on the opponent's side after the serve.
• A player enters the non-volley zone and hits the ball in the air.

7. Game Format

The game can be played individually (one-on-one) or in doubles (two-on-two), with doubles being the most common. The rules are the same for both, although in doubles the serve alternates between players on the team.

Remember that in EPYK We are passionate about pickleball, and that's why we offer a selection of High-quality pickleball paddles , sportswear designed for players and the best Pickleball accessories . If you're looking to improve your game or find the perfect equipment, visit our online store. We have everything you need, from pickleball balls, pickeball paddles, pickleball jerseys, pickeball nets, etc,

Don't miss more content like this on tips, techniques and guides to improve in Pickleball . Follow our blog to stay up to date with the latest news and products!

EPYK – Your trusted pickleball shop.