Pickleball looks simple from the sidelines, but the rules can feel confusing the first few times you play — especially the scoring and the famous "kitchen" rule. Here's a plain-English breakdown so you can step on the court with confidence instead of constantly asking "wait, whose serve is it?"
The Basics
Pickleball is played on a badminton-sized court with a net slightly lower than tennis. It can be played as singles (1 vs 1) or doubles (2 vs 2) — most beginners, especially recreational senior players, start with doubles since it covers less ground per player.
Scoring (The Part Everyone Finds Confusing)
- Games are usually played to 11 points, win by 2.
- Only the serving team can score points.
- In doubles, each player on the serving team gets a chance to serve before the serve passes to the other team (with one exception at the very start of the game).
- The score is called out as three numbers in doubles: your score, the opponent's score, and which server you are (1 or 2). For example: "4-2-1."
Don't worry about memorizing this in one sitting — most players pick it up within a few games of actually playing.
The Kitchen (Non-Volley Zone)
This is the 7-foot zone on each side of the net. The rule: you cannot hit the ball out of the air (volley) while standing inside this zone. You CAN step into the kitchen to hit a ball that has already bounced.
This rule exists to prevent players from standing right at the net and smashing every ball — it keeps rallies fair and gives both teams a chance.
Serving Rules
- Serves must be hit underhand, below the waist.
- The serve must go diagonally crosscourt, just like in tennis.
- The serve must clear the kitchen — landing in the kitchen on a serve is a fault.
- You get one serve attempt per turn (no second serves like tennis).
Common Faults (Ways to Lose the Point)
- Hitting the ball into the net
- Hitting the ball out of bounds
- Volleying while standing in the kitchen
- Letting the ball bounce twice on your side before returning it
- Touching the net with your body or paddle during play
The "Two-Bounce Rule"
After the serve, the ball must bounce once on the receiving side, and once more after the return, before anyone can volley it. This is one of the rules that trips up beginners most — just remember: serve bounces, return bounces, THEN you can start volleying.
A Tip for Your First Few Games
Don't try to memorize every rule before you play. Most clubs and rec groups are happy to walk new players through the rules on the court. The two-bounce rule and the kitchen rule are the ones to focus on first — the rest comes naturally with reps.