Rules of the Game


There are several key rules in Pickleball that help make the game more accessible.

In tennis, and many net sports, games are often won and lost by the power of the serve.

In Pickleball, the ball must bounce once on each side before volleys are allowed.

This opens the game to more players and extends play for added fun.

Below are Condensed Pickleball Rules to get started quickly, however there are 65+ pages of official rules available at the USAPA website in case of a dispute

​Please visit:  OFFICIAL RULES

CONDENSED PICKLEBALL RULES

Games are played to 11 points and leading by a 2-point spread for a win.
The ball is served underhand without bouncing first and is served diagonally to the opponent’s service court.
The serve may land on any service court line except the kitchen line.
A serve that hits the net cord and lands in the service court will be replayed.
If it lands anywhere else it is out.

The service return must be bounced before striking the ball, the serving team must also let the ball bounce once on the return.
After that play may include volleys.
Balls in play that land on any court line are good.
Players will call the lines on their side of the court.

A player cannot volley a ball while standing within the kitchen.
A player may enter the kitchen if the ball bounces within the kitchen, play it and immediately leave the kitchen area before playing again.

The game starting server is called 'start' alternating from right to left to right, etc., as long as the team wins the point.
When this server loses the point, the serve goes to the opposing team, always starting on the right side of the court.
This server is called, 'server 1', when this server’s team loses the point, his partner 'server 2' will continue to serve from the last side position.

Points are scored by the serving side only.

Scoring is the hardest part of the game and should be called out loud enough for everyone to hear before starting a new serve.

Scoring is as follows:

Game starting right side server, score is 0-0-start

(0 means - no points scored yet for the new serving team, 0 means - the opponent's score, start means - game starting server)
If serving team wins, score is 1-0-start


Server changes side with partner.

If serving team wins again, score is 2-0-start


If team loses, service passes to opponents who's score is then called first 0-2-1

(0 means - no points scored yet for the new serving team, 2 means - the opponent's score, 1 means - server # 1)

Server # 2 on the starting team only gets a service turn once the starting team regains the serve.


If team wins, score is 1-2-1
If team loses, server # 2 will serve and the score becomes 1-2-2
If team wins, score is 2-2-2
If team wins again, score is 3-2-2

If team loses, service passes to opponents who's score is then called first 2-3-1
If team wins, score is 3-3-1
If team loses, server # 2 will serve and the score becomes 3-3-2

etc.

MIDLAND AREA PICKLEBALL CLUB

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Designed and updated by Helen Proctor.

Comments and questions are appreciated.

Last updated: March 1, 2024