How to play pickleball
Pickleball is played with a paddle and a perforated ball on a court a little smaller than a doubles badminton court. Most people can rally in their first session. Here are the rules you need to start.
The basic rules
- The serve is underhand, hit below the waist, from behind the baseline, diagonally into the opposite service court.
- The two-bounce rule: the return of serve must bounce, and the serving team must then let that return bounce, before anyone may volley.
- After those two bounces, the ball can be volleyed out of the air or played off one bounce.
- A rally ends on a fault: the ball lands out, goes into the net, bounces twice, or a player volleys from the kitchen.
The kitchen
The kitchen is the non-volley zone, the 7 feet on each side of the net. You may not volley while standing in it or on its line. You can step in to play a ball that has bounced.
Scoring
Games are normally played to 11 and must be won by 2. In traditional scoring only the serving team scores a point.
In doubles the score is called as three numbers: your score, the other team's score, and which server you are (1 or 2). The game starts at 0-0-2.
Pickleball court dimensions
- Court
- 20 feet wide by 44 feet long, for both singles and doubles
- Non-volley zone (kitchen)
- 7 feet from the net on each side
- Net height
- 36 inches at the sidelines, 34 inches at the center
Learn it on court in Charlottesville
Step Into the Kitchen is the beginners class at cvilleSMASH: an introduction to the game, from dinks to serves, keeping score, and court positioning. It is $30 and runs Monday and Friday at 9am, Tuesday at 6pm, and every other Sunday at 9:30am. House paddles are available at no additional cost.
Questions
What are the basic rules of pickleball?
Serve underhand and diagonally, let the ball bounce once on each side before volleying (the two-bounce rule), stay out of the kitchen when you volley, and play to 11, winning by 2.
What is the kitchen in pickleball?
The kitchen is the non-volley zone, the 7 feet on each side of the net. You cannot volley while standing in it or touching its line.
How is pickleball scored?
Games are normally to 11, win by 2. In traditional scoring only the serving team scores. Doubles scores are called as three numbers: serving team's score, receiving team's score, and server number.
How big is a pickleball court?
20 feet wide by 44 feet long. The net is 36 inches high at the sidelines and 34 inches at the center.
Where can I learn pickleball in Charlottesville?
cvilleSMASH runs Step Into the Kitchen beginner classes several times a week, plus private, semi-private and group lessons. Members and non-members are welcome.
Ready to play?
387 Hillsdale Drive, Seminole Square Shopping Center, Charlottesville · (434) 202-2825