How to Play Pickleball: A Complete Beginner’s Guide

Pickleball looks simple from the sidelines, and in many ways it is: a lowered net, a paddle, a plastic ball, and a court small enough that you are not sprinting all afternoon. But a few unusual rules, like the two-bounce rule, the “kitchen,” and scoring that only the serving side can use, trip up almost every newcomer in their first game.

This guide explains how to play pickleball from the ground up: the court, the equipment you need, the rules that matter most, how scoring works (with a full worked example), and the mistakes to avoid.

Whether you are joining a community court this weekend or just want to understand the game before you buy a paddle, you will finish with enough to step onto the court with confidence.

Quick answer: Here is how to play pickleball: serve underhand and diagonally, let the serve and the return each bounce once before anyone volleys, never volley while touching the 7-foot “kitchen” next to the net, and remember that only the serving side can score. Games are usually played to 11 points and won by 2.

The rules in this guide follow the 2026 USA Pickleball Official Rulebook. Local groups sometimes play with house rules, so it is worth asking before your first game.

In this guide

• What Is Pickleball?
• Pickleball Court and Net Basics
• Beginner Pickleball Equipment
• Basic Pickleball Rules
• How to Play Pickleball Step by Step
• Pickleball Scoring Explained
• Pickleball vs. Tennis vs. Badminton
• Common Mistakes Beginners Make
• Tips to Improve Faster
• Is Pickleball a Good Workout?
• Final Thoughts
• Pickleball FAQs

What Is Pickleball?

Pickleball is a paddle sport played over a net on a small court, using a solid paddle and a perforated plastic ball. It can be played as singles (one player per side) or doubles (two per side). Doubles is the most common format, and the same court size and basic rules apply to both.

Beginners often start with doubles because there is less court to cover and more emphasis on teamwork and communication. The sport borrows ideas from tennis, badminton, and table tennis, which is why players from those sports often feel at home quickly.

Pickleball Court and Net Basics

The Court

A pickleball court is 20 feet wide and 44 feet long, and it is the same size for singles and doubles. The net is 36 inches high at the sidelines and 34 inches high in the center. Behind the non-volley zone, each side of the court is split by a centerline into a left and a right service court.

The Kitchen (Non-Volley Zone)

The non-volley zone is the area within 7 feet of the net on both sides, and players nicknamed it “the kitchen.” You cannot volley (hit the ball before it bounces) while you are standing in it. The kitchen line counts as part of the kitchen, so touching the line while you volley is also a fault.

You are allowed to stand in the kitchen at any other time, for example to hit a ball that has already bounced. The rule only restricts volleys, and it is the reason most pickleball rallies slow down into soft exchanges near the net.

Beginner Pickleball Equipment: What You Need to Start

You do not need much to start playing, and many community courts and clubs have loaner paddles. Here is the short list:

• Paddle: a solid-faced paddle with no strings. For your first one, pick something that feels comfortable and controllable in your hand rather than chasing specs.
• Balls: pickleballs are made for indoor or outdoor play, so check which type your court uses.
• Shoes: court shoes with good side-to-side support are a safer choice than running shoes, because the game involves a lot of quick lateral movement.
• Clothing and water: comfortable athletic wear, sun protection for outdoor courts, and a water bottle.

If you plan to play in sanctioned events later, USA Pickleball keeps a list of approved paddles and balls (external link: USA Pickleball approved equipment). For gear recommendations, see [INTERNAL LINK PLACEHOLDER: link to your pickleball paddle guide or beginner gear roundup once it is published].

Basic Pickleball Rules

Serving Rules

• Use either a volley serve or a drop serve. On a volley serve, your arm must move in an upward arc, you must contact the ball no higher than waist level, and the paddle head must not be above the highest part of your wrist at contact.
• On a drop serve, you drop the ball and let it bounce before hitting it, and none of those volley-serve restrictions apply. It is a popular starting point for beginners.
• Serve from behind the baseline, between the imaginary extensions of the sideline and centerline.
• Serve diagonally (crosscourt) so the ball lands in the opposite service court.
• The serve must clear the kitchen. A serve that lands on the kitchen line is short, and it is a fault.
• Each server gets one serve attempt.

The Two-Bounce Rule

After the serve, the receiving team must let the ball bounce before returning it. Then the serving team must let that return bounce before hitting it. Once the ball has bounced once on each side, either team may volley it or play it off a bounce.

This rule stops the serving team from rushing the net right away, which keeps rallies going and makes the game more about placement than raw power.

The Non-Volley Zone Rule

Do not volley while you, your paddle, or anything you are wearing or carrying touches the kitchen or its line. Momentum counts too: if you volley from outside the zone and your momentum carries you into it afterward, it is a fault, even if the ball is already dead.

Common Faults

A fault is any rule violation that stops play. If the serving team faults, the server loses the serve (or it is a side out). If the receiving team faults, the serving team scores a point. Typical faults include:

• A serve that does not land in the correct diagonal service court, including one that lands on the kitchen line
• Hitting the ball into the net on the serve or any return
• Volleying before the ball has bounced once on each side after the serve
• Hitting the ball out of bounds
• Volleying while touching the kitchen or its line
• Letting the ball bounce twice on your side before you hit it
• Touching the net or net post with your body, clothing, or paddle while the ball is in play
• Being hit by the ball while it is in play
• Breaking a serving rule, such as contacting the ball above the waist on a volley serve

One handy detail: a ball that lands on any line is in, except that the kitchen line is out on a serve.

How to Play Pickleball Step by Step

If you are playing your first game, here is the basic flow:

1. Decide who serves first. Any fair method works, such as a coin flip.
2. Take your positions. The first serve of each side out comes from the right-hand court.
3. Call the score. In doubles, a new game starts at “0-0-2” (more on that below).
4. Serve diagonally. Use a volley serve or a drop serve, and clear the kitchen.
5. Let the serve and the return bounce. The receiver lets the serve bounce, then the server’s side lets the return bounce.
6. Play out the rally. After both bounces, you can volley or play the ball off the bounce. Do not volley from the kitchen.
7. Handle faults. A fault by the receiving side scores a point for the serving side. A fault by the serving side loses the serve.
8. Play to 11, win by 2. Rotate serves and sides according to the scoring rules below.

Pickleball Scoring Explained

Side-Out Scoring

Traditional pickleball uses side-out scoring, and it is the standard for most recreational and club play:

• Only the serving side can score a point.
• Games are normally played to 11 points, and you must win by 2. Tournament games may go to 15 or 21.
• In doubles, both partners usually get to serve before the serve passes to the other team. The exception is the very start of a game, when the first serving team gets only one server.
• In doubles, the score is called as three numbers: the serving team’s score, the receiving team’s score, and the server number (1 or 2).
• When your team’s score is even, the player who was the first server of the game for your team stands in the right-hand court. When it is odd, that player stands in the left-hand court.

Scoring Walkthrough: A Doubles Example

Let’s follow a short stretch of a doubles game between Team A and Team B:

1. Game start. Team A serves first from the right-hand court. Because it is the start of the game, they have only one server, so the call is “0-0-2.”
2. Team A wins the rally. They score, so the call becomes “1-0-2.” The server switches to the left-hand court and serves again.
3. Team A loses the next rally. Because they only had one server this turn, it is a side out and the serve goes to Team B. The score stays 1-0 in Team A’s favor.
4. Team B’s first serve. Their first server serves from the right-hand court. Team B’s score is 0, Team A’s is 1, and it is server number 1, so the call is “0-1-1.”
5. Team B wins the rally. The call is “1-1-1,” and the server switches sides.
6. Team B loses the next rally. The first server loses the serve, so the partner serves from their correct side. The score does not change, and the call is “1-1-2.”
7. Team B’s second server loses a rally. That is a side out. Team A serves again from the right-hand court with the call “1-1-1.”

It sounds confusing on paper, but after a game or two, calling the score becomes second nature. Say the score out loud before every serve. It is the easiest way to keep everyone on the same page.

Rally Scoring (An Option You May See)

Some events and groups use rally scoring, where a point is scored on every rally no matter who served. It is offered as an option in the rulebook, but side-out scoring remains the standard format, so learn that one first.

Pickleball vs. Tennis vs. Badminton

A quick comparison shows why pickleball feels familiar even if you have never held a paddle:

Feature	Pickleball	Tennis	Badminton
Court size (doubles)	20 x 44 ft	36 x 78 ft	20 x 44 ft
Equipment	Solid paddle, perforated plastic ball	Strung racket, felt-covered ball	Strung racket, shuttlecock
Serve	Underhand volley serve or drop serve	Overhand or underhand	Underhand
Bounce rule	Serve and return must each bounce	Ball may bounce once	Shuttle must not hit the floor

The smaller court and underhand serve are the main reasons many new players find pickleball easier to start than tennis.

Common Mistakes Beginners Make

• Forgetting the two-bounce rule. It is easy to volley the return out of habit, and doing so is a fault.
• Volleying from the kitchen. This includes stepping on the line and being carried in by momentum after a volley.
• Serving onto the kitchen line. A serve must clear the kitchen entirely, and the line counts as the kitchen.
• Losing track of the score call or server number. Say all three numbers before each serve.
• Hitting everything as hard as possible. Controlled placement beats power at this level.
• Standing too far back after the serve and return. Moving toward the kitchen line gives you better court position.

Tips to Improve Faster

• Practice soft shots near the kitchen line. Control at the net wins more points than hard drives in recreational play.
• Start with doubles. It teaches court positioning and communication while you cover less ground.
• Keep your paddle up between shots. A ready position helps you react quickly, especially near the net.
• Watch your feet around the kitchen. Know where the line is before you volley.
• Play often and ask questions. The best way to learn how to play pickleball is to get on the court, and most regulars are happy to explain the rules.

Looking for gear to match your skill level? See [INTERNAL LINK PLACEHOLDER: link to your beginner pickleball gear or shoes guide when available].

Is Pickleball a Good Workout?

Pickleball mixes short bursts of movement, quick changes of direction, and hand-eye coordination, and how demanding it feels depends on the pace of the game and the people you play with. It can be a fun way to stay active, and you can adjust the intensity to your own level.

Warm up before you play, and if you have joint concerns or are returning from an injury, talk to a healthcare provider before starting regular play.

Final Thoughts

Learning how to play pickleball does not take long. If you remember the serve, the two-bounce rule, and the kitchen, you can handle most of what happens in a beginner game. From there, it is a matter of practice: controlling your shots, finding good position near the kitchen line, and calling the score clearly.

For the full detail on any rule, check the USA Pickleball Official Rulebook or the shorter USA Pickleball rules summary (external links: USA Pickleball).

Ready to choose your first upgrade? Read our guides to the best pickleball paddles for intermediate players and the best pickleball paddles for advanced players.