Pickleball Rules Every Player Should Know

Let’s agree that it’s impossible to start playing a game without understanding its basic rules, especially a competitive game like pickleball. Of course, if your goal is just hitting the ball right and left without even checking where it lands, you don’t need to learn any rules. However, the beauty of pickleball is its competitive edge and the rules that make it a really accessible game.

If we convinced you, read our small and easy-to-follow guide that breaks down pickleball rules without extra information or complex explanation. Find out the latest changes and what’s to come in the future.

Major Recent Changes

Check the changes in pickleball rules in very recent years:

• 2025: Introduction of rally scoring option (as provisional, not replacing original).

• 2024: Clarifications like calling the wrong score is not a fault anymore (just replay if caught mid-rally)

  • “Carry” on paddle is a fault regardless of intent. 

  • If players honestly override an out call against them, they can choose to lose the rally (concede the point) rather than replay.

• 2023: Further serve spin restrictions (no imparting spin with the ball hand at all); all spin must come from the paddle hit. 

  • In clothing, banning attire that mimics the ball color to avoid camouflage.

• 2022: Chainsaw serve (two-handed spin) banned; only one-handed toss allowed.

• 2021: No-let serve rule implemented; drop serve added.

Serving Rules and Service Sequence

The serve is how every pickleball game begins. And, these rules are the basics, so they are crucial for beginners to learn them; it’s also a must-know for players of all levels.

Serving underhand rule - All serves must be made underhand. The paddle must contact the ball below the server’s waist.

Diagonal serve rule -  The serve must be hit diagonally across the court into the opponent's correct service court, alternating sides after each serve.

Drop serve rule - It was introduced in 2021 to give the beginner pickleball player an easy start. It allows the player to serve by dropping the ball and hitting it after it bounces. This rule makes serving more accessible, and not only for beginners but also for players with limited mobility, making pickleball truly an all-inclusive sport.

Single serve attempt rule -  Each player has only one opportunity to serve the ball; so if the server doesn’t get the ball in play on the first attempt, sadly, they lose their turn.

Server’s placement - This rule determines where the server must stand and where the ball must land during a serve.

10-second rule - Right after the referee announces the score, the player must finish their serve within 10 seconds (remember, no more, no less). This rule helps to keep the game moving faster and prevents unnecessary delays. If a player fails to serve within this time frame, that’s it; they just lose their serve.

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Scoring & Game Play Rules

These rules define how points are earned and how games progress:

Standard game rule - pickleball games are played to 11 points, and a team must win by at least 2 points.

Side switch rule - teams switch sides of the court when the leading team reaches 6 points in an 11-point game, or halfway through longer games (e.g., at 8 points in a 15-point game).

Doubles serving sequence rule - both players on a team serve before the serve is passed to the opposing team. There is only an exception at the beginning of the game, when only one player serves.

Scoring rule - only the serving team can score points in pickleball. If the receiving team wins a rally, they do not score; instead, they can gain the opportunity to serve (and potentially score) when a serving team makes a mistake.

The Two-Bounce Rule (Double-Bounce Rule)

In my opinion, this is the most important rule, as it keeps the game fair for all players. It’s very simple: the serve and the return each must bounce once before the player can hit a volley.

The receiving team must let the ball bounce before returning the serve, and then the serving team must let the return bounce before playing it. Only after those two bounces can players hit the ball without a bounce. 

The rule doesn’t allow the serving team to run to the net immediately and hit an easy volley, which would give them a big advantage. It gives all players enough time to take their positions on the court and prepare for the opponent’s serve. It’s a very thoughtful rule, as it makes the gameplay of different age groups and people with mobility issues easier and more player-friendly. And, I must say, these at first glance small rules and considerations make pickleball a sport that is accessible to everyone.

Non-Volley Zone (“Kitchen”) Rules

The non-volley zone, or, as many of us like to call it, the “kitchen,” is a 7-foot area on each side of the net that has specific rules. Remember that kitchen rules are very important, as most faults happen here.

Volleying rule: If you are standing in the non-volley zone, you cannot hit a volley. The same rule applies even if you are touching its line. Basically, if you’re going to hit a ball, your feet should be completely outside the 7-foot zone before your paddle contacts the ball.  However, you can lean into the zone as long as your feet remain outside.

Momentum rule: Keeping your feet away from the non-volley zone is not just about the moment of contact with the ball; if your momentum carries you into the zone after a volley, even if you were standing outside of the zone, it’s a fault. And remember, there’s no time limit on momentum, even if you step in seconds later after the volley. The kitchen line rule: The non-volley zone line is a part of the kitchen. So, even if only your toe is on the line when you volley, it’s a fault.

Upcoming Pickleball Rules Changes That You Should Know

As you already guessed, pickleball doesn’t have complex or numerous rules because it’s a relatively young sport. But it is evolving rapidly, and so are its rules.

Rally scoring adoption: There is an ongoing debate about making rally scoring a rule for pickleball to make the game more TV-friendly. Stricter rules and standards: If pickleball gets included in worldwide sports events or the Olympics, the rules may get stricter and more regulated. 

Safety rules: Although there aren’t any new changes here or any specific rules, as the number of players increases, rules could be refined for safety.