The Ultimate Guide to Pickleball Rules and Scoring

Pickleball is a fun and fast game that mixes tennis, badminton, and ping pong. Sounds cool, right? Whether you’re just starting out or want to get better, knowing the rules and how to keep score is super important. 

This blog will help you play smarter and avoid common mistakes.

Want to win more games and feel confident on the court? Then you’re in the right place!

Let’s learn the basics and master pickleball with Firstedge—step by step!

The Court

It’s smaller than a tennis court (20 ft x 44 ft) with a net in the middle.

There’s a "kitchen" (officially called the non-volley zone)—a 7-foot no-smash zone near the net where you can’t hit the ball out of the air.

Serving

·       Underhand only! No tennis-style overhead serves.

·       You serve diagonally (like in tennis) and must land the ball past the kitchen.

·       If your serve hits the net but still lands in the right spot (a "let"), you get to re-serve.

The Two-Bounce Rule

After the serve, the ball must bounce once on each side before players can start volleying (hitting it mid-air).

This prevents crazy smashes right off the serve and keeps the game fair.

The Kitchen Rule (No Volley Zone)

·       You cannot step into the kitchen and hit the ball in the air—that’s a fault.

·       You can step in to hit a ball that’s already bounced.

·       This rule stops players from camping at the net and smashing every shot.

Faults (Mistakes That Cost You the Point)

·       Hitting the ball out of bounds.

·       Not clearing the net.

·       Volleying from inside the kitchen.

·       Serving into the wrong box.

·       Missing the ball on your serve.

Scoring: The Trickiest Part (But We’ll Make It Easy)

1. Only the Serving Team Scores

·       If you’re serving and win the rally, you get a point.

·       If the other team wins the rally, they get the serve (but no point).

2. How to Call the Score (It’s a Little Weird)

Before serving, you shout three numbers:

·       Your team’s score

·       Opponent’s score

·       Server number (1 or 2)

Example: If your team has 4 points, the opponents have 5, and you’re the first server, you yell: "4-5-1!"

3. Serving Rotation (For Doubles)

At the start of the game, only one player serves (Server 1). If they lose the point, the other team gets the serve.

After that, both players on a team serve before it switches sides.

4. Winning the Game

·       Most games go to 11 points, but you must win by 2.

·       Some tournaments play to 15 or 21.

Pro Tips to Up Your Game

·       Keep serves deep—push your opponents back!

·       Master the "dink"—a soft shot that lands just over the net.

·       Stay out of the kitchen unless the ball bounces first.

·       Move with your partner in doubles—communication is key!

Watch the ball like a hawk — it’s smaller and quicker than a tennis ball. Final Thoughts Pickleball is easy to learn and hard to master. The best way to get better? Play a lot, and fail, and play more, and enjoy. Now grab a paddle, find a court, and start smashing (just not from the kitchen)!

For More Insightful Information on Your Favourite Sport Keep Reading: https://www.firstedgesports.com/blogs/the-pickle-feed