Welcome to the Pickleball Sport Zone
Learn about the basic rules of pickleball.
Learn how to keep the correct score in the pickleball sport.
Learn the basic terminology used in pickleball.
See how pickleball ratings are broke down by categories and abilities
Basic Rules
1965 – If you find that the name pickleball is a bit unusual, you may soon extend that thought to a few of the rules of pickleball. Rules like serving underhand hitting the ball below your waist, the double bounce rule, the kitchen (?) and then there is the scoring! Such rules which boggle the mind when you first start playing the game, soon make sense and add another dimension to this great sport.
Below is an abbreviated set of the doubles rules as an overview of how to play the game. If you would like to see the official IFP rules click HERE. Note that if there is any discrepancy between the abbreviated rules below and the official IFP rules, the official IFP rules prevail.
Rules Summary:
The serve must be hit underhand and each team must play their first shot off the bounce. After the ball has bounced once on each side, both teams can then either volley the ball in the air or play it off the bounce. This is called the “double bounce rule” because the ball must hit twice (once on each side) before it can be volleyed. This eliminates the serve and volley advantage and prolongs the rallies. To volley a ball means to hit it in the air without first letting it bounce. The non-volley zone, also referred to as “the kitchen”, is the seven foot zone on both sides of the net. No volleying is permitted within the non-volley zone. This rule prevents players from executing smashes from a position within the zone. When volleying the ball, the player may not step on or over the non-volley line. It is a fault if the players momentum causes the player or anything the player is wearing or carrying to touch or enter the non-volley zone. It is a fault even if the ball is declared dead before the player touches or enters the zone. A player may be in the non-volley zone at any other time.
Both players on the serving team are allowed to serve and a team scores points only when they are serving. A game is played to eleven points and a team must win by two points. In some situations event directors may chose play to win by one point to speed up play.
Rallies are lost by:
> Failing to return the ball in bounds to the opponents court before the second bounce
> Stepping into the non-volley zone (the kitchen) and volleying the ball
> Violating the double bounce rule
The hand is considered an extension of the paddle . The player loses the rally if the ball hits any other part of his body or clothing.
At the beginning of the serve, both feet must be behind the baseline. At the time the ball is struck, at least one foot must be on the playing surface behind the baseline and the servers feet may not touch the playing surface in an area outside the confines of the serving area. The serve is made underhand. The paddle must contact the ball below the waist. The serve is made diagonally cross court and must clear the non-volley zone . The non-volley line is a short line for the serve (the serve is a fault if it hits the line). All other lines are good at all times. Only one serve attempt is allowed except in the event of a “let” (the ball touches the net on the serve and lands on the proper service court). Let serves are replayed.
At the start of each new game only one player on the first serving team is permitted to serve and this team must fault before giving up the ball to the opponents. Thereafter both members of each team will serve and fault before the ball is turned over to the opposing team. When the receiving team wins the serve, the player in the right had court will always serve first.
When the serving team wins a point the server moves to the other side of the serving teams court. Note that if the serve rotation is done properly, the serving teams score will always be even when the player that started the game on the right side is on the right side and the score will always be odd when the player that started the game is on the left side.
When playing singles, the server starts the game serving from the right side. The server serves from the right side when his score is even and serves from the left side when his score is odd.
Rating Guidelines
1.0
> New and have only minimal knowledge of the game and the rules in pickleball.
1.5
> Limited to some rallies
> Learning how to serve
> Developing a forehand
> Fails to return easy balls frequently and occasionally misses the ball entirely
> Played a few games and is learning the court lines, scoring, and some basic rules of the game
2.0
> Moves in a balanced and safe manner in the sport
> Gets at least 50% of serves in the service court and can return 50% of serves
> Are learning where to stand on court during serves, returns and point play but are still not comfortable with some positions
> Knows the 2 bounce rule and applies it during pickleball games. Can keep score comfortably
> Will have basic ground strokes with a very limited use of backhand, overhead, and volley
> Capable of keeping ball in play for a couple of shots.
2.5
> Makes longer lasting slow-paced rallies
> Makes most easy volleys and uses some backhands, but needs more work on developing shot strokes
> Beginning to approach the non-volley zone to hit volleys in the sport
> Aware of the pickleball “soft game"
> Knowledge of the rules has improved
> Court coverage is weak but improving
3.0
> More consistent on the serve and service return and when returning medium-paced balls
> Demonstrates improved skills with all the basic shot strokes and shot placement but lacks control when trying for direction, depth, or power on their shots
> Beginning to attempt lobs and dinks with little success and doesn’t fully understand when and why they should be used in the sport of pickleball.
3.5
> Demonstrates improved stroke dependability with directional control on most medium-paced balls and some faster-paced balls
> Demonstrates improved control when trying for direction, depth and power on their shots
> Needs to develop variety with their shots in the sport
> Exhibits some aggressive net play
> Beginning to anticipate opponent’s shots
> Learning about the importance of strategy and teamwork in doubles in pickleball
4.0
> Consistent and dependable strokes, including directional control and depth on both forehand and backhand shots
> Reliable serves, lobs, overheads, approach shots and volleys and can use spin shots with some success
> Occasionally can force errors when serving in the sport
> Rallies may be lost due to impatience
> Uses the dink shot and drop shots to slow down or change the pace of the game
> Demonstrates 3rd shot strategies – drop shots, lobs, and fast-paced ground strokes
> Aggressive net play and teamwork in doubles is evident
> Fully understands the rules of the game of pickleball and can play by them
4.5
> Beginning to master the use of power and spin, can successfully execute all shots, can control the depth of their shots, and can handle pace in the sport
> Beginning to master the dink shots and drop shots and their importance to the game
> Beginning to master 3rd shot choices
> Displays sound footwork and moves well enough to get to the non-volley zone whenever required
> Understands strategy and can adjust style of play and game plan according to the opponent’s strengths and weaknesses and court position
> Serves with power and accuracy and can also vary the speed and spin of the serve
> Understands the importance of “keeping the ball in play” and the effect of making errors
> Making good choices in shot selection
> Anticipates the opponent’s shots resulting in good court positioning in pickleball
5.0
> Mastered all the skills – all shot types, touch, spin, serves, with control and can use them as weapons
> Excellent shot anticipation, extremely accurate shot placement and regularly hit winning shots
> Forces opponents into making errors by “keeping the ball in play"
> Mastered the dink and drop shots
> Mastered the 3rd shot choices and strategies
> Uses soft shots, dinks and lobs to set up offensive situations
> Mastered pickleball strategies and can vary strategies and styles of play in competitive or tournament matches
> Dependable in stressful situations as in tournament match play
> Athletic ability, quickness, agility, and raw athleticism are also qualities that are sometimes what separates the top players from those near the top