Official Pickleball Rules
Understanding the rules is crucial for enjoying and excelling at pickleball. Here's a guide to the official rules as sanctioned by the USA Pickleball Association (USAPA).
Court and Equipment
- Court Size: 20' x 44' for both singles and doubles
- Net Height: 36" at the sidelines and 34" at the center
- Non-Volley Zone (Kitchen): 7' from the net on each side
- Paddle: Must meet USAPA specifications
- Ball: Plastic, perforated ball with 26-40 circular holes
Serving Rules
- Serve must be made underhand
- Paddle contact with the ball must be below the server's waist
- Serve is made diagonally across court
- Only one serve attempt is allowed, except in the event of a let
- At the start of each new game, only one partner on the serving team may serve before faulting, after which service passes to the receiving team
Scoring
- Points are scored only by the serving team
- Games are typically played to 11 points, win by 2
- Tournament games may be to 15 or 21, win by 2
- When the serving team's score is even (0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10) the player who was the first server in the game for that team will be in the right-side court when serving or receiving
Two-Bounce Rule
When the ball is served, the receiving team must let it bounce before returning, and then the serving team must let it bounce before returning, thus two bounces.
Non-Volley Zone Rules
- The non-volley zone is the kitchen area 7 feet from the net on both sides
- A player cannot volley a ball while standing in the kitchen or touching the kitchen line
- A player cannot enter the kitchen or touch the kitchen line after volleying, even if the momentum from the shot carries them forward
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