Pickleball Rules & Regulations

The serve must be made underhand with the paddle contacting the ball below the server's waist (navel level).

The arm must be moving in an upward arc when the ball is struck.

The highest point of the paddle head must be below the wrist when it strikes the ball.

The serve must be made diagonally crosscourt and must clear the non-volley zone (kitchen) line.

Only one serve attempt is allowed. Net cord serves (let serves) that land in the correct court are played.

The drop serve is a legal alternative: drop the ball from any natural height (no toss or propulsion) and hit it after the bounce.

The server must call the score clearly before serving. In doubles: server's score, receiver's score, then server number (1 or 2).

The server must serve from behind the baseline, within the imaginary extensions of the sideline and centerline.

After the serve, the receiving team must let the ball bounce before returning it (first bounce).

The serving team must then let the return bounce before playing it (second bounce).

After both bounces have occurred, either team may volley the ball or play it off the bounce.

A player may not volley the ball while standing in or touching the non-volley zone, including the NVZ line.

A player may not volley a ball and then have momentum carry them into the NVZ, even after the ball is dead.

A player may enter the NVZ at any time except when volleying the ball.

A player may hit a ball while standing in the NVZ if the ball has already bounced.

A player's partner may stand in the NVZ while the other player volleys from outside it.

If a player volleys the ball and their paddle or any worn item falls into the NVZ, it is a fault.

Points are scored only by the serving team.

Games are normally played to 11 points, win by 2.

Tournament games may be played to 15 or 21 points, win by 2.

In doubles, each player on a team serves before a side out, except at the start of the game where only one player serves.

When the serving team's score is even, the player who served first in the game serves from the right side. When odd, from the left side.

Rally scoring: In some formats (including MLP), a point is scored on every rally regardless of which team served.

A fault occurs when the serve does not land in the correct service court.

A fault occurs when the ball is hit into the net on any shot.

A fault occurs when the ball is hit out of bounds.

A fault occurs when a player volleys from the non-volley zone.

A fault occurs when a player violates the two-bounce rule.

A fault occurs when a player is hit by the ball, regardless of where they are standing.

A fault occurs when the ball bounces twice on one side before being returned.

A fault occurs when a player touches the net or the net post while the ball is in play.

A ball contacting any part of any line is IN, except the NVZ line on a serve.

Players should not call a ball out unless they can clearly see a space between the line and the ball.

The benefit of the doubt goes to the opponent on line calls. If you're not sure, call it in.

Out calls must be made instantly — 'promptly' after the ball lands. A late call is not valid.

In non-officiated play, each team makes line calls on their own side of the court.

Each team gets two time-outs per game (not per match). Each time-out lasts one minute.

Time-outs may only be called by a player on the court or the team's coach (if allowed) between rallies.

Players must return to play within the time-out period. Failure to do so results in a technical warning.