Carl Landau

Article / Updated 09-13-2023

Listen to the article:Download audio What are the pickleball rules? An official pickleball rule book currently runs about 75 pages, but you don’t need to commit all that to memory. The rules summary in this article will help you get out on the court and play your first few games today. Pickleball is a very social sport, so even if you don’t know all the rules yet, there’s probably another player on the court (or three) who are willing to help you. They were all beginners once, too, so don’t be shy! This article focuses on playing doubles, which is, by far, the most popular format. Layout of the pickleball court The pickleball court is laid out the same for both singles and doubles. It’s a rectangle that measures 44 feet long by 20 feet wide. This is the same size as a doubles badminton court, or roughly one third the size of a tennis court. Along the outside boundaries of the court, you’ll find the sidelines on the long ends and the baselines on the shorter ends. The court is divided in the middle by a net, or as we like to call her, “Annette.” A real heartbreaker, Annette’s measurements are 36-34-36 — she’s 36 inches tall at the sidelines and 34 inches at the center. Although a pickleball net is actually 2 inches lower than a tennis net, the height relative to the size of the court can make Annette a lot like a bad ex — hard to get over! On each half of the court is a 7-x-20-foot area directly in front of the net called the non-volley zone (NVZ), more commonly known as the kitchen. As the name non-volley zone implies, players aren’t allowed to hit a volley (a shot hit before the ball has bounced) while in this zone. Historians aren’t sure how the kitchen got its nickname, but one theory claims that the term was borrowed from shuffleboard. The court between the kitchen and the baseline is divided lengthwise into two service boxes by the centerline. (Historians haven’t spent any time researching that one.) The line that divides the kitchen from the service boxes is known as the non-volley zone line, or the kitchen line. How to serve in pickleball You can’t start playing a game of pickleball until somebody serves the ball. Here are the basic rules you need to know to get started serving: You must serve diagonally (crosscourt) into the service box. Your serve must clear the kitchen (the non-volley zone) and bounce in the service box that’s diagonal from you, on the opponent’s side of the court. If it lands on the sideline, baseline, or centerline, the serve is considered in. If it lands on the kitchen line, it’s a fault. The illustration below shows the path of a serve into the correct service box. The ball must go over the net. If your serve goes into the net without going over, it’s a fault. If your serve glances off the top of the net but still lands in the service box, it’s good and must be played. If it touches the top of the net and lands out of bounds or in the kitchen, it’s a fault. You must strike the ball below the level of your waist with a low-to-high motion. You must serve underhand in pickleball, contacting the ball below your waist with an upward swing path. In addition, no part of your paddle may be higher than your wrist. If serving off the bounce, you may not add force to the bounce. You can choose to hit the ball out of the air, before it bounces, by either tossing or dropping the ball with your non-paddle hand. Or you may choose to hit it off a bounce, but in this case, you cannot apply any upward or downward force to the ball. This is called the drop serve. You must stand behind the baseline and between the imaginary extensions of the centerline and the sideline. At the moment you strike the ball, neither foot can be inside the court boundaries, and at least one foot must be touching the ground behind the baseline (both feet can’t be in the air). You can’t stand way off to the side when you serve; you must be standing in the area behind the service box on your side of the court. You get only one service attempt. You get just one chance to hit your serve in. If your serve goes into the net or out of bounds, you lose your serve and do not get to try again. The two-bounce rule After a player serves the ball, the receiver must let the serve bounce before they are allowed to hit it. (Otherwise, the world would be left wondering whether that serve was going to land in bounds.) When the receiver returns the ball to the serving team, that team must also let it bounce before they can hit. After those first two shots have been allowed to bounce, any player can legally volley, which means to hit the ball out of the air before it bounces. The two-bounce rule is one of the genius ideas that makes pickleball great. It prevents the “serve-and-volley” strategy commonly used in tennis, keeping players from blasting a huge serve and immediately running up to the net to volley the next ball. For this reason, in pickleball, the serving team is not considered to be at an advantage at the start of each rally. If you have trouble at first remembering to observe the two-bounce rule, just count the bounces in your head: “One … two … game on!” Another way to think about this rule is that the ball must bounce on each side of the court before players may volley. So, after you’ve watched the ball bounce on your side of the court, either on the serve or return, you can forget worrying about counting those darn bounces. Starting positions The server is the only player required to stand in any particular place on the court when the point begins. (Actually, there is a rule stating that you must stand on your own team’s side of the net, but we can’t imagine why you wouldn’t choose to do so). However, the two-bounce rule clearly influences where the other three players should stand at the start of the point. Here’s the breakdown for each player: The server must stand behind the baseline. The rules state that the server must serve from behind the baseline and between the imaginary extensions of the centerline and sidelines. The server’s partner should also stay behind or near the baseline. Again, the two-bounce rule requires the serving team to let the return bounce before they can hit it. In case the return is hit deep, both members of the serving team will want to stay back as far as possible so that they won’t have to backpedal to hit the ball. The receiver stands behind the baseline. The two-bounce rule requires the receiver to let the serve bounce before they can return the serve. The receiver should also stay well behind the baseline in order to more easily deal with a deep serve. The receiver’s partner stands up at the kitchen line. Because the two-bounce rule affects only the serving team and the receiver, the receiver’s partner doesn’t worry about the two-bounce rule and instead focuses on being in the most offensive position at the kitchen line, ready to volley the next ball that comes to them. If you’re not sure where you’re supposed to be standing, remember that all players should ideally stand behind the baseline at the beginning of the point, except for the person standing directly across from the server. Also, remember that when it’s your partner’s turn to serve, they need you back there with them. It’s their big moment! Stay back and support your partner when they’re serving. Only the receiver’s partner should be up at the kitchen line.

Article / Updated 08-03-2023

Listen to the article:Download audio A rally is the period of continuous play, hitting the ball back and forth. It ends as soon as one of the players commits a fault, resulting in their team’s loss of that rally. In basic terms, a fault occurs when a player: Hits the ball into (or under) the net Fails to return the ball before it has bounced twice on their side Hits the ball and it lands out of bounds Many other types of faults can cause you to lose a rally, and these authors have done them all! Don’t worry: Even losing points can be tons of fun — it’s still pickleball! It’s also considered a fault if a player: Violates any of the serving rules Violates the two-bounce rule Contacts the ball with anything other than the paddle or the hand that is holding the paddle Serves or returns as the incorrect player, or from the incorrect side Violates any of the kitchen rules (see “It’s hot in the kitchen!” below) Touches the net, net posts, or the opponent’s side of the court. This rule applies to your paddle and clothing as well, which is why we’ve stopped playing in hoop skirts and parachute pants. There are a few even less common ways to lose a rally, such as taking too long to return from a time-out in tournament play, but the faults in the preceding list are the main ones to worry about during recreational play. It’s hot in the kitchen! The non-volley zone (NVZ), a.k.a. the kitchen, is another genius idea that makes pickleball great. If players could just lean over the net and spike the ball directly into your face, that may impede your ability to enjoy this great pastime. The kitchen makes it so that players have to stay at least 7 feet away from the net if they want to hit the ball out of the air (a shot known as a volley). If you think of the kitchen as its technical name, the non-volley zone, it tells you exactly what it is — a zone where you cannot volley. To be more specific, you cannot have any contact with the ball before it has bounced while you’re in this zone. If anything about your volley starts, finishes, or takes place while you’re in the kitchen, it’s a fault. Note that the kitchen is a two-dimensional surface, not a three-dimensional space. In other words, it’s perfectly legal to lean in and hit the ball out of the air from the area above the kitchen, as long as you are not touching its surface. The kitchen line and bordering sidelines are considered part of the kitchen. The out-of-bounds area adjacent to the kitchen is not. If you see that a ball is going to bounce short in the kitchen and you can’t reach it without going in, by all means go! You don’t have to wait for the ball to bounce before you can go in — that’s a common misconception. After you have gone in and made your shot, try to get back out of the kitchen as quickly as possible. Otherwise, your opponent may flick the ball right at you, forcing you to illegally contact it before it has bounced. Because the kitchen is unique to pickleball and the rules are frequently misunderstood, many new players are petrified of being anywhere near the kitchen. We urge you to let go of this irrational fear because it will only hinder your development as a player. The kitchen is not hot lava! Not only are you allowed to go in there, you will absolutely need to go in there sometimes to retrieve the ball. The only similarity between the kitchen and your average lava field is that you don’t want to camp out in there. You may hear pickleballers advising each other to “Stay out of the kitchen!” Although it’s a cute turn of phrase, this advice is not entirely accurate. Instead of hanging signs in the kitchen that say “Keep Out,” we’d prefer more helpful signs that say, “No Loitering.” So, now you know there’s only one thing you can’t do in the kitchen: contact the ball before it bounces. That doesn’t sound so complicated, right? The confusing part for many players is understanding what qualifies as being “in” the kitchen, and in what situations it applies. The rules define a kitchen violation (fault) as occurring when: You hit a volley while any part of your body is contacting the kitchen. Remember, the kitchen surface includes the kitchen line and adjoining sidelines. Even if just your pinky toe (the one that went “wee wee wee” all the way home) touches the very back of the kitchen line, it’s a fault. You hit a volley and your momentum carries you into the kitchen. If you initially strike the ball outside the kitchen but the momentum from the shot makes you step inside it, it’s considered a fault. There is no time limit on this rule; that is, it doesn’t matter if your opponents have already made their next shot (or three), or your partner smashes the next ball for a gold-medal, match-ending winner.If you haven’t yet regained your balance from your earlier volley and you fall into the kitchen, it’s a fault. After you have reestablished your balance, it is no longer considered part of the same shot, and you can go into the kitchen as you please. You hit a volley and touch the kitchen with your paddle. If you lose your balance after hitting a volley and fall forward, try to avoid using your paddle to steady yourself. If your paddle makes contact with the kitchen during or after your shot, it’s a fault. You hit a volley and your hat, glasses, or other gear falls into the kitchen. If you hit a volley and your dentures fall into the kitchen, it’s a fault for a variety of reasons (and one that your fellow players are unlikely to ever forget). You hit a volley and in the process knock your partner into the kitchen. By contacting your partner in the midst of your shot, you made them a part of that shot. Nothing that you touch during the act of volleying can come in contact with the kitchen until after you have reestablished yourself outside it. After legally going into the kitchen, you hit a volley before reestablishing both feet outside the kitchen again. This one’s a little tricky to visualize, so imagine that you’ve stepped into the kitchen to retrieve a short, bouncing ball — knowing that you’re perfectly safe because the kitchen is not hot lava — and you are contacting the ball after it has bounced. You return the ball, but as you are in the process of hustling back out of the kitchen, your opponent hits the ball right back at you. Unless you have managed to touch both feet outside the kitchen again, you may not contact the ball out of the air. The photos below show examples of legal and illegal volleying. The kitchen is a flat surface defined by its boundary lines and does not include the “air space” above it or the out-of-bounds area next to it. It’s legal to volley while stepping or leaping over the corner of the kitchen, as long as your feet do not touch the in-bounds surface. This is called an Erne. (It’s actually pronounced like “Ernie,” and people may suspect you’re a rookie if you don’t pronounce it correctly.) If you want to show off, just tell them it’s named after Erne Perry. The Erne is an advanced move, so don’t worry if you can’t hit one just yet — you’ll at least win pickleball trivia night. Be honest when you break the kitchen rules. Kitchen violations in recreational play are typically called by the player who made the violation, or by their partner. The call usually sounds something like, “Oh wait, no, stop. Stop stop stop stop stop. I was in the kitchen.” This declaration is often paired with a sheepish look, or in some cases a big smile, because smashing a ball from the kitchen feels really great — until you realize it didn’t count! In tournaments with referees, the referees will call the kitchen violations. If you’ve been cheating a bit in recreational play, you will suffer in tournaments because referees are very good at spotting kitchen faults.

Article / Updated 11-16-2022

Listen to the article:Download audio When you were a little kid, you'd probably meet another kid at the playground, say your name, and within a minute or two ask, “Want to be friends?” And that was it. You had a new friend. As an adult, making new friends gets a little harder. Careers, families, and the daily grind can make it difficult to connect. But there is an easy way to make friends again. Just step onto a court, paddle in hand, and say, “Want to play pickleball?” You just made at least three new friends! Pickleball tends to be a more social sport than most, for a variety of reasons. The court is smaller than a tennis court, so talking with the other players is easier. Players often show up individually rather than as a prearranged foursome. A large portion of the pickleball population picked up the game in their 40s, 50s, and 60s. They show up to get exercise and often to meet new people. If you get nothing else from pickleball, we hope you make many wonderful friends. We did! Where do people play pickleball? The pickleball social scene is everywhere, from public courts operated by city recreation departments, community developments, and private clubs to homemade courts on the streets, driveways, and inside garages or basements to fancy custom courts in backyards. There’s little barrier to diving right in and meeting lots of like-minded folks! Joining a pickleball club As you play more pickleball, you may find yourself wanting more: more time to play, more players to play with, more fun. All these outcomes may await you through a local pickleball club. If you’re thinking about joining a club, here are some factors to consider: Cost: Are you willing to pay monthly or annual fees, and if so, how much? Location: How far are you willing to drive to play, potentially several times a week? Size: What size club are you interested in? Are you looking to meet a few hundred players, or are you more comfortable with smaller sized groups? If it’s a large club, how do they manage court usage and crowds? Culture: Do you want to join an informal group at the local park or one at an upscale country club? Try to get the feel of the club. Do they offer events for players of your skill level? Activities: Are you interested in lots of organized play like ladders, leagues, tournaments, and social gatherings or do you prefer more casual play? Does the club offer the kind of competition you enjoy? There are many benefits to joining a pickleball club, or forming a club yourself if you don’t find one near you. Starting a club may seem daunting at first, but folks all over the world are starting pickleball clubs with no prior experience — just passion for the game and some plucky DIY spirit. Pickleballers are unstoppable! Enjoying the benefits of a club Whether you join an informal club at the local park or pay for a membership to an athletic or country club, you can experience some definite advantages of being a “joiner.” Benefits vary, but you may get to: Drop in. Most clubs have several drop-in times a week. No hassle of finding partners and organizing a court. You simply drop in and play with whomever is there, which is a nice way to meet new people. You can also learn more about pickleball and hone your skills by playing with people of different styles and skill levels. Reserve a court. You don’t have the hassle in waiting for others to finish. Some (but not all) clubs have reservation systems, so you're guaranteed a court time. Learn from a pro. Most larger clubs have teaching pros who offer clinics and private lessons. Party on. Clubs are primarily social and make parties a priority because they add to the fun. It can be a perfect way to get to know the people you play with a little better. Play tournaments. Club-run tournaments are often low-key compared to large, sanctioned tournaments, so they’re an easy way to get your feet wet before entering any major events. Get discounts. Who doesn't love a deal? Often, clubs offer discount pricing for members on court time, lessons, and tournaments. Many clubs also negotiate discounts from equipment retailers. Volunteer. If you enjoy sharing your talents and giving back to the community, joining a club provides many opportunities for you to get involved and make a difference. To gain maximum enjoyment from the club experience, we recommend finding your tribe. You will instantly meet a lot of people who may have similar interests. From your new pickleball club friends, you can learn how to play better, what equipment to buy, where to get lessons, and where to find the best tacos in the neighborhood after you’ve won all your matches. (Tacos are for winners.) Starting a new pickleball club Anyone can start a club, including you! Most pickleball clubs begin as grassroot efforts, and their organizers are just regular people who see an opportunity to unite the players in their community. Sometimes the impetus comes from seeing a problem and wanting to collectively improve the local pickleball experience. Players organize into clubs for several reasons: Scheduling: Clubs offer a way to organize drop-in play, ladders, and leagues. Organizing not only helps players mix and mingle but can also help ease overcrowding by redirecting court traffic to less busy times. Communication: Forming a club is one way to gather contact information and efficiently communicate with players in your area. Some important topics to communicate on include court closures or openings; local tournaments and events; advocacy opportunities; lost-and-found items; and club rules and regulations. Advocacy: Organizing local players into a club allows you to advocate collectively for additional courts, more gym time, and facility improvements, among other issues. In some cases, it may be necessary to represent the interest of pickleballers when cities or neighborhood associations want to limit the use of courts. Rules: Sometimes forming a club is necessary so that someone has the authority to set rules and regulations. When courts get overcrowded, bad behavior can occur. Rules about court rotation, sharing, and etiquette can go a long way toward keeping the peace and making sure everything runs smoothly during crowded play times. By starting a pickleball club, you’re becoming a trailblazer, which can be fun and rewarding. It's an opportunity to bring your community together and play more pickleball at the same time (a win-win.) Although forming a new club entails a lot of work, you can recruit volunteers to bring their unique talents to the table and you may well end up with lifelong friendships in the process. Here are some tips for setting up your own club: Decide where to play. Make sure the times you want to play are accessible and enough courts exist. Also confirm that you have the blessing of the venue owner, city, or park district before formally organizing a club at their courts. Give your club a name. Go with something that is easily identifiable and indicates the venue, town, or region your club plans to serve. Potential members need to easily be able to find you on Google and social media. Recruit members. Go to local events or other clubs and ask around to see who's interested, or just start with a few friends and spread the word. Distribute flyers and post on social media. One of the best ways to attract new members is to offer some sort of free weekly clinics for beginners. See Chapter 19 for tips on holding an introductory clinic. Identify the decision-maker(s). The organizer may be just you for a while, but be on the lookout for people to delegate tasks to. Fortunately, many people are passionate about pickleball, so finding others who want to get involved won’t be that hard. Determine dues. Determine monthly or annual dues (if any) and what benefits you can offer members in exchange for paying them. Have ongoing communications. Keep your peeps connected! Create a Facebook group, email list, website, or a simple newsletter to keep people up to date. If you have enough players, form committees to help with the club. You are only one person and can't do everything. Pickleballers love to help! It never hurts to ask. Don’t get discouraged. It’s important to realize going in that pleasing everyone all the time is impossible. Focus on the positive outcomes you’re achieving, and be sure to take time to step back and enjoy actually playing, too! After all, the love of the game is what motivated you to step up in the first place. It’s really cool to see a newly formed group gather to organize fundraisers and social events, or convince the park district to convert unused tennis or basketball courts into thriving pickleball courts. We see this positive energy for change happening all over the world. Imagine all the picklebilities — er, possibilities!

Cheat Sheet / Updated 10-20-2022

Don’t be confused: This cheat sheet covers some of the pickleball rules, not ways to cheat! It’s easy to start playing pickleball the first time you step on a court, and here you’ll find the rules for serving and scoring, plus clarification on what you can and can’t do in the kitchen.