Welcome to the exciting world of pickleball! If you’re new to the game, it can seem overwhelming at first. But fear not, we’re here to guide you through the basic rules of the game so you can start playing and enjoying it in no time.

The Court

Pickleball is played on a court that’s similar in size to a badminton court (20 feet wide and 44 feet long). The court is divided into two halves, with a net running across the middle. The net is 36 inches high at the edges and 34 inches high in the middle.

The Equipment

To play pickleball, you’ll need a paddle and a ball. The paddle is similar to a large ping-pong paddle and can be made of wood, composite materials, or graphite. The ball is similar to a wiffle ball but slightly smaller.

The Serve

The game starts with the serve. The server must stand behind the baseline and serve the ball diagonally to the other side of the court. The serve must clear the net and land in the opposite service court. If the serve hits the net and lands in the correct service court, it’s called a «let» and the server gets another try.

The Volley

Once the ball is in play, players must let it bounce once on their side of the court before hitting it. After the first bounce, players can either hit the ball in the air (a «volley») or let it bounce again before hitting it. The ball must land in the opponent’s court and cannot be hit out of bounds.

Scoring

Points are scored when the serving team wins a rally. A rally is won when the opposing team hits the ball out of bounds, into the net, or fails to return the ball before it bounces twice on their side of the court. The first team to reach 11 points and be ahead by at least 2 points wins the game.

Conclusion

Now that you have a basic understanding of the rules, it’s time to grab a paddle and hit the court! Remember, the most important thing is to have fun and enjoy the game. As you play more, you’ll learn new techniques and strategies that will make you a better player. So, go out there and have a blast playing pickleball!