Starting a rally. Two bounce rule. The "NVZ". Winning points. Updated on: Jul 19, This article was written in collaboration with USA Pickleball. Ready to learn how to play pickleball? You're not alone. Pickleball is now the fastest-growing sport in America, and it's tons of fun. Whether you're an absolute beginner or a seasoned player looking to refresh your grip on the game, I've got you covered with this quick guide.
Follow these 7 simple rules and you'll be out playing in no time. To get started, all you need is a quality pickleball paddle , pickleball balls to play with, and a pickleball court near you. The best way to learn the basics is with a private lesson or beginner's clinic. They often provide equipment if you're not ready to invest in gear yet. Book a private or group lesson to learn the basics.
See what's available in your area! Pickleball is played on a badminton-sized court 20' x 44' with a net height of 36" at the sidelines and 34" at the center. The sport is most often played in "doubles" two players on each team. I'll mostly be covering the rules for doubles, so check out my guide on how to play singles pickleball if you want to learn more. Let's get into the 7 main rules for pickleball.
These are just a brief overview, so check below for a deep dive into each rule. The pickleball game and each rally starts with a serve. The player on the right side of their court always starts the serve.
You serve diagonally to your opponent:. The person serving can either hit the ball after it bounces or out of the air a "volley serve" and their serve must clear the kitchen including the line. When hitting a volley serve, it must be hit with an underhand forehand or backhand stroke with contact below the waist.
