How do You Play Pickleball

Pickleball is one of the fastest-growing sports in the world, loved for its simplicity, fun, and ability to caters to players of all ages and skill levels. Combining elements of tennis, badminton, and ping-pong, this paddle game is played on a smaller court making it accessible and less physically demanding than some other racquet sports. Whether you’re new to the game or just want to brush up on the basics, this guide will get you started. (affiliate links present)

What is pickleball and why is it called that?

We talk all about what is pickleball here. The basic answer is that it is a paddle sport played on a court similar in size to a doubles badminton court. Players use a perforated plastic ball (similar to a wiffle ball) and paddles made of wood or composite materials. The game can be played as singles (one player per side) or doubles (with two players per side). We go into more detail about that and why the name is what it is in the post above though!

Equipment Needed

  1. Pickleball Paddle: Lightweight paddles come in a variety of materials such as wood, graphite, or composite materials. You can find very inexpensive styles online to start with and over time move on to a better one. There is a large range of costs. I would start with ones from Amazon that come with a bag and balls and once you’re in love go on to a $50 version on up.
  2. Ball: A plastic ball with holes are in the basic pickleball equipment category, available in indoor and outdoor varieties. I would definitely invest (once you are sure you want to play on a regular basis in good ones from Selkirk).
  3. Net: Similar to a tennis net but slightly lower (36 inches at the sides and 34 inches in the middle). You can order small ones even to practice at home that are a fraction of the size and fit in your hallway.
  4. Pickleball Court: A 20’ x 44’ court with marked boundaries and a non-volley zone (called the “kitchen”). You can find some tennis courts that have lines on it make it smaller so you can play this game on that but I will say as a beginner that is confusing.
  5. Glasses: I didn’t invest in these until months after and it took me a while to find a pair that I really loved. Know that there is a danger of it hitting you in the eye so these are optional but recommended.

How to Start Playing a Pickleball Game

  • The game begins when one side serves the ball behind the baseline to the opposing team.
  • You serve diagonally into the opponent’s service area (past the Kitchen line) and should be as far back as possible without being out so it is harder to return.
  • Your team of pickleball players continues serving until your side misses, then your partner has a turn to serve, transitioning to the opponents serve if/when both of you lose the point.
Two women stand ready on an indoor court, each holding a paddle, eager to say "Let's Play Pickleball." A motivational phrase INSPIRE EXCELLENCE is partially visible on the wall behind them. The scene is captured in striking black and white.

What are the Basic Rules of Pickleball?

We have blog posts explaining in more specific terms the rules of pickleball here but there are a few basics you should understand if you are just starting out which are;

The Double-Bounce Rule

  • After the serve, the receiving team must let the ball bounce once before hitting it.
  • The serving team must also let the return bounce once before playing it.
  • After these two bounces, the ball can be hit either in the air (a volley) or after one bounce on your side.

How do You Score in Pickleball?

  • Points can only be scored by the serving team.
  • Games are typically played to 11 points, and a team must win by 2 points.
  • In doubles, each player on the serving team gets a chance to serve before the serve passes to the opposing team.
    • The exception to the rule is the very first serve.
    • In the very first serve the score starts as “00 serve”
    • When that server loses the point it transitions to the opponents side where they each have the opportunity to serve.
    • From then on each person gets the opportunity to serve on either side, the very first serve is the only “weird one”.

How to Say the Score in Pickleball

  1. Very first point is called “00 start” – only one person serves on that side on the very first point until that side loses the point.
  2. Once a point is made you will say your score first, the opponents score next and 1 or 2 whether you were the first person to start serving that round or the second. (let’s go over that a bit more to understand)
    • Let’s say I am serving first on my side of the court
    • I serve and we win the point
    • Then I would move sideways to the other position on my side of the court, stand behind the back line, say the score as 1 (the point we just won) 0 (the other side’s points) 1 (since I am the first server on our side in this round)
    • SO the score would be one, zero, one
    • And then I would serve again
    • If we won that point I would increase by 1 to say two, zero, one
    • Get it?? 😉

What is The Kitchen?

  • The 7-foot area on either side of the net is called the “kitchen.”
  • Players cannot volley (hit the ball in the air) while standing in the kitchen or even having your shoe on the kitchen line.
  • The ball must bounce before it is hit if the player is in this zone. Then you should immediately back out as the ball will be coming back at you.
  • If you are within this zone and hit the ball without it bouncing your side loses the point and the serve as well.
  • Typically this is the dinking area. What is a dink in pickleball? We answer that here.

How to Play a Point

  1. Serve: The server hits the ball underhand to the diagonally opposite service box.
  2. Return: The receiving team lets the ball bounce and returns it.
  3. Rally: Teams hit the ball back and forth, aiming to outmaneuver their opponents by placing shots strategically or forcing the other side to create errors.
  4. Winning the Point: Points are scored when the opposing team:
    • Fails to return the ball within the court boundaries.
    • Hits the ball into the net.
    • Or hits the ball out of the air without letting it bounce while standing in the kitchen.

Tips for Beginners

  1. Master the Serve: Practice consistent underhand serves to start each point with confidence.
  2. Stay Out of the Kitchen: Avoid standing in the non-volley zone unless you’re retrieving a short bounce.
  3. Focus on Placement: Precision often beats power in pickleball. Aim for corners or force opponents into uncomfortable positions.
  4. Communicate in Doubles: Coordinate with your partner to cover the court effectively and avoid collisions.
  5. Stay Ready: Maintain a low, balanced stance to react quickly to fast-paced shots. If you want to be ready to hit a volley keep your paddle up near your chin so you can position it so it bounces off and on to the other side.

Singles

This is when there is only 1 person on either side. You can play the whole court (which would be totally exhausting) and would follow the same rules as doubles except there is just one serve for each side. There are skinny singles which only use half the court so the area is skinnier and harder to keep inside the lines (but less running for sure).

Doubles

This is when two people are on either side which is most common. You stay with your partner for the entire game until one side hits the winning point of 11 (or won by 2 points). Then you can switch if playing with friends or stay together for multiple games. We usually play for 1.5 hours and play 2 games with the same partner and then switch. In that time we typically will play 6 full games, 2 with each partner. 😉

Common Strategies

  • Third Shot Drop: A soft shot designed to land in the opponent’s kitchen, neutralizing aggressive returns.
  • Dinking: Light, controlled shots near the net to force mistakes from opponents.
  • Positioning: Aim to stay near the baseline during the serve and transition to the net after the two-bounce rule is satisfied.

Pickleball Words You Should Know

  • Kitchen: The non-volley zone located 7 feet on either side of the net. Players cannot volley the ball while in this area.
  • Non-Volley Zone (NVZ): Another name for the “kitchen.”
  • Serve: The underhand shot used to start a point.
  • Return: The shot hit back to the serving team after the serve.
  • Rally: A continuous exchange of shots between teams until the point ends.Let: When a serve hits the net but still lands in the correct service area; the serve is replayed.
  • Fault: Any rule violation that ends the rally, resulting in a loss of serve or a point for the opposing team.
  • DUPR: What is DUPR in Pickleball talked about here. It is the scoring system used to rank you from a 2.0-8.0 player level.

Where to Play Pickleball Near Me

Many gyms are transforming tennis courts into these (typically blue) courts nowadays since this is a more popular sport. You can download PickleballPlay APP that will use your location and show you all the locations around you. There are two different options; indoor and outdoor. Some prefer one over the other for a multitude of reasons. Outdoors is nice with great weather to get some vitamin D, but the wind can be very frustrating for even the most seasoned experts. Inside is what I prefer, some have short fences around them (like at our gym) that is nice to catch the balls, others do not. You can organize your own group to play or some locations offer what is called open play. This is a time when you can show up, hang your paddle, and once there are 4 and a free court you all play!

Live Pickleball Videos

You can actually watch ALL THE THINGS with the Selkirk TV “channel” right on your laptop here. It is nice to watch the pros as a beginner or seasoned player can see their strategies and try them when playing the next time. I would take advantage of that station since it is free and always running.

Why Should You Play?

Health benefits of pickleball are of course great but also an incredibly social sport. Its easy-to-learn rules and inclusive nature make it perfect for families, friends, and community groups. With minimal equipment and a court size that fits almost anywhere, it’s no wonder pickleball has become a favorite pastime worldwide. Now that you know how to play, it’s time to grab a paddle, find a court, and start practicing! Whether you’re in it for fun, fitness, or competition, this game promises endless enjoyment and a great way to connect with others. Happy playing!