Pickleball Rules and Strategies: Court, Serving, Scoring, and Faults

Doubles

Can be played as doubles or singles (doubles more common)

Court size and rules

The same for singles and doubles

Serve

The server's arm must be moving in an upward arc when the ball is struck

Paddle contact

Must not be made about the waist level

Paddle head position

Must not be above the highest part of the wrist at contact

Serve direction

Made diagonally crosscourt and must land within the confines of the opposite diagonal court

Serve attempts

Only one serve attempt is allowed per server

Service Sequence

Both players on the serving doubles team have the opportunity to serve and score points until they commit a fault

First service sequence

The first serve of each side-out is made from the right hand court

Server switching sides

If a point is scored, the server switches sides and initiates the next serve from the left-hand court

Fault

When the first server loses the serve the partner then serves from their correct side of the court

Second server

Continues serving until his team commits a fault and loses the serve to the opposing team

Scoring

Points are scored ONLY by the SERVING team

Game points

Games are normally played to 11 points, win by two

Serving position

When the serving team's score is even, the first server will be in the right-side court; when odd, in the left-side court

Two-Bounce Rule

When the ball is served, the receiving team must let the ball bounce before returning, and then the serving team must let it bounce before returning

Non-Volley Zone

The court area within 7 feet on both sides of the net

Volleying prohibition

Volleying is PROHIBITED within the non-volley zone

Fault in non-volley zone

It is a fault if, when volleying a ball, the player steps on the non-volley zone

Momentum fault

It is a fault if, after volleying, a player is carried by momentum into or touches the non-volley zone

Legal position in non-volley zone

A player may legally be in the non-volley zone any time other than when volleying a ball

Line Calls

A ball contacting any line, except the non-volley zone line on a serve, is considered 'in'

Serve fault

A serve contacting the non-volley zone line is short and a fault

Gameplay Fault

A fault is any action that stops play because of a rule violation

Dinking

Refers to soft shots made to land in the opponent's non-volley zone

Positioning

Players generally aim to be close to/control the net

Volley

Hitting the ball in the air before it bounces

Kitchen

The non-volley zone where players cannot volley

Double-Bounce Rule

Requires that the ball bounce once on each side before volleys are allowed