Basic Overview Pickleball is played on a badminton-sized court, 20' x 44'. The ball is seved diagonally, (starting with the right-hand service square), and points can only be scored by the side that serves. Players on each side must let the ball bounce once before volleys are allowed and there is a seven foot no-volley zone on each side of the net, to prevent "spiking". The server continues to serve, alternating service courts, until he or she faults. The first side scoring eleven points and leading by at least two points wins. Pickleball can be played with singles or doubles.
The Serve Serves are to be made diagonally, starting with the right-hand service square and alternating each serve. The serve must clear the seven foot no-volley zone in front of the net and land in the diagonal service court. Serves must be done underhand with the paddle below the waist and the server must keep both feet behind the back line when serving. The ball should be hit into the air without being bounced. The serving side will continue to serve until there is a fault on the service, at which point the service will be given to the opposing side. If the ball touches the net but still lands within the appropriate service court, the serve may be taken over.
Double Bounce Rule and Volleys Each team must play their first shot off of the bounce. That is, the receiving team must let the serve bounce and the serving team must let the return of the serve bounce before playing it. Once these two bounces have occurred, the ball can either be volleyed or played off the bounce. To volley means to hit a ball in the air without first letting it bounce. This can only be done when the player's feet are behind the no-volley zone line.
Fault A fault is committed when the ball: * Touches any part of the no-volley zone on the serve including the line * Is hit out of bounds * Does not clear the net * Is volleyed from the no-volley zone * Is volleyed before a bounce has occurred on each side
