You've heard the name, you've seen the courts... but what is this game?
Pickleball is exploding in popularity for one simple reason: it's incredibly fun and remarkably easy to learn. You can have a proper back-and-forth rally in your very first session.
While you'll pick it up fast by just playing, here are the four absolute basics you need to know.
1. The Serve: Start it Simple
The game starts with an underarm serve.
You must hit the ball below your waist.
You serve diagonally across the court (like tennis).
The serve has to land past the front box, which is called the "Kitchen".
2. The Kitchen: Stay Out! (Sort of)
The "Kitchen" is the 2.1-metre (7-foot) "Non-Volley Zone" on both sides of the net.
You cannot hit a volley (hitting the ball out of the air) while standing in the Kitchen.
You can go into the Kitchen to hit a ball that has already bounced.
This rule is the secret sauce of pickleball. It stops people from just standing at the net and smashing everything, which is what creates those long, fun, strategic rallies.
3. The "Two-Bounce Rule"
This is the most unique rule in pickleball, but it's simple:
Theservemust bounce once before the receiver can hit it.
Thereturn of servemust also bounce once before the serving team can hit it.
After those two bounces (one on each side), the rule is off. Players can then choose to hit the ball out of the air (volley) or let it bounce. This rule also helps get a rally started.
4. The Scoring: Earn Your Points
You can only score points when your team is serving. Games are normally played to11 points, and you must win by 2.
Watch It in Action
Reading rules is one thing, but seeing it is much easier. The best way to understand the flow of the game is to watch a quick explainer.
That's it! Those are the basics. The rest—like why players yell "0-0-2!"—will make perfect sense after a game or two.
Don't overthink it. Come on down to the club. We've got all the paddles and balls you need, and the friendliest group of players who are always keen to show a new person the ropes.
