How do you play pickleball for beginners?

Pickleball is played on a 20-by-44-foot court with a paddle and a plastic ball. You serve underhand and diagonally, and both the serve and the return must bounce before anyone hits a volley (the two-bounce rule). After that, you can hit in the air — except while standing in the kitchen, the 7-foot zone by the net. Only the serving side can score, and games go to 11, win by 2. Most games are doubles.

What are the basic rules of pickleball?

Four basics get you playing: (1) serve underhand, diagonally, into the far service box; (2) let the serve and the return each bounce once — the two-bounce rule; (3) don't volley (hit out of the air) while standing in the kitchen; (4) only the serving side scores, and you play to 11, win by 2.

What equipment do you need to play pickleball?

Just a pickleball paddle and a pickleball (a perforated plastic ball), plus a net and a court. Most public courts and clubs provide the net and lines; you bring a paddle and balls. Beginners don't need anything fancy — an inexpensive paddle is plenty to start.

Is pickleball easy to learn?

Yes — that's a big reason it's the fastest-growing sport in the U.S. The court is small, the underhand serve is simple, and the plastic ball moves slowly, so most people are rallying within their first session. The scoring and the kitchen rule take a few games to click, but the basics are quick to pick up.

Pickleball Rules Guide

Beginners start here

How to Play Pickleball

Pickleball is a paddle sport played on a small court with a plastic ball — part tennis, part badminton, part ping-pong. It’s easy to start and hard to master. Here is the whole game in one page, with links to the details when you want them.

By the VolleyForge team · Reviewed August 2026

What you need

A paddle, a pickleball (a light, perforated plastic ball), and a court with a net. Most parks and clubs provide the net and lines, so you just bring a paddle and balls. The court is 20 by 44 feet — see the exact court dimensions.

The court you'll play on — 20 ft × 44 ft, with the kitchen (Non-Volley Zone) 7 ft from each side of the net.

The object of the game

You and your opponents rally the ball back and forth over the net. You win a point when they can’t return it legally — it goes out, into the net, or bounces twice. Most pickleball is doubles (two per side), but singles uses the same court and most of the same rules.

The serve

The serve is underhand and diagonal, hit into the service box across from you. It has to clear the kitchen and land in bounds. The full set of serving faults and the drop-serve option are on the serving rules page.

The two-bounce rule

This is the one rule that makes pickleball click: after the serve, the ball must bounce once on each side before anyone volleys. The return must bounce, and the serving team’s next shot must bounce too. After those two bounces, you can hit the ball out of the air — except in the kitchen.

The kitchen

The kitchen (Non-Volley Zone) is the 7-foot area on each side of the net. You can’t volley while standing in it — you have to let the ball bounce first. It stops players from camping at the net and smashing every ball, and it’s where the soft, strategic game happens.

Keeping score

Only the serving side can score, and games go to 11, win by 2. Doubles uses a three-number call that takes a few games to get used to — it’s all broken down on how to keep score and the doubles rules.

Now get better — and get on a court

Once you can rally, the fun starts. The strategy guidecovers the habits that raise your level fastest — getting to the net, the third shot drop, and the soft game. The only thing left is people to play with.

Ready to actually play?

You know the rules — now you need a court and some players. VolleyForge matches you with games near you at your level, so you can put this into practice this week. Free to join.