Are you looking for a way to have fun, stay in shape, and make new friends?

It may seem impossible, but there’s a way to do all three of those things at the same time!

How?

Well, it’s this amazing little sport called pickleball! Many sources bill it as a cross between tennis and ping-pong, but it’s so much more than that!

What Is Pickleball?

Pickleball may just be America’s fastest-growing sport.

It’s easy to learn, fun to play, and wildly accessible. Its growing popularity also means that there’s probably a well-established pickleball court near you!

You’ll find folks of all ages playing — from the young tots to gray-haired retirees! And, if you asked any of them why they’re there, they’ll tell you the same thing…

It’s all about the fun of the game!

So, why wait? Keep reading to learn how to play pickleball!

What You Need to Play Pickleball

Let’s start at the beginning.

Don’t worry about the rules; we’ll get to them in a minute. I’ll also cover the basics of a pickleball court, but you need to prepare before you play.

So, for now, let’s focus on what you need to play pickleball.

Play Solo or With a Friend

One of the best parts of pickleball is its flexibility.

The most common style is known as doubles, and it requires a friend. In this setup, you’ll be playing as two teams of two.

However, you can also play alone. While less common, singles are a great way to get a “feel” for a game. If you head down to your nearest pickleball court, you’ll probably find someone willing to teach you in this one-on-one setup. That being said, you can learn the ropes just as easily on a team!

Borrow or Bring a Pickleball Ball

Next, you’ll need to stock up on the necessary equipment. Many pickleball courts have equipment on-site, and you may find friendly players willing to lend you their extras. However, if you want to buy your own (or if you’re just curious about the specifics), you’ll want to look for pickleball-specific sporting goods.

We’ll start with the center of every pickleball game: the pickleball ball!

While the original sport once used run-of-the-mill wiffle balls, modern pickleball games use a purpose-built ball. Per the official rules, these hard balls must be 2.87–2.97 inches (73–75 mm) in diameter. There should be 26–40 evenly-spaced holes on the surface, and the total weight should be 0.78–0.935 ounces (22.1–26.5 grams).

Many players carry smaller pickleball balls to use on windy days, as they’re better at resisting outside forces.

As with any sporting equipment, you’ll find plenty of options in sporting goods stores. All of the major pickleball organizations (Major League Pickleball, Professional Pickleball Association, and USA Pickleball) offer authentic equipment on their websites.

Find an Appropriate Paddle

You may be tempted to call it a racquet, but pickleball uses paddles!

Per official rules, these hard-hitting tools are no longer than 24 inches (61 mm) from end to end. Moreover, the hitting surface cannot be textured.

Again, you’ll find plenty of options online. Pickleball organizations offer certified paddles, as do many sporting goods stores. If you’re looking for something fancier, you can even splurge on custom paddles! These pricey treasures often feature engravings or patterns; some companies even offer paddles with your name on them!

General Equipment Needs

Finally, you’ll need some “common sense” goods.

The sport is best played with tennis shoes or similarly grippy, comfortable footwear. Similarly, you’ll want a comfortable, breathable shirt and appropriate legwear. Double-check with your court of choice, as some pickleball courts have a dress code.

Other odds and ends to bring to any pickleball game include:

• A first-aid kit
• Good sportsmanship
• A hat, if desired
• Plenty of water
• Snacks for long sessions
• Sunscreen

If you’re playing with a team, feel free to divide and conquer! For example, maybe you bring snacks, and a friend brings water bottles.

The Pickleball Court

Awesome! We have everything that we need. (Or maybe it’s all on the way!)

Now, it’s time to get cozy with the court.

As with any sport, pickleball has a dedicated playing surface. A pickleball court is a hard-surfaced playing field measuring 20 feet (6.069 meters) wide by 44 feet (13.14 meters) long. (Accessible courts tend to be slightly larger.)

Official courts are often made with unique surface materials, some of which absorb the distinctive “plock” of the ball. However, you can also make impromptu courts on any sufficiently hard surface, including asphalt, blacktops, and concrete. Cul-de-sacs, driveways, and old tennis courts are common communal playing surfaces.

The “Kitchen” (Non-Volley Zone)

As its name suggests, this section of the court begins at the kitchen line. A single kitchen measures 20 feet (6.069 meters) wide by 7 feet (2.1336 meters) long. Position-wise, it’s up against the net.

Every court has two kitchens — one per team.

The Service Area

There are also four service areas — two per team.

These sections extend outward from the kitchen line and rest side by side. A single service area measures 10 feet (3.048 meters) wide by 15 feet (4.572 meters) long, and the two service areas are divided by the centerline.

The furthest edge from the net — spanning both service areas — is the baseline. Longways, the service area’s and the kitchen’s combined outer edge form a sideline.

The Net

Finally, we have the all-important net.

Per official guidelines, a pickleball net must be 21’9” wide (6.6294 meters or 21‘9’) and 36 inches tall at either end; its center point should be 34 inches tall. These nets are protected by a 2-inch tape cover along the upper edge.

Most permanent pickleball playing areas have built-in nets. However, you can also find portable nets for sale! Most portable nets will state that they’re purpose-built for pickleball. Otherwise, double-check those dimensions before you buy!

How to Play Pickleball

Finally, we can dig into the rules of the sport.

The simple rules and easy-to-learn techniques are two of the leading forces behind this sport’s meteoric rise to fame. In fact, many cite the game’s scoring system as the toughest thing to learn.

The Basics of Play

Assuming you’re playing with a team, each pickleball group has two players, and each round begins with one player in each of the four service areas.

A game generally begins with a coin toss (or some other method) to determine the serving team.

And after the initial serve, the ball is live as long it’s within the confines of the rectangular court.

Sounds simple, right?

Well, there are a few more technicalities to go over…

How to Serve the Ball

Let’s start with serving.

There are two types of serving styles allowed. The most common variant looks much like an underhand serve in tennis. However, unlike tennis, official pickleball rules even state that the server’s arm must “move in an upward arc” before contacting the ball.

Alternatively, you can go for a so-called “drop serve.” In this style, the server serves by dropping the ball and allowing it to bounce any number of times before hitting it.

Regardless of the style, the serving team must also abide by the following pickleball rules:

• One foot must be behind the baseline when serving
• The paddle head cannot be above the player’s wrist when contacting the ball
• Paddles cannot make contact with the ball above a player’s waist

Finally, a server must hit the ball diagonally into the opposing team’s service court. More precisely, if a player serves from the left service court, the ball must bounce within the opponent’s right service court. Per the “two-bounce rule” (alternatively known as the “double-bounce rule”),the opposing team must then allow the ball to bounce once before returning it.

Serve hits are made from the left court when the serving team’s score is an odd number. When the score is an even number, the ball is served from the right court.

It should also be noted that some players do not allow servers to spin the ball. For example, players using USA Pickleball Association rules have been banned from spinning servers since 2022.

How to Return the Ball

Now that the ball’s in play, what happens?

Well, like any tennis or badminton game, it’s time to return the ball!

As was already mentioned, players must allow at least one valid ball bounce before returning the ball to the serving team. (Alternatively, per adaptive rules, the ball may bounce 2–3 times before a return.)

Volleying the ball is not allowed for the first two “turns.” In other (and perhaps less confusing) words, the opposing team must hit the ball back twice before they can volley. Moreover, as you may have guessed from its name, volleys cannot be made within the no-volley zone. (Not that, in adaptive play, volleys are still allowed if the smaller caster wheels of a player’s wheelchair pass into the no-volley zone.)

Like serves, returns must be made diagonally and returned by the correct player. So, if the ball is returned from Team A’s left service court, it must be returned by Team B’s right service court. Likewise, it must be returned by the player in the appropriate service court.

Once the ball is in play, the game is on!

Pickleball Scoring

You may have noticed that I haven’t mentioned how to score points yet.

That’s because pickleball scoring is somewhat complex.

Firstly, pickleball uses what is known as “side-out scoring.”

This means that only the serving team scores. Should the serving team commit any fault (as I’ll describe in a moment), the other team does not get a point. However, the serving team scores whenever the opponent commits a fault.

There are multiple styles of play, and the ultimate goal of any game is to reach a certain number of points. Many casual games are played to 11 points. In formal tournament games, matches are played until teams hit 15 or 21 points. Regardless of the total, all games are won if the leading team has 2 points more than their opponents.

Announcing the Game’s Score

Much like tennis, the game score is announced prior to each serve. In a solo match, the score is straightforward; it’s spoken as player one’s score followed by player two’s score. However, in team play, there are three numbers in the score: the first team’s score, the second team’s score, and the server number.

As an example: Let’s say Team A has 5 points and Team B has 3. In a solo match, the score would be “5, 3.” However, in a doubles match, you’ll have two players on each team. If Team A’s first server is up, the score would be announced as “5, 3, 1.” Similarly, if Team B is the serving team and their second player is serving, the score is “5, 3, 2.”

These announcements are made formally by a third party, usually a referee. If your group lacks a non-partisan middleman, feel free to announce your own scores!

What Is a Pickleball Fault?

Now that we know how the scores work let’s look at how you can score points.

Again, you must be on the serving team to score any points. Moreover, your team’s “faults” do not impact the other team’s score. Instead, a fault by the serving team only costs them their serving privileges.

Per official USA Pickleball rules, faults are defined as any sort of action that halts the normal flow of the game. The official rules list the following actions as faults:

• Breaking serving rules
• Failing to return the ball
• Failing to return the ball to the proper diagonal side of the court
• Returning the ball as the wrong player
• Serving to or from the wrong service court
• Volleying before two turns

Safety Tips

Now you know how to play pickleball, but it takes teamwork and strategy to win a game. As with any sport, practice makes perfect! Find a friend, serve some games, and get active. You’ll be winning matches and making new pickleball friends soon enough.

However, it would be wrong of me to wrap this lesson up before I handed out some safety pointers!

Every sport comes with risks, and pickleball is no exception. Severe injuries are rare enough to be an anomaly, but everyone knows how inconvenient a simple bruise can be! So, before you pack up and head out to serve any rounds, make sure you’ve checked everything off this safety list!

Wear the Right Stuff

Never play pickleball in the wrong outfit. Aside from being a public faux pas, incorrect gear can hurt you!

On a physical level, ill-fitting clothing can chafe your skin, causing future irritation. The wrong shoes can easily trip you, and you’ll be pretty embarrassed if you whiff a return thanks to slippery soles. Avoid bumps and bruises by checking your clothing for the following issues:

• Breathability: Wear “breezy,” cooling clothing to avoid overheating. This is especially important on any outdoor court during the summer months!
• Comfort: Make sure your shoes, shirt, and pants (or skirt!) are comfy.
• Looseness: Overly loose clothing can catch on obstacles and other players. Moreover, ill-fitted shoes (such as sandals and flip-flops) can lead to falls and twisted ankles.
• Tightness: Don’t wear anything tight and abrasive… unless you don’t mind chafing, I suppose!
• Visibility: Planning on late games? Don’t forget your high-visibility clothes for walking home! They’ll also make it easier to spot you on dark courts.

You may also want to leave your jewelry at home. Aside from the obvious entanglement risk, those cherished baubles might fly off during intense matches! Alternatively, you can bring a jewelry bag and stash your valuables in your bag while you play.

Don’t Forget to Stretch

I don’t know many people who like cramping up!

Like any sport, pickleball can get wild! Don’t let cramps interrupt your game. Keep the fun going by taking the time to stretch before you play.

Some of the best stretches to do before you start include:

• Arm swings
• Jogging (either in place or around the pickleball court)
• Lunges
• Torso twists

These stretches work your arms, core, and legs, ensuring that you’re ready to win from your very first serve!

Stay Hydrated

I’ve already mentioned that you should bring a water bottle, but it’s time to mention it again!

Stay hydrated!

Always bring plenty of water to every pickleball session. Remember: It’s better to have more water than you need. Moreover, it’s always nice to share. Pickleball players are welcoming folk, and they’ll definitely appreciate your kindness.

If you prefer flavorful beverages, consider coconut water or infused fruit drinks. There are also plenty of hydrating sparkling beverages to choose from.

Watch the Weather

Finally, you should always keep an eye on the sky.

Yes, for the pickleball ball… but also for the weather!

From a strategic standpoint, it’s also nice to know what the wind is like. High winds may make it hard or even impossible to play a good pickleball game. However, moderate winds may be to your advantage, and some players have slightly smaller balls specifically for windy weather!

Safety-wise, wet pickleball courts are slick. It’s easy to slip and fall doing something you’d do any other day on such a surface, which is why many outdoor courts ban playing in the rain. Similarly, you don’t want to get caught on an open court in severe weather. Stay safe, and call off your game if it’s raining or storming.

If you think you can ignore the weather by playing inside, think again!

You’ll still have some sort of commute! At the very least, you want to know if you should bring an umbrella and some dry clothes. Moreover, if the weather is severe, it may be worth waiting until things calm down before you head out for a game.

Learn Even More!

Congratulations!

If you’re reading this, you’ve officially mastered the basics of pickleball! You’ll be rocking the service courts in no time. Now it’s time for you to find your preferred local courts!

You can also start mastering some advanced tactics, so check out the rest of the blog for more tips, tricks, and useful pickleball guides.