You’ve probably heard it before.

“The two-bounce rule.”

This pickleball phrase is as common as sand on the beach. But what does it mean? In today’s blog post, we’re reviewing the basics of this pickleball rule!

What Is the Two-Bounce Rule in Pickleball?

We won’t dink around the bushes on this matter! The two-bounce rule is a straightforward concept. For sticklers of specifics, you’ll find it on the second page of the USA Pickleball rule book: “After the ball is served, each side must make one ground stroke prior to volleying the ball.” (Another nod to our fans of precision: The rule book actually says “groundstroke” — without the space.)

But what does this mean?

If you’re a visual learner, we’ve attached a handy video guide courtesy of Better Pickleball. You can also keep scrolling to get an in-depth look at the two-bounce rule.

Understanding the Two-Bounce Rule

After even a single game of pickleball, you’ll notice the sport’s unique “side out” scoring. Only the serving team can score points, and their faults do not contribute to the receiving team’s score. Furthermore, per pickleball rules, the serving team continues serving until a valid fault is called. In singles, each team has only one serve attempt; doubles pickleball gives each team two chances to serve before passing the ball.

Ultimately, as with any sport, pickleball points are a hot commodity. A top-tier serving team could be a nightmare for the receiving team! Fortunately, the two-bounce rule offers a reprieve from the madness by mitigating the sport’s inherent serve and volley advantage.

How Does the Two-Bounce Rule Work?

The rule book is upfront with its definition. However, the specifics of a “groundstroke” are not defined. So, allow us to help!

A groundstroke is any hit performed after the ball has bounced. Obviously, this bounce must happen within the pre-defined boundaries of the pickleball court. Balls must also clear the net; thus, a serve that bounces between the non-volley zone line and the net is not a live ball! Similarly, serves must land within the appropriate service court.

Now, let’s expand on this.

After the initial serve, the pickleball must have at least one more groundstroke before either team can volley. And — for the sake of clarity — a volley happens when the ball is returned before it bounces. Once these initial groundstrokes have occurred, it’s safe to volley to your heart’s content!

Learning by Example: See the Ball Bounce!

Now, allow us to describe a friendly pickleball game. In this scenario, you are the receiving team.

The serving team lands that first shot! The basic rules dictate that you must now allow the ball to bounce once (twice for wheelchair pickleball) before initiating any paddle contact. Similarly, the serving side must do the same. Afterward, the third shot is yours to do with as you wish. You can hit it deep or volley it; just hit the ball!

We can also look at this as a neat, orderly process:

1. The Initial Serve: The serving team hits the ball.
2. The First Bounce: You — on the receiving team — must step backward and let the ball bounce before returning it.
3. The Second Bounce: Now, the serving team must let the ball bounce.
4. The Service Return: This is the third shot. You’re free to volley or hit pop a few tricky shots near the kitchen line!

It’s a simple process, but many former tennis players struggle to internalize this rule. As with most things, practice makes perfect! Find some local pickleball players and play. You’ll soon find the rule becomes second nature.

The Double-Bounce Rule

There’s also something known as the “double-bounce rule.”

This is not the same as the two-bounce rule! (Confusing, right?)

Unlike the two-bounce rule, the double-bounce rule is listed in the USA Pickleball rule book on page 11. (It’s part of section 3.A.7!) Here, a double-bounce is defined as any time that “the ball bounces twice on one side before it is returned.” (Note that this does not apply to wheelchair pickleball, where balls must bounce at least three times to count as a fault.)

Again, it’s a straightforward rule. It’s a fault whenever the ball hits the court twice on either side of the court! Moreover, as this is considered a fault, there are two possible outcomes:

• If the fault occurs on the serving team’s side of the court, service rights must pass to the next valid player.
• If the fault occurs on the receiving team’s court, the serving team scores a point and retains serving rights.

Master Your Line Calls

That’s it! You’ve made it to the end. Consider yourself an expert on the pickleball two-bounce rule.

However, as with any game, there’s still more to learn! You now know one way to score a point, but what about the others?

Don’t worry! Pickle Goddesses has you covered. We’re always updating the blog with more tips, tricks, and breaking pickleball news. We’ve got the beginner tips you need to gain that all-important confidence on the court. We also have plenty of advanced tricks to help experienced players extend rallies.

Don’t just play pickleball; master it! Share this post to spread the pickleball love, and keep your eyes peeled for our next amazing update.