pickleball rules

Pickleball is a popular sport played with a racket and combining elements and features from several other games and sports including badminton, tennis and table tennis. Players use hard wooden paddles to play on a court bisected by a net and hit a ball much like a Wiffle Ball over it to score points in a manner similar to badminton and tennis.

Pickleball is a relatively young game, invented in the 1960s and popularized as a children's pastime, but over time it has become more and more popular among adults as it is a fun and enjoyable sport that can be played by all ages. It is an unregulated sport and has no international governing body.

object of the game

The goal of Pickleball matches is to win the game by scoring more points than your opponent. Pickleball as a game itself is a game that has a bigger goal for many people and can more easily informally introduce people to games like tennis and badminton. Pickleball is also a popular way to bring racquet sports to people with disabilities, as more and more wheelchair leagues and competitions are starting up around the world.

players and equipment

Pickleball is played on a badminton-sized court with a high net in the center of the court. It is traditionally played with a special pickleball paddle made of wood (or other high-tech material). The balls used are plastic and very similar to Wiffle Balls, but are usually slightly smaller. Since this game is not regulated and is not usually played in a highly competitive environment, there are no hard and fast rules regarding equipment and suitable alternatives are available. On the player side, Pickleball games are played one-on-one (known as singles) or two-on-two (doubles).

score

Points can only be scored on the side providing the service. Scores can be scored in several ways:

Opponent can not return the ball

Volley the opponent from the no-volley zone

Opponent fail to hit the ball in bounds

There is no point if the non-serving player's opponent commits any of the above.

win the game

The game is won when one side reaches 11 points first and leads by at least 2 points. If a side reaches 11 points but is not ahead by 2 points, the game continues until one team is ahead of the other by 2 points. For this reason, it is impossible for a Pickleball game to end in a draw. Some tournaments may require 15 or 21 points with the 2 point rule.

pickleball rules

Pickleball is played on a badminton-sized court with a net in the middle.

You can play singles or doubles.

The game starts after a coin toss to determine which side serves first.

The ball must be served diagonally and served underhand with the paddle below the waist and both feet behind the back line.

The serve must clear the net and land in the opposing team's play area.

The receiver of the ball let the ball bounce before returning the serve, and the server must also let the ball bounce before returning it.

When playing doubles, only the player who was served may return the ball. If the ball is touched by a partner, the serving side scores a point.

If the serve hits the net, it is called a let and another serve is served. Unlike tennis, there is no limit to the number of times this can occur.

There is a non-volley zone, a 7-foot zone on either side of the net. No volleys are allowed in this zone, so players cannot smash shots at opponents. Volleys can be played outside this zone and non-volleys can be hit within it.

Points can only be scored on the serving side and are scored when the opponent is at fault for:

do not return the ball

hitting the ball out of bounds

Entering the no-volley zone and volleying the ball

Serve alternately until one side reaches 11 points (or 15 or 21 points if previously agreed) and has a two-point lead. The side that does this is declared the winner.