How to play pickleball

The basics

• Serve underhand, diagonally, and the ball must bounce once on each side before anyone volleys (the "two-bounce rule").
• You may not volley (hit before it bounces) while standing in the 7-foot zone by the net, the "kitchen".
• Only the serving team scores. Games go to 11 and you must win by 2.
• In doubles the score is called with three numbers: your points, their points, and which server you are (1 or 2).
• A ball that lands on a line is in, except a serve on the kitchen line, which is out.

What you need

• A paddle: any mid-weight composite paddle is fine for a start.
• Outdoor balls (harder, smaller holes) or indoor balls for gyms.
• Court shoes with flat soles for side-to-side moves.

How a pickup game works

Pickleball open play works on a paddle rack or a queue: put your paddle in line, and when a court frees up the next four paddles play. Games are short, about 10 to 15 minutes, and everyone rotates, so you meet new partners all session. Many courts mark levels on the rack: beginner, intermediate, advanced.

Pickup etiquette

• Put your paddle in the queue and play with whoever comes up.
• Call the score loudly before each serve.
• Say "ball on" and stop play when a ball rolls onto your court.
• Tap paddles at the net after the game.

Your first games

• Stay out of the kitchen when volleying: it is the rule new players break most.
• Hit soft "dinks" into the kitchen instead of hard shots: it wins more points than power.
• Go to beginner open play: most clubs and parks have one every week.

Questions