Pickleball Rules, Scoring & the Kitchen (Complete Guide)

Pickleball Rules, Scoring & the Kitchen (Complete Guide)

Pickleball uses side-out scoring (only servers score), games usually to 11, win by 2, and the non-volley zone (“kitchen”) is 7 ft from the net on each side. The double-bounce rule means the serve and the return must bounce before anyone may volley.

Court & kitchen basics

• Size: ~13.4m × 6.1m (doubles); singles uses a narrower width.
• Non-volley zone (NVZ/kitchen): a 7-ft strip each side of the net; lines are part of the NVZ.
• Kitchen rule: you cannot volley (hit out of the air) while any part of you touches the NVZ line or is inside the NVZ.
• After a bounce: you may step into the NVZ to play a ball that has bounced.

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Serving (doubles & singles)

• Underhand: paddle moves upward, contact below the waist/navel, and paddle head below the wrist at contact.
• Volley serve (out of the air) or drop serve (let it bounce first) are both legal.
• Cross-court: serve diagonally to the opposite box; feet behind the baseline at contact.
• Let serves: modern rules play lets live—if the serve clips the net and lands good, play on.
• Faults: stepping on/over baseline at contact, serving to the wrong box, out, or into the net.

Doubles rotation (read this twice):

• The team that starts serving begins with server #2 position empty; by convention many start the very first service with the second server to equalize advantage.
• When your team wins a point, the same server switches sides (right ↔ left) and serves again.
• When your team loses a rally on serve, the serve passes to your partner (second server). Lose again and it’s a side-out—serve goes to the other team.
• In doubles, the server’s score being even means serving from the right; odd means left.

The double-bounce principle

• The serve must bounce before the returner plays it.
• The return must bounce on the server’s side before the serving team may volley.
• After those two bounces, volleys are allowed (respecting the kitchen).

Kitchen clarifications (hotly debated)

• Momentum matters: if you volley and your momentum carries you into the NVZ after contact, it’s a fault (even if the ball is dead).
• Equipment counts: dropping your paddle/hat into the NVZ during/after a volley = fault.
• Reaching over: you may reach over the NVZ/line to volley if your feet/body don’t touch the NVZ.
• Toes on the line: the NVZ line is NVZ—toes touching it during a volley = fault.

Scoring (side-out)

• Only the serving side scores points.
• Standard games to 11, win by 2 (tournaments may use 15 or 21).
• The score call is three numbers in doubles: server’s score – receiver’s score – server number (1 or 2).
• Timeouts and switches: tournaments have formal timeouts; for rec play, agree house rules before you start.

Faults & odd situations

• Foot faults on the serve (baseline) or kitchen foot faults on volleys.
• Ball contact with a player/clothing before it touches the ground = point to the other team.
• Permanent objects (ceiling, lights) are out if struck.
• Let calls (on serves) are generally not used—play the ball.

Learn fast in Hamilton

1. Book a court — 60 or 90 mins on our indoor red courts. → Book a pickleball court
2. Intro Course — master serve rotation, double-bounce, and the kitchen. → Pickleball lessons for beginners
3. Find partners — list an Open Match in the app. → Open Matches
4. Hire gear — paddles and balls hire on site 24/7 from our vending machines, or at the pro shop during staffed hours.

FAQs

What is the kitchen distance?

2.13 metres (7ft) from the net on both sides; lines count as NVZ.

Can I volley in the kitchen?
No—never while touching the NVZ or its line.

How do I keep score in doubles?
Call server’s score – receiver’s score – server number (1 or 2); only the serving side scores.

What’s a drop serve?
Let the ball bounce first, then hit an underhand serve—easier for many beginners but you can serve either way.