So, you’ve heard the buzz about pickleball. It’s the fastest-growing sport in America. It’s taking over courts everywhere. Maybe you’ve seen your neighbors battling it out, or your grandma keeps bragging about her wicked dink shot.
Whatever the reason, you’re curious, and you want to learn how to play. Well, you’ve come to the right place! Let’s break down the rules of pickleball in a way that even your pet turtle could understand.
Please keep in mind, these are the very basic recreational rules implemented at the conception of the game back in the 1960’s. Some things have changed like the addition of the drop serve, and now that Pickleball is officially a professional sport, the pro rules are ever evolving – case in point- in a pro tournament, the ball cannot hit the net on the serve – in recreational play it can!
Serving Up Some Fun:
Think of the serve as the opening act of a concert – it gets things started. Here’s the lowdown:
- Underhand is Key: Picture yourself tossing a frisbee underhand. That’s the motion you want for your serve. No overhand smashes allowed! Your paddle needs to be below your waist, like you’re bowing to the pickleball gods.
- Stay Behind the Line: Just like in tennis, you’ve got to stay behind the baseline when you serve. No sneaking up for an advantage!
- Diagonal Delivery: Your serve needs to travel diagonally across the court and land in your opponent’s service court. Think of it like sending a secret message to the other side.
- One and Done: You only get one shot at the serve. No pressure, right?
The Two-Bounce Boogie:
This rule is unique to pickleball and might seem a little weird at first, but it’s what makes the game strategic and fun.
- Bounce, Bounce, Baby: When your opponent serves, you have to let the ball bounce once before you can hit it. Then, when you return the serve, they must let it bounce on their side. It’s like a polite little dance before the real action begins.
- Volley Time!: After the ball has bounced once on each side, you can choose to hit it in the air (volley) or let it bounce again. It’s your call!
The Kitchen: No Cooking Allowed!
The “kitchen” is a fancy name for the non-volley zone, a 7-foot area on each side of the net. Think of it like a no-man’s land.
- No Volleys in the Kitchen: You can’t hit the ball in the air (volley) while standing in the kitchen or if your momentum carries you into it after your volley. That’s a big no-no!
- Bouncing is Okay: You can, however, step into the kitchen to hit a ball that has bounced. It’s like a quick trip to grab a snack (but no cooking, remember?).
Keeping Score: Who’s Winning?
- Servers Only Score: Only the serving team can score points. It’s like a reward for a good opening act.
- Race to 11 (Usually): Most games are played to 11 points, and you have to win by 2. It’s a race to the finish line!
- Sometimes 15 or 21: In some tournaments, games might be played to 15 or even 21 points, still win by 2. Just to keep things interesting.
- Server’s Score First: When announcing the score, always say the server’s score first. It’s like giving them a little shout-out.
Faults: Oops, Try Again!
Faults are like little mistakes that can cost you a point. Here are some common ones:
- Serving Errors: Your serve lands in the kitchen or on the Kitchen/NVZ line, out of bounds, or you miss the service court entirely.
- Out of Bounds: The ball lands outside the lines of the court. Keep it in the pickleball playground!
- Double Bounce: The ball bounces twice on your side before you hit it. That’s a pickleball party foul!
- Kitchen Violations: You volley in the kitchen or step into it after a volley. Remember, no cooking!
Winning the Pickleball Crown:
To win a pickleball match, you need to win the best two out of three games. It’s like a mini tournament within a match. The first team to score 11 points (and win by 2) takes the game and gets closer to that sweet victory.
So, hopefully this is enough to get you started. The basic rules of pickleball, explained in a way that even your goldfish could understand (they’re very smart).
Now grab a paddle, find a court, and get ready to have some fun! And who knows, maybe you’ll learn to play head-to-head against grandma.
