Basic Pickleball Rules

Pickleball has four basic rules. One: serve underhand, swinging low to high, into the diagonal service court, and the serve may not land in the opponents’ kitchen (including the kitchen line). Two: the two-bounce rule, meaning both the serve and the return must bounce once before they are hit. Three: you may not volley while standing in the kitchen (the 7 ft zone by the net) or touching the kitchen line. Four: a ball hit out, into the net, or not returned before its second bounce is a fault.

Practice the rules in the game: rule drills (serve, two-bounce rule, kitchen, out balls) ›

Serving rules

Serving from behind the baseline into the diagonal service court — In the game: serving from behind the right-side baseline into the diagonal service court (yellow box), past the kitchen.

Underhand serve: swing low to high, make contact below the waist (navel), and keep the paddle head below the wrist at contact.
Drop serve: you can also let the ball fall from your hand, bounce, and then hit it; this serve isn’t bound by the swing rules above.
Where to stand: at contact, at least one foot must be on the ground behind the baseline; neither foot may touch the court or the baseline, or be outside the imaginary extensions of the centerline and sideline.
Where it must land: over the net into the diagonal service court, not in the kitchen. A serve that lands on the kitchen line is a fault; a serve on the centerline, sideline or baseline is in.
One try only: each server gets one serve. Under current rules, a serve that clips the net and lands in the correct service court is in, and play continues.

The two-bounce rule

After the serve, the receiving team must let the ball bounce once before returning it; after the return, the serving team must also let it bounce once before hitting it. Only after both of those bounces may either side volley (hit the ball out of the air). This rule keeps the serving team from rushing the net right after the serve, and it’s why the third shot drop exists. It’s also called the double-bounce rule.

The kitchen (non-volley zone)

The 7 ft (2.13 m) zone on each side of the net is called the kitchen; its official name is the non-volley zone (NVZ). If any part of your body is touching the kitchen or the kitchen line, you can’t volley, and if your momentum carries you into the kitchen after a volley, that’s a fault too. But once the ball has bounced, you can step into the kitchen to play it at any time. See the kitchen rules for details.

Common faults

Hitting the ball out (a ball on the line is in, except a serve on the kitchen line)
Hitting the ball into the net
Breaking the two-bounce rule (volleying one of the first two shots)
Volleying from inside the kitchen or on the line, or stepping into the kitchen after a volley
Letting the ball bounce twice on your side before returning it
The ball hitting your body or clothing (anything but the paddle or the hand holding it)

Watch and learn

**Most Important Rules to Start Playing Pickleball**
Video: USA Pickleball (YouTube, loads when you play it)

FAQ

Can you serve overhand in pickleball?

No. The serve must be underhand, with a low-to-high swing, contact below the waist and the paddle head below the wrist. Or you can use the drop serve: let the ball bounce, then hit it.

What happens if a serve hits the net in pickleball?

Under current rules, a serve that clips the net and still lands in the correct diagonal service court (not in the kitchen) is a good serve. Play continues; there is no let and no re-serve.

Is a ball on the line in or out in pickleball?

A ball on the line is in. The only exception is the serve: a serve that lands on the kitchen line is a fault, because the kitchen line is part of the kitchen.

What is the two-bounce rule?

Both the serve and the return must bounce once before they are hit. Only after those first two bounces may either side volley. It’s also called the double-bounce rule.

Last updated: 2026-11-03 · Based on the official USA Pickleball rules