Quick answer: To play pickleball, you serve underhand diagonally, let the serve and the return each bounce once (the two-bounce rule), stay out of the 7-foot "kitchen" when you volley, and play to 11 points, winning by 2. That is it. You are basically a pro.
Pickleball is the sport that looks silly for about five minutes and then takes over your whole calendar. Start with the basics and practice at your own pace. Here is how to play pickleball for beginners, minus the boring parts.
What you need to play pickleball
A paddle, a pickleball (the plastic one with holes), a net, and a court. Most games are doubles, two players per side, but singles is totally legal. Add comfy court shoes and a water bottle and you are in business. Still paddle shopping? Compare materials, dimensions and grip details in our Sport vs. Pro pickleball paddle guide.
The pickleball court
It is 20 feet wide and 44 feet long, about the size of a badminton court. The net is 36 inches at the posts and 34 inches in the middle. Next to the net on each side is a 7-foot zone called the kitchen (more on that drama in a second). Get every number in pickleball court size and dimensions.
How to serve in pickleball
Every point starts with an underhand serve. You serve diagonally, from behind the baseline, into the opposite service court, and it has to clear the kitchen. One try only, no second chances (we all wish life worked like that). You can do a volley serve, hitting the ball out of the air with an upward swing below the waist, or a drop serve, letting it bounce once before you hit it.
The two-bounce rule
After the serve, the receiving team lets it bounce. Then the serving team lets the return bounce. Only after those two bounces can anybody volley. It stops the serving team from sprinting to the net and ending the party early.
The kitchen rule
No volleying while you are standing in the kitchen or touching its line. Paddle, shoe, momentum, all count. You can step in to hit a ball that has bounced, you just cannot volley from in there. Full tea here: what is the kitchen in pickleball.
How scoring works
Games usually go to 11, and you have to win by 2. In traditional scoring, only the serving team can score. In doubles you call three numbers: your score, their score, and whether you are server one or two. Confusing? Totally. Our pickleball scoring guide makes it painless.
Beginner faults to dodge
Serving into the kitchen, volleying from the kitchen, forgetting the two-bounce rule, stepping on the baseline mid-serve, and hitting out. During a rally, a ball touching a court boundary line is in. On the serve, the kitchen line is an exception: a serve landing on it is a fault.
Your first game
Find a park or rec center, ask to join, and tell everyone you are new. Pickleball people are famously friendly (and a little obsessed). Aim to get the ball over, keep your serve in, and laugh a lot. Then learn the soft shot everyone brags about, the dink.
Beginner pickleball FAQ
Is pickleball hard to learn?
Many beginners enjoy learning it, but everyone progresses at a different pace. Start with a short practice session and the basic rules.
How many players do you need?
Two for singles or four for doubles.
Can you play pickleball without knowing tennis?
Absolutely. It is its own sport, with a smaller court and a lower net.
Do I need a special paddle?
You need a pickleball paddle, since tennis rackets are not used. Pick one you love and you will want to play more.
Rules get updated now and then, so check the current USA Pickleball rulebook before you play in a tournament.
Now for the important part: looking cute while you do it. Browse our pastel pickleball paddles for women or add your name to a personalized pickleball paddle.
Rule reference: USA Pickleball’s official rules summary. Pick a paddle by fit and budget as well as artwork; the Pro build label does not establish tournament approval.