Pippa's Pickleball Cheat Sheet: The Rules, Settled Nicely
The pickleball rules that settle most disagreements on the court, in plain English. Court size, net height, the kitchen, the serve, the two-bounce rule, line calls and scoring, all checked against the USA Pickleball rulebook (2026 edition).
The court at a glance
A pickleball court is 20 feet wide and 44 feet long for both singles and doubles. The net is 36 inches high at the posts and 34 inches high in the middle. The kitchen (non-volley zone) reaches 7 feet from the net on each side.
Six rules that win every argument
1. The serve
One try, diagonal, into the opposite service court. Swing upward, paddle head below your wrist, and hit it at or below your waist. Or do a drop serve: drop the ball, let it bounce, then hit it however you like. Stay behind the baseline. The serve must clear the kitchen and its line. If it clips the net and lands in the right court, play on.
2. Two bounces
The serve must bounce before it is returned, and the return must bounce too. Only then can anyone hit the ball out of the air. Read more: how to play pickleball.
3. The kitchen
The 7-foot strip on each side of the net is the non-volley zone. No volleys while you are standing in it or on its line, and it is a fault if your momentum carries you in after a volley. You can stand in it any other time. After a bounce, step in and hit away. The kitchen, explained.
4. Line calls
Any part of the ball touching a line means it is in. The one exception is a serve that lands on the kitchen line: that serve is short, so it is a fault. Call "out" promptly. Hesitate, and play continues.
5. Keeping score
Only the serving side scores. Games go to 11 and you win by 2. In doubles, call three numbers: the serving side's score, the other side's score, then server 1 or 2. A new doubles game starts 0-0-2. In singles, call two numbers. Scoring, with examples.
6. Where to serve from
If the serving side's score is even, serve from the right. If it is odd, serve from the left. In doubles, partners switch sides only after scoring a point while serving.
Fault finder: the point is over if...
The ball lands out or hits the net and does not cross. Someone volleys in the kitchen. Someone volleys the serve or the return before it bounces. A player, paddle or clothing touches the net. The ball hits a player or anything they are wearing or carrying. The serve is illegal or lands in the wrong court.
Pickleball rules FAQ
How big is a pickleball court?
A pickleball court is 20 feet wide and 44 feet long, the same size for singles and doubles.
How high is a pickleball net?
The net is 36 inches high at the posts and 34 inches high in the middle.
What is the kitchen in pickleball?
The kitchen is the non-volley zone, a 7-foot strip on each side of the net. You can't hit a ball out of the air while standing in it or on its line.
What is the two-bounce rule?
The serve must bounce before it is returned, and the return must bounce before anyone volleys. After those two bounces, the ball can be hit out of the air.
How do you score in pickleball?
Only the serving side scores. Games are played to 11, win by 2. In doubles the score is called as three numbers: the serving side's score, the receiving side's score, then server number 1 or 2. A new doubles game starts at 0-0-2.
Is a ball on the line in or out?
A ball that touches any part of a line is in. The exception is a serve that lands on the kitchen line, which is short and a fault.
If a serve hits the net, is it replayed?
No. In USA Pickleball rules, a serve that touches the net and lands in the correct service court is live, so play continues.
What are the rules for the serve?
One serve attempt. Serve diagonally into the opposite service court. Use an upward swing with the paddle head below the wrist and contact at or below the waist, or use a drop serve. The serve must clear the kitchen and its line.
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Shop pastel pickleball paddlesRules per the USA Pickleball rules summary and the 2026 rulebook. Last checked October 2026. More guides: Pickleball 101, court size and dimensions, pickleball terms and slang.