THE RULES
In 1972, the first rulebook for pickleball was published by the newly formed USAPA (USA Pickleball Association). The USAPA is now the governing body for the sport of pickleball and is responsible for setting and enforcing the official rules of the game.
Since then, the rules of pickleball have continued to evolve and be refined by the USAPA and other organizations around the world. Today, there are a number of different variations and rule sets used in different parts of the world, but the basic principles and gameplay of pickleball remain largely the same.
Pickleball is a fun and fast-paced paddle sport that combines elements of tennis, badminton, and ping-pong. Here are some basic rules of the game:
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Court Dimensions: The pickleball court is a rectangular shape, 20 feet wide and 44 feet long. The court is divided into two halves by a net that is 36 inches high at the sidelines and 34 inches high at the center.
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Serving: The serve must be made diagonally, starting from the right-hand side of the court and underhand. The serve must land in the opponent's service court without touching the net. Only one serve attempt is allowed, and the ball must be served underhand.
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Double Bounce Rule: After the serve, the receiving team must let the ball bounce once on their side of the court before returning it. The serving team must also let the ball bounce once on their side of the court before returning it. This is known as the double bounce rule.
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Volleying: Once both teams have had a chance to hit the ball, they can either volley the ball (hit it in the air without letting it bounce) or play it off the bounce.
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Scoring: Points are only scored by the serving team. The first team to reach 11 points wins, but the winning team must win by two points.
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Faults: A fault is committed if the ball is hit out of bounds, if it doesn't clear the net, if it is volleyed before it bounces, if it is hit into the net, or if a player steps into the non-volley zone while volleying the ball.
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Non-Volley Zone: The non-volley zone is a seven-foot area on each side of the net where players are not allowed to volley the ball. Players must let the ball bounce before entering this zone and hitting the ball.
These are just some of the basic rules of pickleball. As you become more familiar with the game, you'll discover more advanced rules and strategies that will help you improve your play.