How to Play Pickleball: Simple Rules for Beginners
Here is a glimpse of pickleball for beginners and the strategies for pickleball scoring for you to understand. Whether you are a beginner or a seasoned player looking to refresh your memory, I’ve got you covered with this quick guide. The guide will also cover different aspects of the game like pickleball court dimensions, equipment, and more.
A typical pickleball court measures 44ft long and 20ft wide. This makes the court compact enough to maintain the fast-paced pickleball play. It is also big enough to accommodate wide angle shots in the game. The pickleball court has two main sections:
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- Pickleball is often played in doubles i.e. 2 on each side. I will cover both single was well as doubles for you to understand.
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- A pickleball non-volley zone or kitchen that starts from the net on each side of the court and stretches 7 feet towards the edge of the court. Players cannot hit the ball even for a serve or a returning hit from this zone.
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- The service zone that starts right after the pickleball non-volley zone ends and continues to the edge of the court
Things You Need to Play Pickleball
Before you step onto the court, let’s get you familiar with the basic gear. From pickleball paddles to balls, having the right equipment helps you play better. You don’t need much for this game; it has a simple equipment list like:
- Pickleball paddles: These are the basics for your game. Paddles are generally lighter than a tennis bat and are made of wood or composite substances.
- Ball: The ball for pickleball play resembles a whiffle ball, but this version is stronger and durable to withstand strong blows.
- Net: The middle of the net lies at 34 inches while both sides lie at 36 inches respectively.
- Attire and shoes: There is no specific bar in pickleball. I’d recommend you wear an athletic show and any attire that doesn’t restrict your movements
Basic Pickleball Rules for Scoring Better:
Pickleball rules are easy to grasp, yet packed with strategies that will keep you on your toes. The game is easy to learn if you stick to its basics.
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- Maintain the height of the net and the pickleball court dimensions as stated above.
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- Pickleball is generally played as doubles vs doubles or single vs singles as you see in badminton.
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- A serve alternates after every two points, until players reach 11 points and two points ahead of their competitors.
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- A pickleball serve is legit only if it is not served inside the pickleball non-volley zone.
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- You get a score only if you have properly served the ball, and your opponent missed returning it.
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- Your ball should bounce twice before you or your opponent can hit it. Once on the serving side and next on the returning side.
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- Each server on the court gets only one attempt at serving. This is exempted only if the serve is a fault, like not clearing the net, it results in a side out.
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- You cannot serve or return from the pickleball non-volley zone.
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- Faults in pickleball include serving from the non-volley zone, the ball touching the net, hitting the ball out of bounds, or breaking the double bounce rule.
- If both teams tie at a score of 10, both teams can switch sides of the courts after every 6 points until one of them gets a lead of two points.
Player Formats: Pickleball Singles vs Doubles
Depending on the event or the preference of you and your colleagues, you can play a pickleball match in three basic player formats.
- Singles
Like tennis singles, this is played by one player on each side of the court. A game goes on till one of them scores 11 points and has a two-point lead.
- Doubles
As the name suggests, this is played by two players on each side of the pickleball court. This is the most common format preferred by the players. The pickleball scoring rules change when it is pickleball singles vs doubles. Here the players alternate sides on the server side until both the players make a mistake.
- Mixed doubles
This is played with two players on each side, but the team has one male and one female player. The pickleball rules for this format are exactly as you play it in doubles. This format is not a mandatory practice, but a common option chosen for competitive play.
Some advanced formats take place in pickleball tournaments like pool play and non-pool play, Round Robin, and single and doubles elimination.
Wrapping up
This article has provided a basic outline of how to play pickleball as a competitive sport. So, are you ready to begin? Start with the basics, then move to the court layout. Lastly, understand the pickleball rules, and perfect your serve. Consistency is key, especially when aiming for those crucial 11 points!
But beyond the technicalities, remember that pickleball is all about having fun. So, enjoy it on a bright morning with your friends gathered around to cheer you up or take part themselves. Whether you’re here for competition or just a good time, it’s your moment to shine.
