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Intro to Pickleball, Learn Pickleball, Pickleball 101 -

How to play pickleball

For the game of Pickleball, you'll need a court that's 20 feet by 44 feet in size, similar to what you'd need for a badminton court. It is only possible to score points for your team if you are serving, which is why the ball is served diagonally in this game.

Places to play pickleball

Before they can volley or hit the ball, players on either side of the net must allow the ball to bounce once more before they may do so. A non-volley zone of seven feet on either side of the net is in place to discourage "spiking" or hitting the ball with great force, to eliminate a return However, the server does not stop there; he or she continues until he or she commits a mistake, which would allow the opposing team to have a serve attempt. The winning team is the one that scores eleven points first and has a lead of at least two points over the other team. Pickle-ball® can be played with a single player or with two players. If you are in interested in where you can purchase pickleball gear at low prices, you can visit www.pickleballclearance.com.

Serving Team

Serving should be done from the right service square, with each serve alternating between it and the left service square. It is required that a serve cross the net's seven-foot non-volley zone before the ball bounces on the service courts diagonal in order to be playable.

When the server serves, the server must always have both feet behind the back line, and the paddle should always be underhand when serving with the paddle. The ball must bounce before the returning team can hit the ball back to the serving team. The serving team does not need to wait for the ball bounce before they hit the ball. The serving side will continue to serve until the opposing side has received service as long as they have not made a clerical error. If the ball strikes the net but still lands in the appropriate service court, the server loses, and a serve may be overturned by the receiving team.

In order to serve, the server must keep both of his or her feet behind the back line. When serving underhand, the paddle should be brought into contact with the ball while bending slightly at the waist. The server must smash the serve high and forcefully in order for it to be effective. It is NOT permissible for the server to bounce the ball and then hit it. Attempting another serve after making an unsuccessful attempt at one is only permitted if the player manages to hit a ball that has crossed the net and landed in the appropriate service court. In each game, the first-serving team is given one infraction before the ball is handed over to their opponents to begin play. A serve and a fault are required by both members of each team before the ball is sent to the opposing team. After receiving a winning serve, the player on the right hand court will always initiate play when the receiving team wins the serve.

Non Volley Zone

There is a 7-foot "Non-Volley Zone" on either side of the goal. It is not possible for a player to hit a ball while in the Non-Volley Zone until it has first bounced in the zone. Any points earned by a ball that strikes an opponent in the Non-Volley zone prior to bouncing are forfeited. Once the ball has bounced once inside the zone, a player has the option to strike it. If a player strikes a ball outside the Non-Volley Zone Line and the momentum carries them inside the zone, the point is forfeited. As long as you keep your foot behind the line, you are considered to be inside the zone, and you are permitted to reach across the line and hit a ball from that point. If a serve makes it all the way to the Non-Volley zone line, the serving team loses a point.

Double Bounce Rule

Pickleball Two Bounce Rule

The Two-Bounce Rule states that the initial shot for each team must be taken off the bounce of the previous shot. In the case of serving and returning a serve, both sides must wait for the serve and wait to return until the ball bounce hits the court, before playing the next move. After these two bounces, the ball can be volleyed or played off the bounce, depending on your preference.

Line Calls

Pickleball line calls

In the case of a serve, a ball that hits any line other than the kitchen lines is considered to be "in."

If a serve comes into contact with the kitchen lines or the kitchen/Non volley zone, a rule violation occurs.

It is required by the rules that you call "in" a ball even if you are doubtful whether or not it was in. What happens if you and your partner come to a different conclusion about where to draw the line? You might inquire about the opposition team's point of view on the matter. The final decision is in the hands of the team making the decision. If a referee is present and requests that the call be upheld, the call is upheld as made by the ref.

Fault

  • It is permissible to touch non-volley zones on the serve (including the line).

  • Does not participate in a sporting event

  • It is not effective in getting rid of sand.

  • Vulnerable zones are not targeted by volleys.

  • The ball is tossed before it has had a chance to bounce on either side.

Scoring

Only when a team serves does it receive a point. It is the responsibility of a player who is serving to continue serving until his or her team commits a mistake. Each player on a doubles team must serve until one of their teammates makes a mistake, at which point the serve is moved to the other team - this is referred to as a Side Out - and the match continues. The game is played to 11 points, but a team must win by a margin of at least two points in order to be declared the winner.

Hit The Ball!

Pickleball is a game in which the objective is to smash the ball back and forth between two players until one player makes a mistake and the other player misses. Simply said, that's all there is to it. More information about the Pickleball epidemic that is sweeping the country can be found by watching some of our other films. Now that you know all about rule violations and basic rules, go apply your new knowledge to your local pickleball courts. Local courts can be found here