How to play pickleball.
Pickleball is one of the easiest sports to pick up — most people are rallying within their first session. Here's everything you actually need to know to start playing, explained in plain English.
The basics
Pickleball is a paddle sport that blends tennis, badminton, and ping-pong. It's played with a solid paddle and a perforated plastic ball on a court that's 20 by 44 feet — about a third the size of a tennis court (see the full court dimensions). It's usually played as doubles, two against two.
How to play pickleball, step by step
- 1
Serve underhand, crosscourt
Stand behind the baseline and serve underhand (paddle below the waist), hitting diagonally into the opposite service court past the kitchen.
- 2
Let it bounce twice (two-bounce rule)
The return must bounce once on the receiving side, then once on the serving side, before either team may volley the ball out of the air.
- 3
Rally the ball in bounds
Hit the ball back over the net and inside the lines. A ball that lands on any line (except the serve on the kitchen line) is in.
- 4
Stay out of the kitchen on volleys
Don't volley while standing in the 7-foot non-volley zone or touching its line. You can step in any time to play a ball that has bounced.
- 5
Score on your serve, play to 11
Only the serving side scores. Games are played to 11 points and you must win by 2.
The rules, simply
The serve
Serve underhand with the paddle below your waist, hitting diagonally across the court. The serve has to clear the net and the kitchen and land in the opposite service box. Serve from behind the baseline.
The two-bounce rule
After the serve, the ball must bounce once on the receiving side, and again on the serving side, before anyone can hit it out of the air. This one rule keeps rallies fair and is the thing new players forget most.
The kitchen (non-volley zone)
The 7-foot zone on either side of the net is the 'kitchen.' You can't volley (hit the ball out of the air) while standing in it or touching its line. You can step in anytime — just not to volley.
Scoring
In traditional scoring, only the serving side can score a point. Games are usually played to 11 and you must win by 2. In doubles, both partners serve before the serve passes to the other team (except the very first turn of the game).
Faults
It's a fault if the ball lands out, goes into the net, is volleyed from the kitchen, or breaks the two-bounce rule. A fault ends the rally.
Want more detail? See our full pickleball rules reference or the official USA Pickleball rules.
The fastest way to learn? Just play.
You'll learn more in one friendly session than in an hour of reading. Our weekly Toronto socials are built for exactly this — loaner paddles, patient regulars, and an organized rotation that mixes skill levels so beginners are never left out.
How to play, answered
Is pickleball easy to learn?
Yes — most people can rally within their first session. The court is small, the underhand serve is simple, and the soft foam-like ball is easy to control. The two-bounce rule and the kitchen are the only two rules that take a game or two to get used to.
What equipment do I need to play pickleball?
A solid pickleball paddle, a perforated plastic ball, and a net. That's it. At our socials, loaner paddles and balls are provided, so you can show up with nothing and play.
How do you win a game of pickleball?
In traditional scoring, you play to 11 points and must win by 2. Only the serving side scores points, so holding serve and forcing faults is how you build a lead.
Learn the game the fun way.
Weekly Saturday Sessions · 5–7 PM. Bring nothing but yourself — paddles provided and all levels welcome.