Official Rules Reference

Pickleball Rules

The comprehensive guide to official pickleball rules — from serving and scoring to kitchen calls and tour regulations.

Official USA Pickleball Rulebook

The complete official rules for sanctioned play, maintained by USA Pickleball.

View Rules Summary Download PDF

Points to Win

Win by 2

Side-out

Scoring

Only serving team scores

7 ft

Kitchen Zone

No volleys allowed

2 Bounces

Two-Bounce Rule

Before volleys are allowed

Underhand

Serve Type

Below waist/navel

LIVE

Let Serves

No re-serve since 2021

The 10 Most Important Rules

Underhand Serve: All serves must be underhand with paddle contact below the waist. Serve diagonally cross-court.

Two-Bounce Rule: After the serve, each side must let the ball bounce once before volleying. The return of serve must bounce, and the third shot must bounce.

Kitchen / Non-Volley Zone: You cannot volley the ball while standing in the 7-foot kitchen zone on either side of the net.

Side-Out Scoring: Only the serving team can score points. Games are played to 11, win by 2.

Diagonal Serve: The serve must land in the opposite diagonal service court, clearing the kitchen zone and its line.

One Serve Attempt: Each server gets only one serve attempt (no second serve like in tennis).

Two Bounces, Then Volley: After both bounces have occurred, either team may volley or play off the bounce.

Score Calling: In doubles, the server calls three numbers: serving team score, receiving team score, and server number (1 or 2).

First Serve Exception: At the start of each game, the first serving team only gets one server (not two) before a side-out.

Lines Are In:Any ball landing on any part of a line is considered “in” (except the kitchen line on a serve).

Court Dimensions

A standard pickleball court is 20 feet wide and 44 feet long. The net is 34 inches at center and 36 inches at the posts. The Non-Volley Zone (Kitchen) extends 7 feet from the net on each side.

Sources: USA Pickleball Official Rulebook (2026) (Official USA Pickleball rulebook — 2026 edition) · PPA Tour 2025 Player Handbook (PPA Tour professional player rules & regulations) · MLP 2025 Rules Guide (Major League Pickleball official 2025 rule set) · APP Tour (Association of Pickleball Players official tournament rules) · USA Pickleball (Official rules, ratings & certification)