How to Play Pickleball: Simple Pickleball Rules for Singles and Doubles

Remember those carefree playground days, running wild, laughing louder than your heartbeat, and not caring about the rules? Pickleball brings that same energy back. Only now you’ve got a paddle, a ball, and a court to call your playground.

Want to experience it yourself? Join the Sprentzo Pickleball Community and find games near you.

 

Pickleball: Serious Fun, No Serious Faces

Pickleball is that friendly invite back to the court, where fun trumps formality and every rally is a chance to unleash your inner kid.

But hey, even playground games had rules. Here’s a playful spin on the 10 essential pickleball rules to get you started without overthinking it. Whether you’re curious about pickleball rules doubles, pickleball rules singles, or just wondering how it all compares to tennis rules, we’ve got you covered.

 

Serving: Let’s Just Get It Over the Net

1. Underhand it like you're tossing a friendly lob
   Your serve must swing from below the waist in a smooth, upward arc. No windmills required.
   
   

2. Serve across, keep it diagonal like passing notes in class
   One serve per rally, behind the baseline, and keep the ball across the net and in bounds. That’s the basics of how to play pickleball right!
   
   

 

Game Flow: Easy as 1-2-Bounce

3. Let it bounce once on each side, no cheating!
   After the serve, it must bounce once for you and once for the receiver before volleys can begin.
   
   

4. No volleying in the No-Volley Zone, the kitchen isn’t a trampoline!
   Stay out of the seven-foot zone unless the ball has bounced. Volleying there is a definite no-go.
   
   

5. Oops? You lose the rally
   Out of bounds, double bounce, or kitchen foul = point for them. Sorry, not sorry.
   
   

 

Scoring: Why It’s Still Simple

6. Only the serving side scores
   If you're serving and win the rally, point for you. If not, serve passes over but no points.
   
   

7. Games to 11, win by 2
   Don’t stop at 11 if it’s a tight game. You’ve got to be 2 points clear to win.
   
   

8. Doubles: 3 numbers in the score
   In pickleball rules doubles, you call: Your Score – Their Score – Which Server You Are.
   
   

9. Singles: one number less, same fun
   In pickleball rules singles, just call the score without the server number. It’s simpler than you think.
   
   

 

Top Tip: Keep It Fun!

10. Win together, laugh together
    Whether you're a toddler at heart or a seasoned pro, pickleball is about connection, chuckles, and those satisfying paddle smacks.
    
    

 

Game, Set, Fun

Pickleball is more than a sport. It’s a playground revisited, with just enough structure to keep it safe and fair.
So grab a paddle, rally together, play together, and remember the best rule of all is to have fun.

Because Pickleball is for everyone
Step into the Sprentzo Pickleball Community and discover games, friends, and plenty of rallies.