Pickleball
Study Guide

Pickleball was created in the summer of 1965 on Bainbridge Island, Washington.  The game was developed as a children's backyard pastime, but has become popular among adults as well.  Since the mid 70's Pickleball has expanded from a children's game to a court game with formalized rules and is played in thousands of schools, parks, recreation centers, and fitness center.
Some sources claim that the name "Pickleball" came from that of the family dog named "Pickles".

The Serve

  • The serve must be made underhand.
  • The paddle must make contact with the ball below the server's waist.
  • One foot must be behind the baseline.
  • The serve is made diagonally crosscourt and must be within the boundaries of the court.
  • ONLY one serve attempt is allowed, except in the event of a "LET".

Service Sequence
  • Both players on the serving doubles team have the opportunity to serve and score points until they commit a fault, except for the first server at the start of a new game, where only the first server will serve.  
  • The First Serve of each side-out is made from the right-hand side of the court.
  • If a point is scored, the server switches sides and the server will serve from the left-hand side of the court.
  • ​When the server loses the serve, the partner will then serve.  
  • Before serving the server will say the score followed by the server's number.  The first server is #1 and the second server is #2.  For instance if the score is 3 serving 2 - the server would say 3-2-1, meaning the score is serving side has 3, the receiving side has 2, and the 1st server is serving.  If they said 3-2-2 - the serving side has 3, the receiving side has 2, and the 2nd server is serving.

Scoring​

  • Points are scored only by the serving team.
  • Games are normally played to 11 points. Teams must win by 2 points.
  • Tournament games may be played to 15 or 21 and teams must win by 2 points.
  • If the ball hits a line it is considered to be in/good.
  • If the ball is played and hits an opponent on the other side of the net they lose the rally.

Other Rules

  • DOUBLE-BOUNCE RULE - When the ball is served, the receiving team must let the ball bounce before returning the serve. The serving team must also allow the ball to bounce once before returning the ball.
  • After the ball has bounced once in each team's court, both teams may either volley the ball (hit it before it bounces) or play it off a bounce (ground stroke).
  • NON-VOLLEY ZONE also known as the "KITCHEN" - Volleying the ball is prohibited within the non-volley zone.  This rule prevents players from executing a smash form a position within the zone.  ​

Types of Shots

  • Spike - hit hard and downward into the opponents side of the court.
  • Drive - hit directly at the opponent and is parallel to the ground.
  • Clear - hit high to the back of the opponent's side of the court.
  • Drop - hit soft with control to open space on the opponent's side of the court.  The shot can be hit from anywhere on the court.
  • Dink - hit soft just over the net.  The shot is usually hit from close to the net after the opposing teams hits a ball that just clears the net landing in the "Non Volley Zone". 
  • Cut - a shot that is hit with spin.  The spin can be to the left, right, backspin or overspin.

Offensive Strategies

  • Vary the types of shots.
  • Vary shot location.
  • Hit the ball directly at your opponent's feet.