Four rules that get a game started
You do not need to memorise a rulebook before playing. A handful of rules will get a friendly first game moving; the finer points can come later.
Serve diagonally into the opposite service court. The serve starts the point and must land in the correct area. Agree on the serving order before play so nobody has to solve it mid-game.
The receiving side lets the serve bounce before returning it. The serving side then lets that return bounce before hitting the next shot. After those two bounces, either team may volley when allowed. This rule stops the serving team from rushing the net immediately.
The kitchen is the non-volley zone on both sides of the net. You cannot volley while touching it, and your momentum after a volley cannot carry you into it. You may enter to play a ball that has bounced.
Scoring and serving order take a little practice. Ask an experienced player or coach for a quick walkthrough, and keep the first game friendly enough to stop and correct mistakes.
Doubles scoring without the confusion
The score can feel like the hardest part of pickleball until the serving pattern clicks. For a casual first game, slow down and say the score aloud.
In traditional side-out doubles scoring, the first number is the serving team’s score, the second is the receiving team’s score and the third identifies server one or server two. Only the serving team scores a point.
When server one loses a rally, the serve usually moves to their partner. When server two loses, the serve moves to the other team. The special opening sequence is the part most beginners forget, so ask someone experienced to set the first rotation.
Call the score before every serve and keep partners on the correct side. If the group disagrees, replaying the point is often better than spending five minutes arguing.
Rules used in leagues or tournaments may follow a specified format. Confirm the format for organised play; this article is for a relaxed beginner game.
The kitchen rule and how to practise it
The kitchen is not a place where you are banned from standing. It is a place where you cannot volley. That distinction clears up most beginner confusion.
A volley means hitting the ball before it bounces. You cannot volley while your feet touch the kitchen or its boundary line. You also cannot let the motion of that volley carry you into the zone afterward.
You can enter the kitchen to hit a ball after it bounces. Once you have played it, get balanced before trying to volley the next shot. Players often retreat too quickly and give away an easy ball.
Place two players near the kitchen line and try soft cross-court shots that bounce. This builds control and teaches you to respect the line without treating it like a wall.
First-time groups can ask a venue about coaching or introductory guidance. A court-only booking does not usually include a lesson, so confirm before arriving.
READY TO PLAY?
Put the guide into practice.
Once the basics make sense, the fastest way to learn is to play. If PaddleKraft is within reach, you can enquire about a court or beginner guidance at our Moshi club.
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