A complete set of rules may be obtained from the United States of America Pickleball Association. However, if you are just learning, you will find the following condensed rules much easier to follow.
From day one we fought big powerful people domineering the game. These rules put every size and shape right into it.
Barney McCallum - Pickleball Co-inventor
A complete set of rules may be obtained from the United States of America Pickleball Association. However, if you are just learning, you will find the following condensed rules much easier to follow.
A match will usually consist of the best 2 out of 3 games to 11. A game is finished when one player or team reaches 11 points and is leading by at least two points. If the score is tied at 10-10, then the game continues until one player or team wins by two points. Players switch sides after the first game. If a third game is needed, the players will switch sides after the first player or team gets to 6 points, and the game will then continue to its conclusion.
For consolation events, or when time is short, matches often consist of just one game to 15 points. The winner in this format must also be ahead by two points. In a 15 point game, players should switch sides after one team gets to 8 points, and the game will then continue to its conclusion.
The key to pickleball is balance - offense against defense. All the rules that we made were to keep that balance. Big guys didn’t dominate little. Skill was it. The attraction was that everybody could play it. It’s a great mixed doubles game, far more than tennis. Power is not the main factor by any means. It escalates in abilities, but there’s still a place for the guy who can’t chew gum and walk at the same time.
Barney McCallum - Pickleball Co-inventor
Many of the rules came about to support the notion of making play fair for all skill levels and not just be a power game. Three of the key rules exemplify this principle: 1) Underhand serve, 2) Non-volley Zone and 3) Double-bounce rule.
The original rules allowed the server to stand with one foot in play because of a tree that was too close to the baseline which the server would hit on the backswing during the serve.
Barney McCallum - Pickleball Co-inventor
The underhand serve allows adults and children to play on a more level playing field because it reduces the power advantage. In an underhand stroke, the arm must be moving in an upward arc and the paddle head shall be below the wrist when it strikes the ball. The paddle head is that part of the paddle, excluding the handle. The highest point of the paddle head cannot be above any part of the line formed where the wrist joint bends.
To make pickleball a game of finesse and strategy rather than just raw power, the first dads instituted a non-volley zone extending seven feet from the net on each side. Within this zone, the ball must bounce before it is hit.
In the early days (literally like the first two days pickleball was played) the server had a huge advantage. The player receiving the serve would have to wait for the ball to bounce. The server, meanwhile, could be in position for a quick return off the volley. The three founding fathers added the double bounce rule to take this advantage away. Now, the receiving team and the server must both hit their first shots off the bounce. After that, the ball can be volleyed.
Barney McCallum - Pickleball Co-inventor
A fault occurs when:
Players use a coin toss to determine who will serve first. The winner of the coin toss will have the option to choose side or to serve or receive.
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The number who know about the sport and getting on the courts is quickly increasing. It's been called the fastest-growing sport in America. Please let us know if you play pickleball in the Trussville, Birmingham metro, or surrounding areas!