Pickle Ball Rules

SERVE – Each point is started with a serve and the following rules apply:

  • The server must have one foot behind the end line.
  • The serve must be taken underhand with the ball contacted below waist level.
  • The ball is hit from the hand (not from a bounce).
  • The serve is made diagonally and must land in the correct service box.
  • The first server is determined by a rally that must cross the net 3 times to count.
  • Only one serve attempt is allowed per point unless the serve hits the net on the way over and lands in the correct box. It then becomes a re-serve.
  • Every game is started on the right side.
  • In doubles, only one server (hand) is taken at the beginning of a game by the first team to serve.
  • In doubles, serving hands are taken in innings and after the first hand, every inning has 2 hands.
  • In doubles, when the first hand is complete the server on the right hand side of the receiving team serves the first hand for that inning. After that hand is over the other player serves his hand from whatever side of the court he is standing.
  • Partners of the serving team switch sides of the court after each point is ended.

GENERAL RULES –

  • A game is played to 11 points and must be won by 2 points.
  • A volley means to hit the ball in the air before it bounces.
  • All volleys must be taken behind the NO VOLLEY ZONE.
  • The receiver must let the ball bounce before it can be volleyed and the return must also bounce before it can be volleyed. This is called the DOUBLE BOUNCE RULE.
  • A ball hitting the net on the way over is good and should be played.
  • A ball hitting the pole on either side of the net is out-of-bounds.
  • A ball landing on the line is good.
  • A ball hitting any part of the basketball hoop is a re-serve.
  • A ball hitting any part of the ceiling is out-of-bounds.

FAULTS – A violation resulting in loss of point or serve such as the following:

  • Hitting the ball out-of-bounds.
  • The ball hitting either post on your court.
  • The ball hitting the ceiling above your court.
  • Hitting the ball into/not over the net.
  • Stepping into the NO VOLLEY ZONE and not letting the ball bounce before returning it.
  • Volleying the ball before it bounces once on either side of the net after the serve.

HISTORY -

  • The mini-tennis game called Pickleball was created during the summer of 1965 on Bainbridge Island- a short ferryboat ride from Seattle, WA. The original purpose of the game was to provide a sport for the entire family, according to co-inventors U.S. Congressman Joel Pritchard, William Bell, and Barney McCallum. How did Pickleball get its name? Pickles was the family dog that would chase after errant balls and then hide in the bushes, thus Pickle's ball which was shortened to the namesake of Pickleball.