The Serve

• The server’s arm must be moving in an upward arc when the ball is struck.

• Paddle contact with the ball must not be made above the waist level.

• The head of the paddle must not be above the highest part of the wrist at contact.

• A ‘drop serve’ is also permitted in which case none of the elements above apply.

• At the time the ball is struck, the server’s feet may not touch the court or outside the imaginary extension of the sideline or centerline and at least one foot must be behind the baseline on the playing surface or the ground behind the baseline.

• The serve is made diagonally crosscourt and must land within the confines of the opposite diagonal court.

• Only one serve attempt is allowed per server.

Serving Sequence

• The first serve of each side-out is made from the right/even court.

• The serving team gets a point when the receiving team commits a fault.

• The server and their partner switch left/right sides after they score a point.

• The serve switches to the receiving team after the serving team commits two faults except for the start of the game when they switch after one fault.

• When the first server loses the serve the partner then serves from the side they were on when their side committed the first fault.

• In singles the server serves from the right/even court when his or her score is even and from the left/odd when the score is odd.

Scoring

• The serving team only scores points.    

• Games are normally played to 11 points, win by 2.

• Tournament games may be to 15 or 21, win by 2.

• When the serving team’s score is even (0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10) the player who was the first server in the game for that team will be in the right/even court when serving or receiving; when odd (1, 3, 5, 7, 9) that player will be in the left/odd court when serving or receiving.

Two-Bounce Rule

• When the ball is served, the receiving team must let it bounce before returning, and then the serving team must let it bounce before returning, thus two bounces.

• After the ball has bounced once in each team’s court, both teams may either volley the ball (hit the ball before it bounces) or play it off a bounce (ground stroke).

• The two-bounce rule eliminates the serve and volley advantage and extends rallies.

Non-Volley Zone

• The non-volley zone is the court area within 7 feet on both sides of the net.

• Volleying is prohibited within the non-volley zone. This rule prevents players from executing smashes from a position within the zone.

• It is a fault if, when volleying a ball, the player steps on the non-volley zone, including the line and/or when the player’s momentum causes them or anything they are wearing or carrying to touch the non-volley zone including the associated lines.

• It is a fault if, after volleying, a player is carried by momentum into or touches the non-volley zone, even if the volleyed ball is declared dead before this happens.

• A player may legally be in the non-volley zone any time other than when volleying a ball.

• The non-volley zone is commonly referred to as “the kitchen.”

Line Calls

• A ball contacting any part of any line, except the non-volley zone line on a serve, is considered “in.”

• A serve contacting the non-volley zone line is short and a fault.

• Players make line calls on their end of the court.

• The opponent gets the benefit of the doubt on questionable calls.

Faults

• A fault is any action that stops play because of a rule violation.

• A fault by the receiving team results in a point for the serving team.

• A fault by the serving team results in the server’s loss of serve or side out.

Determining Serving Team

• Heather Gardens Pickleball customarily serves first on the north end of the court.

Calling Scores

• The score is called as three numbers in doubles matches. The proper sequence is  serving team score – receiving team score – server #1 or #2.

• The server must wait till the receiving team is ready, loudly call the score and serve within 10 seconds.