Beginner’s Guide to Pickleball: Gameplay Rules and How to Score

One of the fastest growing sports in Malaysia is pickleball. There are more and more badminton court that converted to Pickle ball court in Malaysia due to same court size. A combination of tennis, badminton and table tennis makes it suitable for both young and old. If you’re new to the sport, you might be wondering: How do you score in pickleball and what are the basic pickleball gameplay rules? This is a beginner’s guide to learn how to play pickleball and will walk you through everything you need to know to get started.

What is Pickleball?

A pickleball court is similar to a badminton court. Pickleball is  either played in doubles (two players per side) and in singles (one player per side). In the same way a wiffle ball can be hit over a net with a paddle to another player, that’s what players do with a pickleball. The objective is to score points by making the ball land in the opponent’s court without them returning it.

Pickleball Court Setup

Before diving into the rules, it’s important to understand the layout of the court:

• Dimensions: A pickleball court measures 20 feet wide by 44 feet long for both singles and doubles play.
• Net Height: The net is 36 inches high at the ends and 34 inches at the center.
• Non-volley Zone: This 7-foot area near the net, often called the kitchen, is where players cannot hit the ball unless it bounces first. This prevents players from “spiking” the ball right at the net.

Basic Pickleball Gameplay Rules

1. Starting the Game: Serve

• The game begins with a serve. The server must be on either left or right side of the court behind the baseline and behind it the server must stand.
• The serve is always underhand and must be gotten by the diagonal service box on the other side.
• The ball should be served diagonally to the opposite side of the court through the server.
• If the ball comes off the net but lands in the correct service box it is a let although the serve is reattempted.
• There is only one serve attempt unless a let happens.

2. The Double Bounce Rule

• After the serve, the ball must bounce once on each side of the court before players can begin volleying (hitting the ball in the air).
• This means:
  1. The receiving team must let the ball bounce once before returning it.
  2. The serving team must let it bounce once before hitting it back.

3. Volleys and the Kitchen

• Players can hit the ball in the air (volley), and are allowed only to strike it in the air (volley) outside the non-volley zone (‘kitchen’); except when the ball has touched it in the ‘kitchen’ first.
• Once a player steps into the kitchen to hit a volley it’s a fault and the point is lost.

4. Scoring System in Pickleball

Scoring in pickleball is one of the areas that confuses new players, so let’s break it down.

• Pickleball uses a rally scoring system, which means points can be scored by either the serving or receiving team.
• Only the serving team can score points.

Here’s how scoring works:

• The game is typically played to 11 points, though in some cases, it may go up to 15 or 21 points. To win, a team must be ahead by at least 2 points.
• When a player serves, their score is announced first (e.g., “5-2-1”), where:
  • The first number is the server’s score.
  • The second number is the opponent’s score.
  • The third number indicates whether the server is the first or second server in a team (for doubles play).

5. Switching Sides

• In doubles play, both team members get a chance to serve before the serve switches to the opponent.
• After each point is scored, the server switches sides with their partner.
• After a team reaches 11 points, they switch sides of the court.

6. Winning the Game

• The first team to reach 11 points (or the agreed-upon score) and lead by at least 2 points wins the game.
• In tournament play, games are often played in best-of-3 formats, meaning the first team to win two games wins the match.

Key Rules to Remember

• Faults: A fault occurs if a player does not follow the rules. Common faults include:
  • Stepping into the kitchen while volleying the ball.
  • Hitting the ball out of bounds.
  • Failing to hit the ball over the net.
  • Serving out of bounds.
• Serving Sequence in Doubles: In doubles, each player serves before the serve is passed to the other team. The sequence is right-side to left-side for each player. Be mindful of which side of the court you’re on, as it affects the score.
• Time Limits: Many casual games don’t have time limits, but tournaments may have timed matches, so check before playing.

Tips for New Players

• Practice the Serve: Practice your serve because if you do it constantly it will help keep it reliable and accurate.
• Master the Double Bounce Rule: Don’t rush to volley! The ball should bounce only once on each side before you try to hit it in the air.
• Stay Out of the Kitchen: Stay out of the kitchen while a volley is going on unless the ball is on the bounce.
• Play with a Partner: If you are new to the game, play pickleball in doubles, and get someone with experience to play with.

Conclusion

Pickleball is a fun, fast-paced sport that’s perfect for beginners. Understanding the basic gameplay rules and scoring system is the first step toward enjoying the game. Whether you’re playing with friends, family, or in a more competitive setting, pickleball offers a great way to stay active and have fun. So grab your paddle, head to the court, and start playing today!

Other than Pickleball, Padel ball is also getting popular among the Malaysian. Check here to know what are the differences between Pickleball and Padel.

By keeping these beginner tips in mind, you’ll soon be rallying with confidence and scoring points like a pro. Enjoy the game, and remember: practice makes perfect!