Pickleball Rules Summary
Note: Below is an abbreviated form of the rules to give a quick overview of how the game is played.
We are NOT changing the previous rules at this time until the changes become permanent.
Please see the 5 most impactful changes on day-to-day play.
See the official rules at USA Pickleball for more information. If there is a conflict between this summary and the official rules, the official rules prevail.
We are NOT changing the previous rules at this time until the changes become permanent.
Please see the 5 most impactful changes on day-to-day play.
See the official rules at USA Pickleball for more information. If there is a conflict between this summary and the official rules, the official rules prevail.
Five 2021 Pickleball Rule Changes that Will Affect Everyone
1. Service lets have been eliminated.
• Now, when the server hits the net and lands “in,” the returner will have to play the ball.
• There is no longer a “redo” when this happens.
• The ball will still be considered “out” if it lands in the kitchen, outside the service box and lines, or if it hits a portable net crossbar or post after clipping the net.
• If you accidentally call a let on a service, you will have committed a fault.
2. You can start your service motion while the score is being called.
• Now you can begin your service motion before the score is completely called.
• The ball must not be contacted until after the entire score has been called.
• Before, you were unable to begin your service motion until the score was completely called.
• Also, a fault will not be called if the ball is served before the score is called.
• Instead, the ball is considered “dead” until the score is called, and the referee will remind the server that they must wait until the score is called to serve.
3. “Drop Serve.”
• Now you may drop the ball from your hand or paddle and hit your serve after it bounces.
• You are not able to toss the ball up and hit it off the bounce or throw the ball down with any force and hit it after the bounce.
• If you choose to use the “drop serve,” you will not have the restrictions of a regular serve i.e. contact below the navel, swinging upwards at contact, etc.
• This means that you will be able to hit back spinning serves if you choose to use the “drop serve.”
4. The server does not have to call the score, but someone on the serving team does.
• Now, calling the score is the responsibility of the serving team, not necessarily the server.
• If your team decides that only one of you will call the score, that one person must call the score for the whole game.
• If a team decides after the game has started to deviate from the norm of the server calling the score, they must stay with that change and not change again.
5. Lines calls have been simplified
• The only way to call a ball “out” is to see space between the ball and the line.
• If there is any doubt about the line call, it is in.
• If you cannot call the ball “out” or “in,” it is “in.”
• There is no replay for a ball that cannot be called, however the referee or opposing team can be consulted. If you consult the referee or the opposing team, that line call will be used whether you agree or not. You may consult the referee after consulting the opposing team.
1. Service lets have been eliminated.
• Now, when the server hits the net and lands “in,” the returner will have to play the ball.
• There is no longer a “redo” when this happens.
• The ball will still be considered “out” if it lands in the kitchen, outside the service box and lines, or if it hits a portable net crossbar or post after clipping the net.
• If you accidentally call a let on a service, you will have committed a fault.
2. You can start your service motion while the score is being called.
• Now you can begin your service motion before the score is completely called.
• The ball must not be contacted until after the entire score has been called.
• Before, you were unable to begin your service motion until the score was completely called.
• Also, a fault will not be called if the ball is served before the score is called.
• Instead, the ball is considered “dead” until the score is called, and the referee will remind the server that they must wait until the score is called to serve.
3. “Drop Serve.”
• Now you may drop the ball from your hand or paddle and hit your serve after it bounces.
• You are not able to toss the ball up and hit it off the bounce or throw the ball down with any force and hit it after the bounce.
• If you choose to use the “drop serve,” you will not have the restrictions of a regular serve i.e. contact below the navel, swinging upwards at contact, etc.
• This means that you will be able to hit back spinning serves if you choose to use the “drop serve.”
4. The server does not have to call the score, but someone on the serving team does.
• Now, calling the score is the responsibility of the serving team, not necessarily the server.
• If your team decides that only one of you will call the score, that one person must call the score for the whole game.
• If a team decides after the game has started to deviate from the norm of the server calling the score, they must stay with that change and not change again.
5. Lines calls have been simplified
• The only way to call a ball “out” is to see space between the ball and the line.
• If there is any doubt about the line call, it is in.
• If you cannot call the ball “out” or “in,” it is “in.”
• There is no replay for a ball that cannot be called, however the referee or opposing team can be consulted. If you consult the referee or the opposing team, that line call will be used whether you agree or not. You may consult the referee after consulting the opposing team.
The Serve
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The serve must be hit underhand and each team must play their first shot off the bounce. After the ball has bounced once on each side, then both teams can either volley the ball in the air or play it off the bounce. This is called the “double bounce rule” because the ball must hit twice (once on each side) before it can be volleyed. This eliminates the serve and volley advantage and prolongs the rallies. To volley a ball means to hit it in the air without first letting it bounce.
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Scoring
Both players on the serving team are allowed to serve, and a team shall score points only when serving. A game is played to eleven points and a team must win by two points. Rallies are lost by failing to return the ball in bounds to the opponent’s court before the second bounce, stepping into the non-volley zone and volleying the ball, or by violating the double-bounce rule. The hand is considered an extension of the paddle. The player loses the rally if the ball hits any other part of his body or clothing.
The Non-Volley Zone (a.k.a. "the Kitchen")
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The non-volley zone is the 7-foot zone on both sides of the net. No volleying is permitted within the non-volley zone. This rule prevents players from executing smashes from a position within the zone. When volleying the ball, the player may not step on or over the line. It is a fault if the player’s momentum causes the player or anything the player is wearing or carrying to touch the non-volley zone. It is a fault even if the ball is declared dead before the player touches the zone. A player may be in the non-volley zone at any other time. The non-volley zone is sometimes referred to as the kitchen.
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Finer Points
The server must keep both feet behind the baseline during the serve with at least one foot on the court surface at the time the ball is struck. The serve is made underhand. The paddle must contact the ball below the waist. The serve is made diagonally cross court and must clear the non-volley zone. The non-volley line is a short line for the serve (the serve is a fault if it hits the line). All other lines are good at all times. Only one serve attempt is allowed, except in the event of a let (the ball touches the net on the serve, and lands on the proper service court). Let serves are replayed. At the start of each new game, only one player on the first serving team is permitted to serve and fault before giving up the ball to the opponents. Thereafter both members of each team will serve and fault before the ball is turned over to the opposing team. When the receiving team wins the serve, the player in the right hand court will always serve first.
Singles Play
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The server serves from the right side when the score is even and from the left side when the score is odd.
Rule exception: Games are usually won by two points. In some situations, event directors may choose to win by one to speed up play. |
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