How to Play Pickleball

2. Serve It Up: The game begins with an underhand serve from behind the baseline. Stand behind the service line, use a paddle to hit the ball below your waist, and aim for the opposite service box. Your serve must be underhanded, with the ball making it over the net and landing in the diagonal box on the other side.

3. Switching Serves: In doubles, each player on a team gets a turn to serve before the serve passes to the opposing team. The first server serves from the right side of the court. If they win the point, they switch to the left side to continue serving. When they fault, the serve passes to their partner, who then serves from their current position, either the left or right side, depending on where they are standing. After both players on the team have served and faults occur, the serve passes to the opposing team (or a "sideout").

4. Master the Return: Once the ball is served, the receiving team must let it bounce once before returning it. After the ball bounces, you can step in and return it. Be strategic with your returns and placement of the ball.

‍5. Double Bounce Rule: The ball must bounce on each side of the net before players can start volleying (hitting the ball before it bounces). This means after the serve, the receiving team must let the ball bounce once, and the serving team must let it bounce once before they can volley. It’s a key rule that keeps the game fair and adds a layer of strategy!

6. Stay Out of the Kitchen: The box closest to the net is called “the kitchen” or the "non-volley zone", and it’s crucial to stay out of it when volleying. You can step into the kitchen only if the ball has bounced. However, if you volley (hit the ball before it bounces) while standing in the kitchen, it’s a fault. Use this area strategically for positioning but remember the rules!

7. Dink and Smash: With the serve in play, you’ll mix it up with dinking (soft shots that barely clear the net) and smashing (powerful shots that make everyone cheer). Dinking is perfect for precise placements and setting up your next move, while smashing is great for finishing off a point with flair.

8. Score Big: Points are scored when your opponents miss the ball, hit it out of bounds, or commit a fault. Only the serving team can score points. The game is typically played to 11 points, and you must win by at least 2 points. Stay focused and keep your strategy sharp to rack up those points!

9. Avoid Faults: A fault occurs when:

• The ball goes out of bounds.
• The ball hits the net on a serve.
• A player steps into the kitchen to volley.
• The ball is volleyed before it has bounced on both sides of the net (violating the double bounce rule).
• The server fails to serve from the correct side or does not make the ball land in the correct service box.
• A player or their paddle touches the net.
• A player fails to hit the ball over the net or misses it completely.

10. Celebrate Every Point: No matter the score, relish every moment with cheers, high-fives, and a touch of friendly banter. It’s the fun and camaraderie that make pickleball truly unforgettable.