The Sport
Everything you need to step onto the court with confidence.
The Game
A Game Worth Knowing
Pickleball is the fastest-growing sport in America, and for good reason. It combines the quick hands of ping-pong, the angles of tennis, and the strategy of chess into a game that anyone can pick up in minutes but spend years mastering. Whether you're looking for a competitive outlet or a social way to stay active, pickleball delivers on both.
What You Need
Four essentials. Bring your own gear and come ready to play.
Paddle
A solid or composite paddle, sized between a ping-pong paddle and a tennis racquet. Most sporting goods stores carry a solid selection.
Ball
A perforated polymer ball, similar to a wiffle ball but purpose-built for pickleball. Indoor and outdoor versions differ slightly.
Court Shoes
Non-marking indoor court shoes with lateral support. Running shoes won't cut it. You need grip and stability for quick pivots.
Comfortable Attire
Athletic clothing that allows a full range of motion. No dress code required. Just come ready to move.
The Court
Compact, fast, and designed for strategy.
A pickleball court is roughly a third the size of a tennis court. Compact enough to keep rallies fast and accessible, but large enough to reward footwork and placement. The Non-Volley Zone (the "kitchen") extends 7 feet from the net on both sides. Step into it to volley and it's a fault. This single rule creates the dinking game that makes pickleball so uniquely strategic.
20 × 44
Court Size (ft)
34"
Net Height (center)
36"
Net Height (sides)
7 ft
Non-Volley Zone depth
How to Play
The core rules, distilled.
The Serve
Serves are underhand, made diagonally cross-court, and must clear the Non-Volley Zone. The server's arm swings upward. No overhead smashes. You get one attempt per serve.
Two-Bounce Rule
After the serve, each side must let the ball bounce once before hitting it. The return of serve bounces, then the serving team lets the return bounce. After those two bounces, volleys are fair game.
The Kitchen
The Non-Volley Zone, affectionately called "the kitchen," is the 7-foot area on each side of the net. You cannot hit the ball out of the air (volley) while standing in or touching this zone. Momentum carrying you in counts.
Scoring
Games are played to 11, win by 2. Only the serving team can score. In doubles, both partners serve before a side out (except the first service sequence of the game). The score is called as three numbers: serving team, receiving team, server number.
Faults
A fault gives the serve to the opponent (or to your partner in doubles). Common faults: hitting into the net, hitting out of bounds, volleying from the kitchen, violating the two-bounce rule, or serving into the wrong court.
Singles vs Doubles
Two ways to play. One great game.
4 Players
Doubles
The standard way to play. Two players per side, full court coverage, and the strategic interplay that makes pickleball so social and addictive.
- Most popular format worldwide
- Communication and teamwork
- Stacking and switching strategies
- Accessible for all fitness levels
2 Players
Singles
Same court, same rules, twice the ground to cover. Singles is a serious workout that rewards shot placement, fitness, and mental toughness.
- Full-court coverage required
- Exceptional cardio workout
- Simplified scoring (no server number)
- Tests shot-making and endurance
Key Terms
The language of the court.
Dink
A soft, controlled shot that arcs over the net and lands in the opponent's kitchen. The foundation of high-level play.
Third Shot Drop
A soft shot hit after the return of serve, designed to land in the kitchen and allow the serving team to approach the net.
Erne
An advanced volley hit from outside the court, beside the kitchen. Named after Erne Perry, who popularized the move.
ATP
Around The Post. A legal shot hit around the outside of the net post rather than over the net. One of the game's most exciting plays.
Stacking
A doubles positioning strategy where partners line up on the same side before the serve, then shift to preferred court positions.
Rally
A continuous exchange of shots between teams. Rallies end when a fault occurs or the ball goes out of play.
Volley
Hitting the ball out of the air before it bounces. Legal everywhere on the court except inside the Non-Volley Zone.
Groundstroke
Any shot hit after the ball bounces. Forehands and backhands from the baseline are common examples.
Side Out
When the serving team loses the serve and it passes to the opposing team. In doubles, this happens after both partners have served.
Let
A serve that clips the net but still lands in the correct service court. In pickleball, lets are playable. No re-serve required.
Dead Ball
A ball declared out of play, typically after a fault. Play stops immediately and the point is decided.
Kitchen
Informal name for the Non-Volley Zone. The 7-foot area on each side of the net where volleys are prohibited.
Lob
A high, arcing shot hit over your opponent's head, forcing them to retreat from the net. Effective when opponents crowd the kitchen line.
Bangers
Players who favor hard, driven shots over soft dinking. A style that's effective early on but can be neutralized by skilled soft-game players.
Skill Levels
Find where you fit, and where you're headed.
Rating 1.0 – 2.5
Beginner
New to the game or still building fundamentals. Focused on keeping the ball in play, learning the rules, and finding your footing on the court.
- Learning basic serve and return
- Developing court positioning
- Understanding the kitchen rule
- Building rally consistency
Rating 3.0 – 3.5
Intermediate
Comfortable with the rules and developing shot variety. Starting to think strategically about placement and when to speed up or slow down play.
- Consistent serve and return
- Developing the dink game
- Using third shot drops
- Reading opponent patterns
Rating 4.0+
Advanced
Strong command of all shots, strategic depth, and the ability to adapt mid-rally. Tournament-ready players who can control pace, placement, and spin.
- Mastery of soft game and power game
- Advanced stacking and positioning
- Consistent third shot drops under pressure
- High-level point construction
Ready to Hit the Court?
Book your court today. No membership required. Just pick your time and show up.