A Comprehensive Guide to Pickleball
A Comprehensive Guide to Pickleball: Understanding the Rules - Court and Equipment Essentials
Pickleball is a popular sport, witnessing rapid growth over the years. If you're new to the sport or looking to better understand the rules, this post is your complete guide. We'll explore the specifications for the court and equipment, and walk you through the rules of the game.
Court Dimensions
Pickleball can be played in singles or doubles format, with a court size of 20 feet by 44 feet, mirroring a doubles badminton court's dimensions. The non-volley line or "kitchen" is drawn seven feet from the net, which designates a special area where volleys aren't allowed. There's a service court between the baseline, situated 22 feet from the net, and the non-volley line. This court is divided into left and right sides by a center line. Games and tournaments usually take place on polyurethane sports surfaces, although concrete, Astroturf, and indoor basketball courts also suffice.
Net Specifications
The net height is 36 inches on the ends and dips to 34 inches in the middle, stretching 22 feet from one post to the other.
Ball and Paddle Rules
Pickleball began with a Wiffle ball, but the sport has evolved to have specific standards set by the USA Pickleball (USAP) and the International Federation of Pickleball (IFP). The balls should have a smooth surface with 26 to 40 evenly spaced holes, weigh between 0.78 and 0.935 ounces, and measure 2.87 to 2.97 inches in diameter. There are smaller-holed balls for outdoor play to minimize wind impact.
USAP and IFP also set standards for pickleball paddles. The total length and width should not exceed 24 inches, with the length restricted to a maximum of 17 inches. There are no regulations on paddle thickness or weight, but it should be non-compressible with a smooth surface.
Initiating the Game
Determining who serves first and from which side is generally up to the players.
Scoring and Serving
Scoring is announced by an official or the server before each serve. In doubles, the score announcement consists of three parts: serving team’s score, receiving team’s score, and the server number. The first server is referred to as "2" or "start", hence, the beginning score is announced as "zero zero two". In singles, only the serving and receiving player's scores are announced with the starting score being "zero zero".
Two-Bounce Rule
The first serve must land diagonally on the opponent's court. Both the serve receiver and the serving side must let the ball bounce once before returning it. This rule, known as the two-bounce rule, promotes longer rallies.
Continuation of Play
The server continues to alternate between right and left service courts until a fault is committed. In doubles, each team gets two faults before a side-out, except for the first service of the game, which allows for only one fault. Singles gameplay sees a side-out for each fault by the serving side. The game continues until a side scores 11 points with a minimum two-point lead.
Scoring System
Pickleball follows side-out scoring where only the serving side can score. The score announcement always begins with the serving side's score, followed by the receiving side's score. On committing a fault, the serving side does not earn a point, and the two scores are reversed with the next serve.
Serving Rules
The server must serve from behind the baseline to the opponent's diagonal service court. Two types of serves are allowed: a volley serve and a drop serve. The volley serve is performed with an underarm stroke with the paddle making contact below the waist. The drop serve allows the ball to bounce once before being hit with the paddle.
Player Positioning
There are no stringent rules about player positioning except for the server. However, in doubles, a strategy called stacking is often used to position each player on their stronger side of the court.
The Non-Volley Zone
No player may volley the ball while standing in the non-volley zone or touching its surrounding lines. A player can enter this zone to play a bounced ball and stay until the ball bounces again.
The Rally and Faults
A rally continues until a fault is committed, making the ball "dead". Faults can be committed in various ways, including wrong server serving, serving from the wrong court side, volleying the ball when returning a serve, not hitting the ball beyond the net, hitting the ball out of bounds, and stepping into the non-volley zone while volleying.
Understanding these rules will significantly enhance your pickleball experience, making the game more enjoyable and competitive. So, grab your paddles, and let's play.
