Player's Guide to USA Pickleball Recreational and League Play All Ages 2026

When you hit the serve, at least one foot must be on the ground in the correct serving area (behind the baseline, between the imaginary extensions of the centerline and sideline), and neither foot may touch the court or the ground outside that area (Rule 7.A).

Release the ball with one hand only or the paddle only, without adding spin, and the release must be visible to the receiver (Rule 7.B).

Both can be forehand or backhand. If the receiver can't see the release, or sees spin added on the release, they may call for a replay, but only before returning the serve.

The serve goes diagonally to the opponent's service court. It must clear the non-volley zone (kitchen), with or without touching the net, and land in the correct service court (Rule 7.E).

• A serve that touches the net and still lands in the correct service court is good and is played.
• A serve landing on the kitchen line is out (Rule 8.C). Landing on the sideline, centerline or baseline of the correct service court is in, because those lines are part of the service court.
• It's a fault against the server if the serve hits a permanent object, any part of the net posts or net support system, or the server or server's partner (Rules 7.E.3, 7.E.4, 13.B.1).
• If the serve hits the receiver or the receiver's partner before landing, it's a fault against the receiving team (Rule 7.E.5).

The serve and the return of serve must each bounce before being hit (Rule 10.A):

1. The receiver must let the serve bounce.
2. The serving team must let the return of serve bounce.

Hitting either one out of the air is a fault against the team that hit it. After those two bounces, players may volley or play off the bounce, subject to the kitchen rules.

A ball must always be returned before it bounces a second time (Rule 10.B).

The non-volley zone, or "kitchen," is the 7-foot by 20-foot area next to the net on each side. Its lines are part of the zone, and it only covers the ground, not the air above it (Rule 3.A.4.c).

• You may stand in the kitchen at any time and hit balls that have bounced.
• You can't volley (hit the ball out of the air) while you, or anything touching you, including your partner, touches the kitchen or its line (Rule 11.A.1).
• If your momentum from a volley carries you into the kitchen, it's a fault, even after the ball is dead (Rule 11.A.2).
• After being in the kitchen, both feet must be back on the ground outside it before you volley (Rule 11.A.3).

Each team calls "out" for all lines on its own end of the court; in doubles, either partner can call (Rule 8.A).

• A ball touching any line is in, except a serve that lands on the kitchen line, which is out (Rules 8.B, 8.C).
• Only call "out" if you clearly see space between the ball and the line (Rule 8.E). A ball you can't promptly call out is in, and the opponent gets the benefit of the doubt (Rule 8.D).
• Call "out" promptly by voice, hand signal, or both. If you return the ball, your call must come before the opponent hits it or the ball becomes dead; otherwise play continues (Rule 8.F.3).
• Shouting "out" or "bounce it" to your partner while the ball is still in the air is communication, not a line call (Rule 8.F.4).
• If partners disagree, the ball is in (Rule 8.H).
• You may ask your opponent's opinion until the next serve. If they make a clear call, it stands (Rule 8.I).
• Spectators must not be consulted on any call (Rule 8.J).

Only two kinds: non-volley zone (kitchen) faults and service foot faults (Rule 9.B.3).

• Call them as soon as you see them, and before the next serve.
• If the two teams disagree about the fault, the rally is replayed.
• If partners disagree, the call goes in favor of the opponents.

For any other fault you think an opponent committed (for example, the ball touching their shirt), you can mention it after the rally, but you can't enforce it. The final decision belongs to the player who allegedly committed it (Rule 9.B.4).

Players are expected to call faults on themselves and their partner as soon as they know about them (Rule 9.B.2).

After the serve, if the ball touches you or anything you're wearing or carrying, it's a fault against you. The exceptions are your paddle and your paddle hand below the wrist while it's holding the paddle (Rule 10.C.3).

Related paddle rules:

• You must be holding the paddle when you hit the ball. You may use one or two hands and switch hands at any time (Rule 12.B).
• You can't catch or carry the ball on the paddle (Rule 12.C).
• Hitting the ball more than once is only legal if it's one continuous stroke in a single direction by one player (Rule 10.D).
• Completely missing the ball isn't a fault; the ball stays live (Rule 10.E).

• You, your paddle and your clothing must not touch the net or net support system while the ball is live (Rule 13.G), or touch your opponent or their end of the court (Rule 13.H).
• You may cross the plane of the net after hitting the ball, as part of that stroke, but not before (Rule 13.I.1).
• If the ball bounces on your side and spins or blows back over the net, you may go over, under or around the net to hit it, but only after it has fully crossed back (Rule 13.I.2).
• You may hit the ball around the outside of the net post; it doesn't have to go over the net (Rule 13.C). Hitting it between the net and the post, or under the net, is a fault (Rules 13.D, 13.E).
• A ball that clips the net and lands in stays in play (Rule 13.A).
• You can't hit the ball before it has fully crossed to your side (Rule 13.F).

Rally scoring is a provisional option in the rulebook (Rule 14.A). When it's used:

• A point is scored on every rally, by whichever side wins it.
• The score is called as two numbers: server's score, then receiver's score.
• In doubles, only one player serves before a side out. When the serving team loses a rally, the serve goes straight to the opponents.
• After each side out, the player correctly positioned on the right side, according to the team's score, serves first.

All other standard rules still apply.

• Paddle: combined length and width (including edge guard and butt cap) no more than 24 inches, and length no more than 17 inches. There's no limit on thickness or weight (Rules 3.D.2, 3.D.3). The hitting surface can't have rough texture, sandpaper-like or rubber surfaces, or anything else that adds extra spin (Rule 3.D.5).
• Approval: paddles must show the "USA Pickleball Approved" seal or text. Older paddles made before that requirement must still be on the USA Pickleball approved paddle list for sanctioned play (Rule 3.D.1).
• Ball: any USA Pickleball approved ball can be used indoors or outdoors. Balls with larger holes are customarily used indoors and smaller holes outdoors (Rule 3.C).
• Court: 20 by 44 feet for both singles and doubles. The net is 36 inches high at the sidelines and 34 inches at the center (Rules 3.A.1, 3.B.6, 3.B.7).

Avoid clothing that closely matches the ball color.

Not ready: before the score call starts, signal by raising your paddle or your non-paddle hand above your head, or by turning your back fully to the net (Rule 6.A.1). Once the score call has started, those signals no longer count, but verbal calls such as "stop" or "wait" are still recognized (Rules 6.A.2, 6.E).

Hinder: any player may call a hinder when something not caused by a player interferes with play, such as a stray ball, a flying insect, or a player from another court. The rally is replayed (Rule 9.C). Permanent objects such as fences, posts, lights and ceilings are not hinders.

If you stop a rally for any other reason, it's a fault against you. The only other exceptions are correctly pointing out a server or position error, or asking for an incorrect score to be corrected before the return of serve (Rule 9.A.1).