Pickleball Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

General

What is pickleball?

Pickleball is a racket/paddle sport that's a combination of tennis, pingpong, and badminton. It can be played as singles or doubles, with doubles being the more common.
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One of the reasons pickleball is such a fast growing sport is it's INCREDIBLY easy to learn. We recommend starting with How to Play Pickleball.
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‍Additionally, you can find even more resources in our Learn section.

Where can I play pickleball?

Anywhere where there's a tennis court, you can play pickleball. Most tennis courts now support both tennis and pickleball.

If you're looking for a specific place to play pickleball near you, we've gathered a list of resources to help you find a court near you - Play.

What do I need to play pickleball?

All you need is a paddle, a ball, a net, and preferably some athletic attire. Sets run as cheap on Amazon as $30, while paddles can jump up north of $200 depending on what you're looking for.
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Check out our gear guides for recommendations for beginners, intermediate, and advanced players.

How to Play

How big is a pickleball court?

The size of a standard pickleball court is 20 feet wide and 44 feet long for both singles and doubles play.
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You can find some more details on Pickleball Court Dimensions.

How to score pickleball

In doubles, the score is comprised of 3 numbers - the serving team's score, the receiving team's score, and the current server.
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Whoever is on the right box when the side out occurs, aka you start serving, is considered the 1. When the 1 loses the serve, the serve goes to the other side where the 2 resides.
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Couple of scoring rules:
- You can only score a point while you are serving
- The game is played to 11 points
- You must win by 2

You can find more information on How to Play Pickleball.

How many people can play at a time?

Pickleball can be played in both singles and doubles formats, which determines the number of people who can play at a time. In singles play, two players play against each other, while in doubles play, four players play on the court at the same time, two on each team.

How do you serve in pickleball?

- First stand behind the baseline at the back of the court
- Hit the ball underhand, making contact with the ball below their waist.
- Keep one foot behind the baseline until after the ball is struck
- Keep both feet behind the sideline on the side of the court where they are serving
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The serve:
- Must be made diagonally across the court
- Land in the opposite service court
- Clear the net and land within the designated service area without touching any part of the net (if it touches the net and lands in the service court, it's a let and the server serves again).

The server continues to serve until they fault, at which point the serve changes to the opposing team. If playing doubles, the partner of the server will alternate serving each point until a fault is made.To serve in pickleball, the server must:

How do you start the point?

The game begins with a serve. The player in the right box on the serving team (red) starts first. You serve diagonally to your opponent (yellow box) and the ball must land beyond the kitchen.

Note, on the serve, If it hits the kitchen line (red line), it’s a fault. If it hits any other line, such as the sideline or centerline, the rally continues on.

How can you win the point?

The rally continues until a fault occurs. You win the rally if your opponent

1. Hits a ball out of bounds
2. Hits a ball into the net
3. Lets the ball bounce twice on their side
4. Performs a kitchen violation
5. Gets hit by the ball

What is the pickleball kitchen?

The "pickleball kitchen," also known as the non-volley zone, is an area on the court that extends 7 feet on either side of the net. The kitchen is a restricted area on the court where players are not allowed to hit volleys (out of the air). Players are only allowed to enter the kitchen to play a ball that has bounced.

This rule is in place to prevent players from standing too close to the net and blocking their opponents' shots, which would give them an unfair advantage. Violating the non-volley zone rule is considered a fault, and the opposing team is awarded the point.

We could make a whole 101 on the kitchen (rules, strategies, tips) and probably will. For now, you can find some more information about kitchen rules on How to Play Pickleball.

The double bounce rule

This is probably the hardest rule for beginners to understand.

There are two types of shots you can hit:
Groundstrokes - hit off the bounce, often from the baseline
‍Volleys - hit out of the air, often closer to the net

THE RULE: The ball must bounce at least once on each side before a volley occurs. What this means is that the team receiving the serve must let the ball bounce on their side. When the serving team receives the ball back, they too must let the ball bounce. From that point on, either team may volley the ball out of the air.

Pickleball singles rules

While doubles is by far the most popular way to play pickleball, you can enjoy the game playing singles.

Playing singles works the same way, except for the fact that there is 1 person on each side.

The biggest difference here has to do with serving. There’s no need to callout the final number, as there is only 1 person on each side serving.

Singles Rules:
1. The first serve for each side starts on the right side
2. If the server wins the point, the sever (and therefore both players) switch sides.
3. If the receiver wins the point, both players remain where they are
4. The server continues serving until he or she loses a point
5. The server starts serving in the right box when the server score ends in an even number (0, 2, 4, 6, 8) and on the left side when the server has an odd number (1, 3, 5, 7, 9)

For more information on the rules that apply to both singles and doubles games, visit How to Play Pickleball.

Gear

What do you need to play pickleball

Fortunately, not much. If you're a beginner, you'll need some basic gear to get started, including a pickleball paddle, balls, and appropriate footwear.

You can purchase gear from any sporting goods stores, online retailers, or borrow from a local pickleball club (ex. your local YMCA).

If you need more assistance with those decisions, we’ve got a Buyers guide that may help you get started. It's the guide I wish I had when I first started playing. I also recommend wearing comfortable athletic clothing that allow you to move freely.

What shoes to wear for pickleball?

Ideally you're looking for some athletic shoes that provide support, comfort, and traction. If you're completely new to the sport and looking to play for your first time, there's no need to buy new shoes, especially if you have some that fit this criteria.

Now, if you are in the market for new shoes, we recommend starting with tennis shoes. There are tons of resources online to help you research good tennis shoes. I personally use and have been using adidas Men's Solematch Bounce for the last year. I have a narrow foot so these work perfect for me.

What is the best pickleball paddle

There is no one-size-fits-all answer to what is the best pickleball paddle, as the ideal paddle for a player depends on several factors, including their playing style, skill level, and personal preferences. Here is a quick answer that may fit for all out there.

Best for Beginners (non set) - Selkirk Sport SLK Latitude
Best for Intermdiate Players - Tempest Wave II Graphite Paddle
Best for Advanced Players - JOOLA Ben Johns Hyperion CFS 16
Best Under $100 - Onix Graphite Z5
Best Value Set - Gonex 2 Paddle Set‍
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We have much more in-depth information on Best Pickleball Paddles of 2023.

How to choose a pickleball paddle?

There are a couple of factors to look for when choosing a paddle:

Weight: Pickleball paddles range in weight from around 6 to 14 ounces. Lighter paddles are easier to maneuver and can help players generate more speed and spin on the ball, while heavier paddles can provide more power and stability. This can make a huge difference while at the net when quick reactions are at a premium.
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Material: Pickleball paddles can be made from a variety of materials, including wood, composite materials, and graphite. Composite and graphite paddles are more expensive but are lighter and offer a larger sweet spot, allowing for greater control and power.

Grip size: The size of the grip on the paddle is important for comfort and control. Most paddles come in small, medium, and large sizes, and it is important to choose a grip size that feels comfortable and allows for a secure grip.

Shape: Pickleball paddles can be either rounded or elongated, with elongated paddles typically providing a larger sweet spot and more power, while rounded paddles offer more control.

We have much more in-depth information on Best Pickleball Paddles of 2023.

What kind of ball is used in pickleball?

The ball used in pickleball is a small, perforated plastic ball that is similar to a wiffle ball but with smaller holes and made of a harder plastic. The ball is usually around 2.87 inches in diameter and typically weighs anywhere between 0.78 and 0.935 ounces. Most manufacturers offer balls in a wide range of colors.

We're working on a much more in-depth piece on what pickleball balls to purchase. Check out the DuraFast 40 for best overall and the Frankling X-40 for best outdoor.

What are the best pickleball brands?

There's a lot of pickleball paddle brands. The best are Joola, Selkirk, CRBN, and Gearbox. If you're curious about some others, we break down the most common brands - Ranking Pickleball Paddle Brands (From Best to Worst).