In addition to being a fun and relaxing game for all ages and skill levels, one of the great things about pickleball that makes it so popular is how easy it is to quickly pick up on the rules. Here is a summary of how the game is played:
While doubles is the most popular way to play, pickleball can also be played as singles. When playing doubles, once it is decided which team will serve first, the first server on Team 1 stands with both feet behind the baseline of their team's right service court and delivers an underhanded serve diagonally to the opposite right service court (the server must call out the entire score before each serve). The serve must clear the net and land inside or on the line of the opposite right service court, otherwise resulting in a fault with one chance for a reserve.
After a clean serve, Team 2 returns it with a groundstroke (hitting the ball after one bounce). Each team must complete one groundstroke before they can volley (hitting the ball while in the air, before it bounces). Volleys can only be made while standing outside of the no-volley zone, or kitchen. Groundstrokes can be made in the kitchen so long as the ball bounces in the kitchen. After the serve, returns that come in contact with the net are considered to be in-play as long as they make it over.
Points are earned by the serving team when they win a rally or the other team commits a fault. When a point is scored, the server serves again, alternating service courts, until they lose a rally or commit a fault. The second server on Team 1 serves next, then the first server on Team 2, followed by the second server on Team 2, and so on until one of the teams scores 11 points with at least a 2-point lead to win the game.