Pickleball mixes badminton, tennis, and ping pong into one easy-to-learn game. It's played on a small court, with a paddle and a plastic ball with holes in it. Here's everything a first-timer needs to know — explained simply, with no jargon.
The Court, at a Glance
The court is 20 feet wide by 44 feet long — smaller than a tennis court. It's split into left and right service courts on each side, with one important zone in the middle called the kitchen.
The kitchen stretches 7 feet back from the net on both sides. You cannot hit the ball out of the air (a "volley") while standing inside it.
3 Basic Rules to Know
Almost everything in pickleball comes back to these three rules. Learn them and you can already follow a game.
The Serve
Serve underhand from behind the baseline, aiming diagonally into the opposite service court. The serve must clear the kitchen — it can't land inside it.
The Two-Bounce Rule
After the serve, the ball must bounce once on each side before either team is allowed to volley it (hit it out of the air).
The Kitchen Rule
You can't volley the ball while standing in the kitchen, or if your momentum carries you into it after the shot. The ball must bounce first if you're in that zone.
How Scoring Works
- Games are typically played to 11 points, and you must win by 2.
- Only the serving team can score a point.
- In doubles, each player on a team gets a turn to serve before the serve passes to the other team (except at the very start of the game).
- The score is called out as three numbers in doubles: your score, your opponents' score, and which server you are (1st or 2nd) — for example "4-2-1."
Don't overthink this at first.
If you're brand new, just listen for your partner or opponents calling the score before each serve, and ask if you're ever unsure. It clicks fast after a couple of games.
How a Point Typically Develops
Most points follow the same natural rhythm. Recognizing it will help you know where to be and what to do next.
Serve
The server starts the point.
Return
Return deep to give yourself time to move forward.
Third Shot
A good soft third shot helps you move up or keeps opponents back.
Move Up
Move toward the kitchen line after your shot.
Kitchen Play
Dink, reset, and stay patient. Keep the ball low and controlled.
Attack
Look for a high ball or a mistake to attack and finish the point.
Key Strategy for Beginners
Get to the kitchen line
The kitchen line is the strongest position on the court. Work your way up there after the serve and return, rather than staying back.
Keep the ball in play
Consistency beats power at the beginner level. Most points are won by the player who makes fewer mistakes, not the player who hits hardest.
Don't attack low balls
Wait for a high ball. Attacking a low ball often sends it into the net — be patient and reset instead.
Play as a team (doubles)
Move together, cover the middle of the court, and communicate with your partner on every shot near the line between you.
Be patient
Good things happen to patient players. Control the pace instead of rushing, keep shots low over the net, target your opponent's weaker side, stay balanced after every shot, and move early rather than fast — read the play and anticipate instead of chasing it.
Read the Ball, Choose the Shot
Every shot decision comes down to one question: where is the ball relative to the net? Make smart choices, not hard swings — most points are won by the player who makes fewer mistakes.
Attack
You have the opportunity to hit down on the ball. Take it.
Control
Keep the ball in play and place it in a safe spot.
Reset
Don't attack. Hit a soft shot to get the ball higher and safer.
Common Beginner Mistakes
- Missing too many serves
- Returning short instead of deep
- Attacking low balls
- Staying at the baseline after the return
- Rushing the kitchen line
- Not communicating with your partner
Staying Calm Under Pressure
When a fast ball comes at you and you don't have time to attack, "resetting" — hitting a soft, controlled shot back into the kitchen — is your best option. A few things that help:
- Keep soft hands — relax your grip instead of gripping tight
- Absorb the pace instead of swinging back at it
- Aim your reset toward the kitchen
- Bend your knees to get low on the ball
- Use a short backswing, not a big one
- Breathe out as you make contact to stay relaxed
Basic Equipment
Paddle
Choose one that feels comfortable and easy to control.
Balls
Use indoor or outdoor balls depending on where you're playing.
Court Shoes
Wear proper court shoes for better movement and safety.
Simple Drills to Build Confidence
Grab a partner and work through these in order — each one builds on the last. Keep it low, be patient, and aim for the kitchen.
Bounce & Dink
Bounce the ball, then dink it over the net. Have your partner catch it or dink it back. Keep the ball low and in control.
Dink Rally
Rally back and forth using only dinks. Keep the ball below net height and land it in the kitchen.
Target Dinks
Place a target (tape, cone, or towel) in the kitchen and try to hit it as many times as possible.
Dink & Count
Dink back and forth and count your successful dinks in a row. See how high you can get.
Forehand & Backhand Dinks
Dink using only your forehand for 30 seconds, then backhand for 30 seconds. Repeat and improve.
Dink & Volley Basics
Dink a few times, then move up to the kitchen line and volley your partner's shot back (still below net height).
Third Shot Drop to Dink
From the baseline, hit a soft third shot into the kitchen. Your partner dinks it back. Repeat.
Dink Side to Side
Dink cross-court, aiming near the sideline. Keep the ball low and in the kitchen.
Serve, Return & Dink
Serve, return, then start a dink rally. Focus on getting the ball in play and keeping it low.
Rally Game
Play a mini game to 11. You must dink at least 3 times before either team can hit an attacking shot.
Level Up: A Gentle Intro to Spin
You don't need this on day one — but once serves, dinks, and resets feel natural, spin is the next tool in the toolbox. In simple terms:
Topspin
Brush up the back of the ball. It dips fast and works well for aggressive drives and passing shots.
Sidespin
Brush across the side of the ball. It creates a sharp angle bounce that can pull your opponent off the court.
Backspin (slice)
Brush downward under the ball. It stays low, skids, and slows the game down — a handy defensive reset weapon.
Combining spins
Topspin, sidespin, and backspin can be combined (for example, topspin + sidespin) to make the ball curve in the air and kick sideways after the bounce. This is an advanced skill — master straight dinks and resets first.
Court Etiquette
Pickleball has a friendly, social culture — a few unwritten habits will help you fit right in.
- Call the score loudly before you serve, so everyone's on the same page.
- Make line calls honestly. You call balls on your own side of the court, and if you genuinely can't tell, the point goes to your opponents — not to you.
- If a ball rolls onto your court from another game, call "ball!" right away and replay the point.
- Paddle taps at the net after a game are the norm, win or lose.
Common Terms Worth Knowing
You'll hear these on almost every court — here's what they mean in plain language.
Dink
A soft shot hit into the kitchen, meant to keep the ball low and unattackable.
Erne
An advanced move where a player runs around the kitchen to volley near the sideline. You'll see it before you'll do it.
ATP (Around-the-Post)
Hitting the ball around the net post instead of over the net — it's legal.
Stacking
A doubles positioning strategy where partners line up on the same side before a serve or return, to keep forehands in the middle. Not something to worry about early on.
Let Serve
Worth knowing there's no "let" anymore in most standardized rules: if a serve clips the net and still lands in the right spot, it's in play — not a redo.
Singles vs. Doubles
Almost all casual and rec play is doubles — it's more social and covers less ground per player. Singles exists but is far more physically demanding since you're covering the whole court alone.
More Faults to Know
- The ball lands out of bounds or in the net — fault.
- Hitting the ball before it crosses the net (reaching over) — fault.
- Serving out of turn or from the wrong service box — fault (your partner will usually catch this for you at first).
Warming Up & Staying Safe
Pickleball involves a lot of quick lateral movement and sudden stops — that's where most beginner injuries happen (ankles, knees, Achilles).
- Do a short warm-up before playing: a light jog, leg swings, and arm circles go a long way.
- Wear real court shoes, not running shoes — running shoes don't give the same lateral support for side-to-side movement.
Finding Games to Join
- Many cities have open-play sessions at community centers or dedicated pickleball facilities — a low-pressure way to meet other beginners.
- Apps like DUPR track a skill rating if you want to find matched games as you improve, but it's completely optional starting out.
Quick Cheat Sheet
ServeUnderhand, behind the baseline, cross-court, must clear the kitchen.
Two-Bounce RuleBall must bounce once per side before anyone can volley.
Kitchen RuleNo volleys while standing in (or falling into) the kitchen.
Keep it lowDinks below net height stay in play.
Move upSmall steps help you stay ready and balanced.
Aim for the kitchenThe goal is to land your dinks in the non-volley zone.
Have funCelebrate small wins and enjoy the game!
Ready to try it on court?
Empower Through Sports coaches players of every level — newcomers welcome.
Visit Empower Through Sports