The Beginner's Guide to Pickleball: Rules, Kitchen & Scoring
Everything you need to know before picking up a paddle and stepping onto your first Pickle Haus court.
What Makes Pickleball So Addictive?
Pickleball combines elements of tennis, badminton, and table tennis into a fast-paced, social game that is easy to pick up in fifteen minutes yet offers incredible tactical depth. Played on a court roughly a third the size of a tennis court, rallies are quick, reaction times matter, and players of all fitness levels can compete together.
At Pickle Haus, our arenas feature regulation cushioned courts, tournament-grade nets, and high-performance carbon-faced paddles. Here is everything you need to know to get started.
The Court & The Kitchen (NVZ)
A pickleball court measures 44 feet long by 20 feet wide. The most critical strategic zone is the Non-Volley Zone (commonly nicknamed 'the kitchen'), spanning 7 feet on either side of the net.
The golden rule of the kitchen: You cannot volley (hit the ball out of the air before it bounces) while standing inside or stepping onto the kitchen line. You must let the ball bounce first before stepping in to hit it. This prevents taller players from simply standing at the net and smashing balls downwards.
Serving & The Two-Bounce Rule
Every serve must be delivered underhand with paddle contact below the server's waist. The serve travels diagonally across the net into the receiver's court, clearing the non-volley line.
After the serve, the two-bounce rule applies: the receiving team must let the serve bounce once, and the serving team must let the return bounce once. Only after both bounces have occurred can players choose to volley or play off the bounce.
Scoring & Winning
Points can only be scored by the serving team. Standard games are played to 11 points, and you must win by a margin of 2 points. In doubles, each partner gets a turn to serve before handing the serve over to the opposing team (side out).
Ready to put it into practice? Drop in to one of our weekly Haus Level-Up coaching clinics or weekend Open Play sessions!
Ready to hit the courts?
Join 3,500+ players in the Pickle Haus WhatsApp community or reserve your slot at one of our Pune arenas.
More from the Haus Journal
Portable Sports Experiences: Turning Any Space Into a Place to Play
Bringing pickleball and mini golf setups to shopping malls, IT parks, corporate campuses, and private gatherings.
Pickleball vs Padel: What's the Difference and Which Should You Play?
Breaking down rackets, enclosed glass walls, ball speed, and strategic gameplay dynamics.
How We Built Pune's Largest Community-First Racket Club
From weekend open play to the 10-team Pune Pickleball League and destination retreats.