Pickleball
A paddle, a few balls and a drop-in session at a local court. The first game teaches the underhand serve, the two-bounce rule and the kitchen.
What it is like
Pickleball is a paddle game played on a small court with a perforated plastic ball. It looks like miniature tennis, but the rules keep it gentle at the start: the serve is underhand, the ball must bounce once on each side before anyone volleys, and nobody may volley from the 7-foot zone next to the net, the kitchen. Most people play real games in their first session.
It is a social hobby. City recreation centers and parks run drop-in open play where players rotate onto courts, usually in doubles. The equipment is a paddle, a few balls and court shoes.
Progress moves from getting the ball back to playing the soft game at the net: dinks that drop into the opponent’s kitchen, the third-shot drop, and good teamwork with a partner. From there players join leagues, enter tournaments by skill level or keep playing with the same friendly group.
The main risks are falls, strains from doing too much too soon, and balls or paddles hitting the eyes, so court shoes, a warm-up, building up gradually and eye protection are worth taking seriously.
- A session
- An hour or two of games at open play.
- A week
- Two or three sessions a week once you are hooked.
- Season
- All year indoors; spring to autumn outdoors in most places.
Indoors or out · For two, A club, With kids
Kinds and styles
Two against two; the usual game at open play.
One against one on the same court, with much more running.
Drop-in sessions where players rotate onto courts.
Regular matches against players of a similar level.
Brackets by age and skill level, from local events to national championships.
Played with adapted rules; USA Pickleball publishes them.
Is it for you?
You will probably love it if
- You want a social sport you can learn in an afternoon
- There are public courts or drop-in sessions near you
- You like quick reactions and short rallies more than long runs
Maybe not, if
- You want to play alone
- Quick sideways movement is hard on your knees or balance
- You prefer a quiet hobby; the pop of paddle on ball carries
What to buy first
- 01Beginner pickleball paddleYour own paddle once you play regularly; borrow one for the first sessionsFind it on Amazon$61
- 02Outdoor pickleballs, 6-packHard perforated balls for outdoor courtsFind it on Amazon$21
- 03Indoor drop-in sessionA court and other players to rotate in with$6
- Everything you need to beginAbout $50 a month after that$88
Typical US prices for entry-level gear, rounded. Last checked October 2026. How we get the numbers
The Amazon links open a search for that type of item, not a product chosen for us, and the prices in the list are our typical figures, or the listing of the shop a line names, not Amazon's price for any listing. If you buy through one we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you; as an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
What to buy next
- 01Court shoesGrip and side-to-side support (Scripps Health)Find it on Amazon First month
- 02Protective eyewearImpact-resistant lenses against balls and paddlesFind it on Amazon First month
- 03Indoor ballsSofter balls made for gym floorsFind it on Amazon For indoor play
- 04Paddle bagPaddles, balls, water and a towel togetherFind it on Amazon Once you play often
- 05Portable netPlay wherever there is a flat surfaceFind it on Amazon For a driveway or tennis court
No prices here on purpose: these are later buys, and what to spend depends on how far the hobby has taken you. The Amazon links work like the ones above: a search for the type of item, and a possible commission for us at no extra cost to you.
From your first serve to a full game, step by step
Pickleball began as a backyard game on Bainbridge Island in 1965 (Wikipedia), and it is still learned the same easy way, by playing. This guide goes from finding a drop-in session and the right shoes to the serve, the two-bounce rule, the kitchen and scoring, with the injury advice from Scripps Health.
Warning: Before you start Most pickleball injuries come from falls and overuse. Wear shoes made for pickleball or tennis, warm up, and build up playing time gradually; turning and moving sideways or forward rather than backpedalling helps prevent trips and falls, and falling on an outstretched hand can break a wrist (Scripps Health). Eye injuries are rising: a study in JAMA Ophthalmology counted more than 1,200 pickleball eye injuries in 2024, 43 percent from the ball, 28 percent from falls and 12 percent from a paddle, and its authors call eye protection key (AARP). Drink water, especially in warm weather, and stop if something hurts.
Many city recreation departments run open play; San Mateo, California, for example, charges $5 for indoor adult drop-in.
Shoes made for pickleball or tennis grip better and support side-to-side steps than walking or running shoes (Scripps Health).
Underhand, below the waist, from behind the baseline, hit diagonally so it lands beyond the kitchen line (USA Pickleball).
The serve must bounce, and so must the return, before anyone volleys: the two-bounce rule.
Inside the 7-foot non-volley zone by the net you may only hit a ball that has bounced.
The court and the serve
From above: a 20 by 44 foot court with the net across the middle, a 7-foot kitchen on each side, the serve going diagonally from behind the baseline to land beyond the far kitchen line, and the two bounces before volleys.
- A Kitchen 7 ft each side No volleys inside. Step 5 →
- B Serve Diagonal Lands beyond the kitchen. Step 3 →
- C Two bounces One each side Then volleys are allowed. Step 4 →
- D Baseline 44 ft apart Serve from behind it. Step 3 →
Steps 1-2Before you play
- Step 1 of 8 · Before you play
Find a place to play
Look for open play at a city recreation center or public courts. Fees are often small; San Mateo charges $5 for indoor adult drop-in.
Most people: beginner open play or clinic (first time).
Start here Beginner open play or clinicBest forFirst time
Other new players and someone to explain the rules.
Regular open playBest forAfter a few sessions
Rotating games with all levels.
A tournamentBest forNot for a first go
Brackets by skill level once you know the game.
Not for a first try - Step 2 of 8 · Before you play
Shoes and warm-up
Warning: CAUTION Start with shorter games and build up how long and how often you play; doing too much too soon is a common cause of injury (Scripps Health).
Wear shoes made for pickleball or tennis, which grip and support side-to-side movement better than walking or running shoes, and warm up before play (Scripps Health).
Steps 3-7On court
- Step 3 of 8 · On court
Serve underhand
From behind the baseline, hit the ball underhand below the waist, diagonally into the service court, beyond the kitchen line (USA Pickleball).
Goes wrong: A serve that lands in the kitchen or on its line. It is out.
- Step 4 of 8 · On court
Follow the two-bounce rule
The serve bounces before it is returned, and the return bounces before the serving side hits it. After that you may volley.
- Step 5 of 8 · On court
Respect the kitchen
Inside the 7-foot non-volley zone you may only hit a ball after it bounces; volley with both feet behind the line.
- Step 6 of 8 · On court
Keep score
Only the serving side scores, games go to 11 and must be won by 2. In doubles the player on the right serves first (USA Pickleball).
- Step 7 of 8 · On court
Move safely
Warning: WARNING Falls cause many injuries, and balls and paddles hit eyes; impact-resistant eyewear is worth considering (Scripps Health, AARP).
Turn and move sideways or forward instead of backpedalling for the ball (Scripps Health). At the net, keep the paddle up in front of you.
Step 8Keep going
- Step 8 of 8 · Keep going
Learn the soft game
Practise the dink and the third-shot drop, then join a league or beginner clinic.
Most people: clinics and drills (faster progress).
Start here Clinics and drillsBest forFaster progress
Coached sessions on dinks, drops and positioning.
Just gamesBest forSocial play
Open play with friends and regulars.
In shortIf it goes wrong
- A serve that lands in the kitchen or on its line.
- Step 3 · Serve underhand
How you get better
- Day 1A drop-in session
Borrowed paddle, the serve, the two-bounce rule and a few games.
- First monthYour own paddle
Regular open play and a beginner clinic.
- First seasonDinks and drops
Soft shots at the kitchen line and the third-shot drop.
- After thatYour own direction
Leagues, tournaments by skill level or just regular games with friends.
- The underhand serve
- The return of serve
- Keeping score
- The dink
- The third-shot drop
- Volleying at the kitchen line
- Moving sideways, not backwards
- Working with a doubles partner
- Reading spin
Small things that help
- Call the score before every serve: server's score, receiver's score, server number in doubles.
- Let the return bounce before you hit it.
- Keep your feet behind the kitchen line when you volley.
- Move sideways or forward; turn and run rather than backpedal.
- Keep the paddle up in front of you at the net.
- Warm up for a few minutes before the first game.
Beginner mistakes
- 01Volleying from the kitchenStepping into the non-volley zone and hitting the ball out of the air is a fault. Volley from behind the line.
- 02Backpedalling for a lobStepping backwards is how falls happen. Turn and move (Scripps Health).
- 03Hitting every ball hardHard drives come back faster. Learn the soft dink.
- 04Rushing the net after servingThe return must bounce first. Stay back until it has.
- 05Skipping the warm-upCold muscles strain. A few minutes of easy rallies first (Scripps Health).
The rules you need for a first game
From USA Pickleball's rules summary.
| Rule | What it means |
|---|---|
| Court | 20 feet wide by 44 feet long, for singles and doubles |
| Kitchen | A 7-foot non-volley zone on each side of the net |
| Serve | Underhand, below the waist, diagonally, landing beyond the kitchen line |
| Two-bounce rule | The ball bounces once on each side before anyone volleys |
| Scoring | Only the serving side scores; games to 11, win by 2 |
Why people quit
- 01Too much, too soonHours of play on the first weekends cause strains. Start with shorter games and build up (Scripps Health).
- 02Feeling lost in open playJoining strangers is awkward at first. Beginner sessions and clinics group people by level.
- 03Wrong shoesRunning shoes roll on quick sideways steps. Court shoes make play feel safer.
Words you will meet
- Kitchen
- The 7-foot non-volley zone on each side of the net.
- Volley
- Hitting the ball out of the air before it bounces.
- Two-bounce rule
- The serve and the return must each bounce once before volleys are allowed.
- Dink
- A soft shot that drops into the opponent's kitchen.
- Third-shot drop
- A soft third shot by the serving side that lands in the kitchen.
- Drop serve
- A serve hit after letting the ball bounce, allowed under the rules.
- Side out
- When the serve passes to the other side.
- Open play
- Drop-in sessions where players rotate onto courts.
Questions people ask
How high is a pickleball net?
36 inches at the sidelines and 34 inches at the center, per USA Pickleball; Wikipedia adds that the posts stand 22 feet apart. The court is 20 by 44 feet for singles and doubles alike.
How long is a game?
Most games go to 11 points, win by 2, and only the serving side can score; USA Pickleball notes that tournament formats may play to 15 or 21.
Who invented pickleball?
Three fathers, Joel Pritchard, Bill Bell and Barney McCallum, in 1965 on Bainbridge Island, Washington, to entertain their children with ping-pong paddles, a wiffle ball and a lowered badminton net (USA Pickleball).
Is pickleball an Olympic sport?
No. Wikipedia lists it as neither an Olympic nor a Paralympic sport.
Is pickleball easy to learn?
The basics are quick: an underhand serve, the two-bounce rule and the kitchen. Most first sessions include real games.
Where can I play?
Public courts and city drop-in sessions; fees are often small, such as $5 for indoor drop-in in San Mateo and $7 for adults in Livermore, California.
Do I need my own paddle?
Not at first. Borrow one, then buy a paddle approved by USA Pickleball once you play regularly.
Why is it called the kitchen?
It is the everyday name for the non-volley zone; the rules call it the non-volley zone.
Should I wear eye protection?
The authors of a JAMA Ophthalmology study on rising pickleball eye injuries call eye protection key (AARP).
Where to go next
How it compares
| Pickleball | Disc golf | Juggling | Trail running | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Start cost | $88 | $27 | $20 | $179 |
| Each month | $50 | Free | Free | $20 |
| Space | A pickleball court | A park course | A patch of floor | Park or forest trails |
| Noise | Medium | Low | Low | Quiet |
| First result | 1 drop-in session | One round | A weekend to ten catches | 1 run |
| Mess | Nothing to clean | None | None | Muddy shoes |
Where to learn more
- 01USA Pickleball: what is pickleballThe court, the kitchen, the serve and scoring.
- 02USA Pickleball: how to playServing, the two-bounce rule and the kitchen, step by step.
- 03Scripps Health: preventing pickleball injuriesShoes, warming up, falls and building up gradually.
Sources: USA Pickleball, What is pickleball; How to play · Scripps Health, How to prevent pickleball injuries: 7 safety tips (2026) · AARP, Exercises to prevent pickleball injuries (JAMA Ophthalmology eye-injury study) · City of San Mateo, Pickleball · Livermore Area Recreation and Park District, Adult pickleball · Wikipedia, Pickleball
Researched and written by the Fjords Team.