How To Play Pickleball: The Ultimate Guide

How To Play Pickleball: The Ultimate Guide

Pickleball. You’ve probably heard of the sport before. Whether your friends talk about it or see you people playing it at the gym or park, or you catch a match live on TV. The paddle & ball sport is growing exponentially, with communities across the globe. 

Pickleball, being relatively easy to pick up and play, still has its set of rules, guidelines, and tactics that players must know before they get out there on the court. With that being said, here is the Ultimate Guide of How To Play Pickleball:

Basics

First off, if you don’t know what pickleball is, think of it as somewhere in the middle of ping pong and tennis. That being, it’s much larger scale in terms of ping pong but the court isn’t as large as a tennis court. The dimensions of a pickleball court are generally 20 x 44 feet.

Players use solid paddles made of wood or composite materials to hit a plastic ball, making for a consistent, smooth shot. In terms of shoes, many companies sell pickleball shoes, but casual players and beginners tend to wear tennis shoes which will work too.

In all three sports, the basic premise is for the players to rally the ball from each side of the court until one player gets a point, ending the rally and starting a new one. Where these sports differ is how these points are gained, which I will explain to you in depth below.

The Game and its Rules

I. Scoring

A rally starts off with an underhand serve behind the baseline (in the back of each side of the court) and the ball must go over the non-volley zone (also referred to as the kitchen) which is the area on both sides of the court that covers the seven feet bordering the net (as shown below).

Pickleball Kitchen: What It Is and Why It’s Important - Thatsportlife.com

In terms of scoring, you must be on the serving team to score a point. In doubles, each player gets a chance to serve before a side out, which will give the serve to the opposing team. Think of it like this:

  • When the serving team scores a point, they gain a point on their score while also maintaining their serve. In doubles, the player who served during that point will continue to serve.
  • When the receiving team scores a point, the serve will go to the opponent in singles, while it will go to the serving player's teammate in doubles.

In pickleball, games are traditionally won at 11 points, with a requirement of a two-point lead to win. This means if the score is 10-10, you will have to play until someone wins by two points.

II. Volleying, The Kitchen Rule, & The Double Bounce Rule

The art of Volleying, “The Kitchen Rule”, and The Double Bounce Rule is necessary to learn for beginners. Volleying is the act of hitting the ball in the air (to the other side) without it bouncing back on your side of the court. So, if your opponent hits the ball to your side, you have the option to let it bounce once and hit it, or (if more convenient) volley it to their side. 

Going back to the non-volley zone or the “kitchen”, this is the only place where volleying doesn’t apply. A common tactic in pickleball is staying close to the non-volley zone and making sure that your shots land inside of it so that your opponent can’t hit a powerful volley instantly. This is often referred to as a “dink”, which you will see many pickleball players utilize in their game.

The Kitchen Rule and the Double Bounce Rule ultimately go hand in hand. It’s very simple. All the Double Bounce Rule really means is that the ball must bounce once on each side before both players can begin volleying to each other. The Kitchen Rule (which we pretty much already explained) is the rule that players are allowed to volley anywhere on the court other than the non-volley zone (kitchen).

III. Faults

There are several ways a player can commit a fault while playing pickleball. A fault is a mistake or play that leads to the loss of the rally, giving the point to the other player. Let’s jump right into it:

  • Hitting the ball out of bounds – Just like in most sports, if your shot lands out of bounds, it’s your opponent’s point and their serve.
  • Hitting the ball into the net – If your shot is short and doesn’t make it over the net, it is a fault and your opponent’s point.
  • Stepping into the non-volley zone and volleying the ball (The Kitchen Rule) – Focus on staying out of the non-volley zone when attempting to hit the ball, the ref or other players will you call you out on it, and the other team will get the point.
  • Hitting the ball before it bounces on both sides (Double Bounce Rule) – To keep the game fair, the ball must hit the ground on both sides once before volleying can take place. 

IV. Singles vs. Doubles

Pickleball can be played in both singles (1v1) and doubles (2v2). The rules for both are similar, but there are different tactics needed in both. For example, in singles, being quicker and more agile will allow you to cover more ground, giving you an advantage over a slower, more methodical player. Let’s dive deep and compare the two ways you can play the game:

Singles:

  • Like I said before, singles requires much more fitness and stamina than a doubles game would. The ability to maneuver around the court with quick cuts is one of the most important attributes to have in singles.
  • Singles also calls for a more aggressive style of play, making for the use of more cross-court shots and power over placement. Varying your shots (placement, pace, spin) is also a beneficial tactic in singles, creating a sort of unpredictability that will deceive your opponent.
  • While some singles points can feature long rallies filled with more methodical, baseline play, the pace of the game is much faster than it is on doubles.

    Doubles:

    • Doubles in pickleball puts more emphasis on strategic, methodical, and coordinated play than singles. You and your teammate being on the same page is the key to success when it comes to doubles.
    • Lobbing, dinking, and good placement are all things you’ll see a lot more in doubles. Rallies go on for much longer, with teams usually dinking at the kitchen line to establish control, looking for opportunities to go for a more powerful, attacking shot that will win them the point.
    • Along with shot selection, deception in doubles can also come in the form of players switching positions during the point. For example, opponents will get used to your typical positioning and style of play, allowing you and your teammate to switch it up and hit the ball in a spot where your opponents may not be ready to defend.

        Overall, singles and doubles are both a ton of fun to play, just know the dynamic and tactical play between them when switching from one to the other. 

        V. Tips & Practice for Beginners

        Practice the Basic Strokes

        • Practicing your backhand, forehand, serves and developing a consistent shot in all three is crucial to your success as a pickleball player.

        Familiarize Yourself with the Court

        • Being aware of the boundaries, non-volley-zone, and overall court positioning is important in not only learning the rules, but also building that muscle memory as you maneuver the court.

        Practice Dinking & Volleys

        • Getting yourself familiar with common shots you will see in games like soft dinks at the kitchen line and fast volleys will improve your reaction time.

        Play with Beginners & Have Fun!

        • When you first start out, it’s good to play with people your own skill level to ensure that everyone is having a good time while also improving their game.

        Conclusion

        The beauty of the game of pickleball is that it’s inclusive to people of all ages. Even if you’ve never played a sport before, pickleball is a game that you can pick up and play fairly easily.  Now with your new, enhanced pickleball knowledge, you should be ready to get out onto the courts and tear it up!

        June 17, 2024 — Carson McKinzie
        The Benefits of Wearing a Pickleball Glove

        The Benefits of Wearing a Pickleball Glove

        Since the birth of sport, humans have continually created ways to improve our skill, comfortability, and overall style by wearing protective gear or cosmetics while in action. Whether it’s a knee brace, headband, glasses, body paint, and so many more, there is always a need for accessories when discussing a player’s performance and style.

        Sometimes the paradox of choice makes us regret our decisions regarding the products we buy. When deciding between pickleball accessories and gear, you must think about: Paddles, gloves, shoes, bags, hats, skirts, balls, socks, shirts, jewelry, etc. Obviously the average pickleball player wouldn’t need all these things, but deciding which is more important is tough.

        A pickleball glove ticks both boxes when discussing a boost in player performance and style. Let’s jump right into the main talking points on why wearing a glove while playing may benefit your game:

        Improved Grip – Are you ever in the middle of a competitive, intense session of pickleball and your hands begin to sweat, creating a shaky, less stable grip on your paddle? Well with a glove, you can maintain your grip on the paddle and have more control over your shots. Consistency is key in any sport, so when you can keep a stable grip on the paddle at all times no matter the conditions, your game is going to improve exponentially.

        Range of Motion – With some people, they think the key to getting better at pickleball is buying the most expensive paddle, but if you’re not improving your shot-making or technique, then your game is not going to improve. While wearing a glove, you can practice your skills with a consistent, no-slip grip. Whether it’s a tournament, drills, lessons, or just casual play, being consistent with the glove will help you get that muscles memory that you’re looking for.

        Weather Adaptability – If you’ve played pickleball in all conditions, you know the cons of playing in the scorching heat or the freezing cold. With a glove on, there are benefits in both climates. In the heat, your hands get very sweaty, and a glove will prevent that sweat from seeping through to your paddle. In the cold, a glove can provide more warmth and keep those muscles in your hand as flexible as they can be. Some companies even offer cold weather gloves that often provide additional layers to protect your hands from low temperatures that would otherwise damage your skin. Whether you’re playing indoor or outdoor, there are benefits to rocking a glove.

        Reduces Hand & Wrist Fatigue – After hours of play, your hand, wrist, and forearm may become overworked, leading to sore muscles, joints, and annoying tendonitis. While wearing a glove, your need to squeeze the paddle so tightly will be reduced, creating more support that helps aid circulatory blood flow, further reducing stress and tension from your hand and wrist.

        Look Good, Play Good – As sports fans, we always see the cosmetics and accessories of professional players and sometimes wonder why they wear that stuff and what the point of it all is if you’re trying to win games at the highest level. Well, often times it’s because they want to look good and stylish while they play. You may laugh, but this boost of confidence and swagger players get from wearing outlandish accessories and items on the court/field can actually help them perform better. Wearing a glove on the pickleball court is no different when discussing this phenomenon.

        While there are several perks, there is also an argument why wearing a glove can cause issues on the court as well. Some players may depend solely on a glove to improve their game, so their skill is hindered when they forget the glove or play without it. And while most gloves will wick away sweat, players may still experience excessive sweating and heat in their glove hand in warmer conditions.

        Also, many pickleball players (especially professionals) come from a background in tennis where it’s relatively rare to wear a glove, so these players often prefer to play without a glove to maximize their performance, making for a high percentage of the PPA Tour (The Pro Tour of Pickleball) gloveless.

        Ultimately though, wearing a glove comes down to personal preference. When comparing the pros and cons, there aren’t many things that suggest wearing a glove may be detrimental to your performance or style. 

        Gloves have recently become one of the leading pieces of gear in the pickleball world. The combo of improving your grip while also protecting your hands is one that has provided value for players all around the world. While wearing a glove may not be for everyone, there are some proven benefits and ways that it can improve your game, whether you play casually or professionally!

        August 28, 2023 — Carson McKinzie
        Pickleball Glove Buyers Guide

        Pickleball Glove Buyers Guide

        Pickleball Glove Buyers Guide
        Benefits and What to Look for when Buying a Pickleball Glove

        December 20, 2021 — Chris McKinzie
        How we Got Started: The Power of Friendship

        How we Got Started: The Power of Friendship

        So how did Cuzina come together in the middle of a pandemic? Well, by a series of seemingly random relationships and activities that somehow merged at just the right time. Flashback 12 years to 2010 when a very talented software engineer reached out to me at my Technology Commercialization company and wanted to see if we could help commercialize his semantic search technology. At the time it wasn’t in a commercially viable stage, but Mark and I hit it off and I hired him to work on a couple projects that we were building at the time. In the background Mark continued to refine the search technology and after about 2 years we decided to spin the technology out into a new company. So Mark and I launched Enlyton to offer this unique search technology to App Developers to embed into their software applications.

        Mark and his wife as it turns out also have a unique skill in creating amazing children with a wide variety of talents. Through another story of serendipity Mark and his family were at their home in Estero, FL when they were introduced to the sport of Pickleball. One of their Son’s Ben was just 16 and bit bored so he decided to give it a try. Even when his older brother, a professional tennis player scoffed at the idea. Well, fast forward 6 years and Ben Johns has become the #1 Pickleball Player in the world. When he was schooling me in ping-pong years prior who would have ever dreamed of such a path.

        So I had an early introduction to the game of Pickleball but honestly never really gave it a try until near the end of 2019 where the gym I belong to started setting up nets on the basketball courts and letting members play some pickleball. I gave it a try and began to enjoy the unique characteristics of competition, exercise and particularly the social element that makes Pickleball such a perfect combination of sport & relationship. As the Covid-19 Pandemic took hold I needed to find new ways to get exercise since the gyms were closed and it was getting boring working out in my backyard alone. So, I added Pickleball to my routine and fell in love with the game. But that still was no reason to start a Pickleball company.

        As 2021 rolled in, things began to get back to normal and my gym facility was fully open, and we returned to our organized indoor soccer league with friends that have been playing together for close to a decade. It was after a Monday evening match while having a beer with other players that I joked to one of my friends that had started a batting glove company with his son 2 years prior that he should share his designer and manufacturer with me, and I would create a world class pickleball glove. He said sure, here you go and good luck. Well, even as I fired of an email halfway around the world to inquire about glove design, I didn’t really think launching a Pickleball brand was in my future. But the response from the designer and factory was so great and the process of researching and designing the glove was so fun and natural that the next thing I knew I was placing an order for our first shipment of Pickleball Gloves.

        Well, that was August 1st 2021 and we officially launched Cuzina Pickleball’s online store (www.cuzina.us) on November 23rd 2021.  Through a series of other relationships with friends we were also able to quickly add top quality compression arm sleeves, a line of performance socks as well as design some great t-shirts utilizing high quality tri-blend fabric. Another unexpected development is that during this process, my kids became interested in the project and are now involved in different aspects of the company. This process has become one of the most educational and rewarding of my life and together we can’t wait to see where this takes us in the years to come.

        November 22, 2021 — Chris McKinzie