Pickleball etiquette: Know the rules before you play
Let's break down the rules.
Pickleball is a sport that resembles the combination of tennis, badminton and table tennis. Though not as popular as badminton, it is a favourite pastime activity for some people in Malaysia so far as to have its own organisation.
Malaysia Pickleball Association founder, Farrell Choo, 56 describes pickleball as an incredibly accessible sport that anyone can pick up, regardless of age or skill level.
As the sport continues to grow in popularity, understanding the rules and having a good sense of court etiquette becomes key to making sure everyone has a blast while playing. So grab a paddle, invite some friends, and let’s dive into the basics of this exciting game!
SCORING SYSTEM
According to Choo, there are two types of scoring in pickleball, including the traditional scoring of 0-0-2 or rally scoring.
Rally scoring simply means that points are awarded to the player who wins the rally, regardless of who served. This applies to both singles and doubles play.
In doubles, after a fault—like failing to return the pickleball to the diagonal service box opposite the server or hitting it out of bounds—the serve switches to the next player on the team.
“Familiarising with these scoring systems helps players to dictate how points are accumulated throughout the game,” says Choo.
SIMPLE BUT MANDATORY RULES TO FOLLOW
- Double bounce rule
Choo explained that players receiving the serve must let the pickleball bounce before hitting it. Additionally, players are not allowed to return the serve or hit the ball while standing in the non-volley zone, known as the "kitchen," which is a seven-foot area from the net.
If the pickleball bounces inside a player’s court without crossing the net to the opponent’s side during a rally, it is considered a fault.
- Body position during serving
Before serving, one foot must be positioned behind the baseline. The serve itself should be executed with an underhand motion, keeping the paddle below the waist, specifically below the navel area, at all times.
It’s important that the server does not step on or over the baseline while serving.
Choo clarified that serving and rallying have different rules: serving initiates the game and follows specific guidelines, while rallying is simply hitting the ball back and forth after the serve. During rallies, the double bounce rule and the under-the-waist serving rule do not apply.
EXCEPTIONAL RULE OF 'LET' SERVE
According to Choo, a 'let' serve occurs when the pickleball hits the net but still lands in the correct serving box. This situation is not counted as a fault, and the server is allowed to “re-serve.”The let serve rule only applies during the serve and not during rallies.
Although this rule was initially discontinued in 2021, it is still in effect in the Professional Pickleball Association (PPA) Tour.
Choo also mentioned that players can enjoy pickleball at any time throughout the day, with average play sessions lasting between one to three hours, depending on how quickly players reach the target scores.
TARGET SCORE TO WIN
Typical target scores in pickleball are 11, 15, or 21 points. In singles play, whether you are serving or receiving, players usually determine who starts by either rallying or using a coin toss, needing to reach scores like 0-2.
The rule states that the winning team must always be ahead by at least two points, with serves alternating between teams depending on whether a player commits a fault.
If the server does not commit a fault, they can continue to score points until reaching the designated target score to win the game.
In doubles, where each team consists of two players, the scoring format changes to 0-0-2. The key difference in doubles is that if the first server makes a fault while serving, the second player on the team will then take their turn to serve.
The rest of the rules are generally the same as in singles. “Understanding these rules is crucial for gameplay and match dynamics,” Choo said.
