How to get into pickleball

Pickleball is having a moment—and for good reason! This fun and fast-paced sport is easy to learn, social, and a fantastic way to stay active. When Chad and I picked up paddles in May 2023, our lives changed: pickleball has quickly become one of my favorite sports.

And, it’s one of our favorite ways to spend time together!

It’s silly goofy fun, easy to learn, and accessible for just about anyone! It’s icing on the cake that pickleball is also incredible exercise.

Whether you’re looking for a casual way to get moving or a competitive outlet, pickleball has something for everyone. If you’re ready to get started, this guide introduces the basics of the sport.

Here’s what you need to know to get into pickleball.

How to play pickleball

Pickleball is played on a court similar in size to a badminton court with a net that is slightly lower than a tennis net. It’s essentially a cross between tennis and ping pong, and is played with a ball similar to a wiffle ball.

The gist: pickleball can be played as singles (one-on-one) or doubles (two-on-two). Each game consists of three matches, typically played to 11 points.

You can only score while serving, and you have to win by 2 points. The game starts with an underhand serve and follows a set of simple but unique rules.

Basic pickleball rules

• Serving. The serve must be underhand from behind the line, and hit diagonally into the opponent’s service box. The ball must clear the “kitchen” (non-volley zone) and land within bounds.
• Double Bounce Rule. After the serve, the receiving team must let the ball bounce before returning it, and then the serving team must let it bounce before playing their shot. After these two bounces, players can volley (hit the ball before it bounces) or play off the bounce.

Note: this is the hardest rule to learn and remember. But once you’ve got it down, it becomes second nature!

• The Kitchen (non-volley zone). Players cannot volley while standing in the kitchen, which extends seven feet from the net on both sides. Additionally, our momentum cannot bring you into the kitchen after an overhead hit.
• Scoring. Only the serving team can score. Service alternates players each time there’s a loss of serve. Games are typically played to 11 points, and a team must win by at least two points. Scores must be announced before every serve.
• Boundaries. If it hits the line, it’s in!

Doubles serving

There are a few things that are unique to serving when playing doubles.

Who serves first

Games will typically start with a volley to decide who serves first. Whoever wins the volley starts the game, 0-0.

Serving order

The player on the right side serves first. If they win the point, the serving players rotate sides, so that the same player serves from the left side. This rotation continues until the rally is stopped. This rule makes the serving process more fair, in that both sides get a chance to stop the rally.

If the serve is stopped, the left-side player serves from the left side, without switching.

Score announcing

The score is announced before every volley, as: serving team score – receiving team score – current serve position (1 or 2, depending on if you served first or second).

For the very first serve of the game, the player on the right side of the court serves first, but is labeled as the second server to ensure no unfair advantage. The call out is “0-0-2.” After their rally ends, the other side gets to begin, business as usual.

This is known as the “first server exception rule.” This is another confusing element of pickleball, but quickly becomes second nature after a couple tries.

Switching serves

Additionally in doubles, both players on the serving team get a chance to serve before the serve switches to the opponents.

Game sequence example

To illustrate the rules, let’s run a sequence example with Team A and Team B in a doubles pickleball match, starting from the first serve.

• Team A’s server, on the right side, announces the score as 0-0-2. From there, they serve to Team B’s cross-court player.
• From their location at the rear of the court, the returner from Team B gives the ball one bounce (the first bounce) before giving it back to Team A.
• The player on Team A must wait for the ball to bounce again (the second bounce) before continuing play.
• Team A scores a point because Team B does not return the ball.
• Team A’s server moves to the left side of the court and serves again, after announcing the score: 1-0-2.
• Team B stops the volley. They begin serving, starting with the player on the right-hand side. They begin 0-1-1. The rally is stopped, so Team B’s second player serves, announcing 0-1-2.
• The game continues until one side has a two-point lead and reaches eleven points, at which point they win.

Pickleball equipment

Getting started with pickleball doesn’t require a ton of gear, making it an accessible sport for beginners.

Here’s what you’ll need.

Pickleball paddle

Smaller than a tennis racket but larger than a ping-pong paddle, pickleball paddles come in different materials like composite, fiberglass, and graphite.

Note: we started out with cheap paddles, and then upgraded when we felt ready to really commit! And they really do make all the difference. I do not recommend using wood paddles.

This is the paddle I have, and this is the one Chad has. We saved our Amazon paddles for whenever we have guests visiting! You can also find affordable pickleball paddles at Target and Dick’s Sporting Goods.

Pickleball balls

These lightweight plastic balls resemble wiffle balls and have different designs for indoor and outdoor play.

Most courts require you to bring your own. These are the ones we use!

Pickleball shoes

Court shoes or tennis shoes with good grip and lateral support are ideal to prevent injury.

While any tennis shoes work for pickleball, Chad and I both have rubber-soled shoes designed for indoor play. My pair is by Ryka, and Chad’s are from Head.

Athletic clothing

Wear breathable, athletic attire that allows for easy movement. My go-to is a pair of shorts and a t-shirt!

Pickleball bag

While not required (a backpack can easily do the trick), a pickleball bag is a nice touch! Here are a few options:

• Quilted cross-body bag
• Tote with shoe / paddle compartments
• Duffel tote bag
• Large backpack
• Pickleball tote bag

Bonus: a net

We quickly found that some parks have pickleball courts, but not always pickleball nets. We kept running into bring-your-own-net situations, so we decided to go ahead and buy one.

Ours is from Amazon: we chose it because it’s full size, pretty affordable, and pretty easy to set up. We’ve only used it a couple times, but it works!

Tips for getting started

If you’re new to pickleball, here are some tips to help you ease into the game and improve quickly.

Find a league. This is what we did! It was the quickest way to immerse ourselves and learn on the go. Plus, it breaks that initial barrier of entry of playing with strangers.

Stick with it. The first couple of times, pickleball can feel a little goofy. You will improve! Quickly! It might take a couple sessions, but you will notice rapid adjustments when you figure out how to control the paddle and how the game works.

Find a clinic. If you can, seek out a lesson or skills clinic. Many pickleball facilities and clubs offer them, and there’s usually coaches advertising all over the place.

Player skills rating. FYI: pickleball skills levels are rated from 1.0 to 5.5+, with 1.0 being a beginner and 5.5+ being a professional. Ratings are based on how well a player understands the game and executes shots. Learn more here.

Practice the basics. As you’re learning, focus on getting comfortable with your serve, return, and positioning. The rest, like spin, placement, and technique, will come naturally as you get more comfortable with your skills.

Don’t be afraid to play doubles. When you’re out and about, accept invites to play! They might be better than you, and that’s okay—that’s how you get better.

Don’t take yourself too seriously. I repeat: pickleball is silly goofy fun! Emphasis on the silly goofy. You’ll make mistakes, hit wildly, and whiff. That’s part of learning, so lean into the process.

Let’s pickle!

Pickleball is an exciting and accessible sport that’s perfect for players of all ages and skill levels. With simple rules, minimal equipment, and a welcoming community, it’s easy to see why it’s becoming so popular.

If you ever want to play, let me know! I’m always down to play a game of pickleball.