A Quick Guide to the Rules of Pickleball
Game Overview
Pickleball is a sport that combines elements of tennis, badminton, and ping pong, and the rules are relatively simple. Here are the basics:
- Pickleball is played on a badminton-sized court with a net that is 34 inches high at the center.
- The game is typically played as doubles, but it can also be played as singles.
- Players use a paddle to hit a small, perforated plastic ball over the net.
- The ball must be served diagonally, and the server must let the ball bounce before hitting it.
- Players can only hit the ball once before it must go over the net.
- The ball must land within the boundaries of the opponent’s court for it to be a valid point.
- The first team to reach 11 points wins, and a team must win by at least 2 points.
The sport with a kitchen
One of the rules that stands out is the “kitchen” rule. The non-volley zone, or “kitchen” is an area 7 feet from the net on both sides of the net where players are not allowed to hit the ball without it first bouncing on their side of the court. This rule is in place to prevent players from volleying the ball too close to the net, and it’s often referred to as the “kitchen” because it’s like the “no-fly zone” in a kitchen.
Another wacky rule is the “let” rule, which states that if a ball is served but touches the net before going over, it’s considered a “let” and the serve is replayed. This rule is usually considered wacky because it’s a reminder of the net ball rule in tennis and it can be frustrating for players when the ball hits the net.
Overall, the rules of pickleball are simple and easy to understand, but there are some unusual rules that make the game more challenging and a bit wacky.
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