Created in 1965 by three Washington State families, pickleball has become a hugely popular sport around the world. The combination of badminton, tennis and table tennis is fast-paced, requiring skill, strategy and skillful execution. The basic game rules of pickleball are pretty simple, but executing them is a challenge. Whether you’re new to pickleball or an experienced player, understanding and following the five basic rules of pickleball will help you become a better player.
1. Playing the Right Side of the Court
The most important rule of pickleball is to always ensure you’re playing on the right side of the court. Pickleball courts are divided into left and right sides. So if you’re playing singles, you must always stand on the right side of the court and your opponent should stand on the left. In doubles, each team should have one player standing on the right side and one player standing on the left side.
When playing pickleball, you’ll need to be aware of where your body is in relation to the court. Always try to keep your body on the right side of the court. If you step onto the left side, you could be called in violation of the rule. This rule is especially important during doubles since both players must remain on their respective sides. Failing to do so could result in lost points.
2. Serve Placement
When it comes to serving in pickleball, placement is key. In pickleball, the server must always throw the ball in an underhand motion within the designated service zone. The zone consists of the area behind the baseline and between the server’s right and left service lines. If the server serves outside of the zone and into their opponent’s court, the point will be forfeited.
It’s important to note that the server must also hit the ball in the air. The ball can’t bounce first. If this rule is violated, the server will be faulted and the point will be lost.
3. Volleying the Ball
The volleying rule in pickleball requires the server or receiver to hit the ball before it bounces a second time on the court. This is known as a volley. If a player fails to volley the ball, they will be faulted and the point will be lost.
It’s important to note that volleying the ball is only allowed on the first serve. On all other serves, the ball must be allowed to bounce before it’s hit.
4. Doubles Play
In doubles play, each team is only allowed to hit the ball once before it goes over the net. This rule is known as the two-hit rule. If a team fails to observe this rule, the point will be forfeited.
It’s important to note that each team must alternate hits. This means one member must hit the ball and then the second member must hit the ball. If two members of the same team hit the ball consecutively, it will be considered a violation of the two-hit rule.
5. Court Boundaries
The court boundaries in pickleball must be observed at all times. In order to score, the ball must stay within the boundary lines. If it goes out of bounds or over the net, the point will be lost.
It’s important to note that the ball must stay within the court boundaries or it will be considered out of bounds. This means that the ball can’t touch the lines or the posts located on the court. If it does, it will be considered out of bounds.
Conclusion
Pickleball is a fun and fast-paced sport to play. However, in order to play the game properly, it’s important to understand and follow the five basic rules of pickleball. By following these rules, you’ll be able to become a better player and have more fun in the game.
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