So you’ve heard about pickleball, the fast-paced and exciting sport that combines elements of tennis, badminton, and table tennis. Now, you’re ready to take on the challenge of playing singles. But before you step onto the court, it’s essential to familiarize yourself with the pickleball rules for singles. In this article, we’ll break down the rules, from scoring to serving, ensuring you’re ready to show off your skills and have a blast on the pickleball court. Get ready to become a pickleball pro!
Pickleball Rules Singles
Pickleball, a fun and fast-paced game, is gaining popularity across the globe. If you’re interested in playing singles pickleball, it’s important to familiarize yourself with the rules of the game. In this article, we will walk you through the various aspects of the game, including court and equipment, serving, scoring, non-volley zone, faults, in-bounds and out-of-bounds, player positions, service receiving, and change of ends. Let’s dive in!
Court and Equipment
Court Dimensions
A pickleball court is 20 feet wide and 44 feet long. It is divided into two equal halves by a non-volley zone, which we will discuss further later in the article.
Net Height
The net is positioned in the middle of the court, and its height should be 36 inches at the sidelines and 34 inches at the center.
Pickleball Equipment
To play singles pickleball, you will need a paddle and a pickleball. The paddle is similar to a table tennis paddle, but larger in size. The pickleball resembles a wiffle ball, with small holes on its surface for reduced air resistance.
Serving
Service Order
At the beginning of a game, a coin toss will determine the server. The server will then serve for all the even-numbered points until they lose the serve.
Service Position
The server must stand behind the baseline, with at least one foot keeping contact with the ground until the ball is struck.
Ball Contact
When serving, the ball must be hit underhand, below the server’s waist, with the paddle below the wrist.
Faults on Serve
A serve will be considered a fault if it fails to clear the non-volley zone, lands outside the boundaries of the opponent’s court, or is not made diagonally crosscourt.
Scoring
Starting Score
The starting score in singles pickleball is always 0-0.
Server’s Score
The server will earn a point if they win a rally. In singles, the server’s score will correspond to an odd number serve, such as 1, 3, 5, and so on.
Receiver’s Score
The receiver will earn a point if they win a rally. In singles, the receiver’s score will correspond to an even number serve, such as 2, 4, 6, and so on.
Score Announcements
The server is responsible for announcing their own score before each serve, starting with 0. The receiver should then announce their score after.
Side Out
A “side out” occurs when the server fails to win a rally. In singles, the server’s side out will result in the serve switching to their opponent.
Non-Volley Zone
Definition
The non-volley zone, also known as the “kitchen,” is a 7-foot area on both sides of the net. Players are not allowed to volley or hit the ball out of the air within this zone.
Volleying in Non-Volley Zone
Volleying, or hitting the ball before it bounces, is not permitted within the non-volley zone. Players are required to allow the ball to bounce before hitting it when they are inside the kitchen.
Faults in Non-Volley Zone
If a player volleys the ball while in the non-volley zone or touches the non-volley zone with any part of their body or paddle during a volley, it will result in a fault.
Faults
Definition
A fault occurs when a player violates the rules of the game. There are various types of faults, including those related to serving, non-volley zone violations, and hitting balls out of court.
Common Faults
Some common faults in singles pickleball include stepping on or over the baseline during a serve, not hitting the ball underhand, hitting the ball before it has bounced once on each side, volleying within the non-volley zone, and hitting the ball out of bounds.
Serving Faults
Service Foot Faults
A service foot fault occurs when the server steps on or over the baseline while serving. This will result in a fault.
Hits Outside of Court
If the server hits the ball over the side boundaries or past the baseline, it will be considered out of bounds, resulting in a fault.
Double Bounce Rule
In pickleball, the ball must bounce once on each side after the serve before players can start volleying. If a player fails to let the ball bounce once on each side, it will result in a fault.
In-Bounds and Out-of-Bounds
Boundaries
The boundaries of a pickleball court are defined by the sidelines, the baseline, and the non-volley zone lines.
Balls In or Out
During a rally, if the ball lands on or inside the boundary lines, it is considered in play. However, if the ball lands outside the boundary lines, it will be deemed out of bounds.
Playable Area
The playable area of the court includes the entire court, excluding the non-volley zone. Players can move freely within this area during the game.
Player Positions
Serving Team Positions
In singles pickleball, the server stands in the right-hand service box when serving the odd-numbered points and in the left-hand service box when serving the even-numbered points.
Receiving Team Positions
The receiver stands in the diagonal service box, opposite to where the server is positioned, on both even and odd-numbered points.
Change of Ends
When to Change Ends
Players will change ends of the court after the first and every subsequent odd-numbered point in the game.
Procedure for Changing Ends
When changing ends, players walk around the net posts and proceed to their designated service positions on the opposite side of the court.
By familiarizing yourself with these singles pickleball rules, you can confidently step onto the court and enjoy an exciting game. Remember, the rules not only ensure fairness but also make the game more enjoyable for all players. So grab your paddle, find a court, and have a fantastic time playing singles pickleball!
