Pickleball (USAP) — Official Rules

Pickleball is played on a court the size of a badminton court using a solid paddle and a perforated plastic ball hit over a modified tennis net. It may be played as singles (one player per side) or doubles (two players per side). A point is scored by serving the ball and winning the rally; in the provisional rally-scoring option a point is scored by whichever side wins each rally. The match is decided by winning the prescribed number of games (typically best 2-of-3 games to 11, win by 2).

USA Pickleball (USAP) is the National Governing Body of American pickleball and publishes the Official Rulebook. The rulebook is organized into parts: standard-play and tournament-play rules applicable to all play, additional tournament-only rules for USA Pickleball sanctioned tournaments, and rules for players with disabilities (wheelchair and adaptive standing) that modify the general rules. The first official rulebook was published in March 1984; the rulebook is updated annually with an effective date of January 1.

The court is a rectangle measuring 20 feet (6.10 m) wide and 44 feet (13.41 m) long for both singles and doubles. Court measurements are made to the outside edge of the perimeter and non-volley-zone lines. All lines should be 2 inches (5.08 cm) wide, the same color and clearly contrasting with the surface. The minimum recommended playing surface is 30 ft × 60 ft, with 34 ft × 64 ft recommended for new construction and tournament play.

The baselines run parallel to the net at each end; the sidelines are perpendicular to the net. The centerline runs down the center of each end from the non-volley-zone line to the baseline, separating the right and left service courts. Each service court is bounded by and includes its adjacent baseline, sideline and centerline. The serving areas are the areas behind the baseline, bounded by the imaginary extensions of the adjacent sideline and the centerline.

The non-volley zone (NVZ), commonly called the "kitchen", is the 7-foot by 20-foot (2.13 m × 6.10 m) area of the court adjacent to each side of the net. The NVZ lines run parallel to the net, 7 feet (2.13 m) from the net on each end, between the two sidelines. All lines that bound the non-volley zone are part of the zone. The non-volley zone is two-dimensional and does not extend above the playing surface.

The net is made of mesh fabric that will not allow a ball to pass through, at least 21 feet 9 inches (6.63 m) long and 30 inches (76.2 cm) tall from bottom to top, with a 2-inch white tape edging along the top cord. The top of the net must be 36 inches +/- 0.25 in (91.44 cm) above the surface at the sidelines and 34 inches +/- 0.25 in (86.36 cm) at the center. Posts should be 22 ft +/- 1.0 in apart (inside-to-inside) with a maximum diameter of 3 inches; a center strap may be used to set the center height.

The ball must be a perforated plastic ball whose design is approved by USA Pickleball per the Equipment Standards Manual, with the complete list of approved balls posted on the USAP website. It must be one uniform color (except identification markings), carry a manufacturer or supplier name/logo, and be made of durable, smooth, untextured molded material (a slight seam ridge is allowed). Balls with larger holes are customarily used indoors and balls with smaller holes outdoors; all approved balls are acceptable for either.

The paddle must carry a clearly marked brand and model name/number and the "USA Pickleball Approved" seal or text treatment, and must appear on the USA Pickleball Approved Paddle List for sanctioned play. Combined length plus width must not exceed 24 inches (60.96 cm) and length must not exceed 17 inches (43.18 cm); there is no restriction on thickness or weight. The hitting surface must be rigid and non-compressible and must not have holes, rough texturing, sandpaper characteristics, rubber, moving parts that increase head momentum, anti-skid/spin-enhancing coatings, or a reflective finish. Only specified alterations (edge-guard or weighted tape, OEM grips/weights/faces, grip wrap, identification markings) are allowed.

In standard scoring, a point is scored only by serving the ball and winning the rally — the receiving side cannot score (Rule 4.A). When the serving team loses a rally it is a side out (in singles, or after the second server in doubles) and service passes; no point is awarded to the receiver. Games are normally played to 11 points, win by 2; tournament standard options include best 2-of-3 or best 3-of-5 games to 11, or a single game to 15 or 21 — all win by 2.

Under the provisional rally-scoring option (Rule 14.A), a point is scored by whichever side wins each rally, whether serving or receiving. For 2026 the old restriction that the game-winning point could be scored only by the serving team was removed: a receiving side may now win the game on its rally. In doubles rally scoring only one player serves before a side out and the score is called as two numbers. Tournament rally-scoring formats are one game, or best 2-of-3 or best 3-of-5 games, to 11, 15 or 21 points (win by 2).

Rally scoring remains a provisional format for 2026. A Tournament Director may use rally scoring except for double-elimination doubles events, all 2026 USA Pickleball Golden Ticket events, and the 2026 USA Pickleball National Championship events, which must use standard scoring. For inclement weather the Director may approve a game to 7 points with an end change at 4. USA Pickleball will decide in 2027 whether to extend, make permanent, or discontinue rally scoring in sanctioned play.

The first singles player or doubles team to score the winning point wins the game (Rule 4.B). A match is decided by winning the required number of games for the chosen format (e.g., best 2-of-3 games). All scoring options are win by two points, except win by one point is permitted for team play.

In singles the server's positions are set by the server's score: when the score is zero or even the serve is made from the right serving area into the opponent's right service court, and when the score is odd from the left. The player keeps serving, alternating right and left after each point won, until losing a rally; a lost rally is a side out and service passes to the opponent.

In standard doubles, both players on a team serve before a side out is declared. After each side out, service begins with the player correctly positioned on the right side according to the team's score; this player is the first server and the partner is the second server. The first server serves (alternating right/left after each point won) until the team loses a rally, then the second server serves until the team loses again, producing a side out. The serving and receiving positions for each rally are determined by the team's score (even = starting server on the right).

At the start of each game, only the starting server serves before a side out — that team's player serves as the "second server" for the team's first service rotation, so a single lost rally results in a side out. This prevents the team that serves first in a game from gaining an extra service turn.

The score must be called before the serve is hit. In singles it is called as two numbers: server's score, then receiver's score. In standard doubles it is called as three numbers: serving team's score, receiving team's score, then the server number (1 or 2) — e.g., "4-2-1". In rally scoring the score is called as two numbers (server's score, then receiver's score). A player may stop a rally to ask for a score correction only before the return of serve is hit and before the ball becomes dead; doing so on a correctly called score is a fault.

When the serve is hit: at least one of the server's feet must be in contact with the playing surface within the correct serving area (a serve with both feet off the surface is a fault); neither foot may touch the court (i.e., on or inside the baseline); and neither foot may touch the playing surface outside the correct serving area (beyond the imaginary extensions of the sideline or centerline). Each is a foot-fault against the server.

The server must release the ball using only one hand or only the paddle, and the release must be visible to the receiver. Some natural rotation is expected, but the server must not manipulate the ball to add spin with the body or paddle before hitting it (the ball may be allowed to roll off the paddle face by gravity). For 2026 it is clarified that spin may be applied to the ball at the moment of paddle contact — i.e., paddle-imparted spin during the serve is legal; only pre-contact hand manipulation is prohibited. The receiver may call for a replay before returning the serve if an illegal release or non-visible release occurred.

A volley serve is hit out of the air without bouncing. For 2026 all three requirements must be clearly met when the paddle contacts the ball: (1) the paddle must be moving in a clear upward arc; (2) the highest point of the paddle head must clearly not be above the highest part of the server's wrist joint; and (3) the ball must clearly be no higher than the server's waist. Adding the word "clearly" makes the rule stronger and more enforceable — in officiated matches a borderline serve that is too close to call is ruled a fault rather than given the benefit of the doubt. The serve may be made forehand or backhand.

A drop serve is made by dropping the ball and hitting it after it bounces. The ball must be released from a natural (unaided) height and must not be propelled (thrown, pushed or spun) in any direction before the serve. There is no restriction on the number of bounces or where the ball bounces on the playing surface before it is struck, and the volley-serve restrictions (upward arc, paddle-below-wrist, contact-below-waist) do not apply to a drop serve. The serve may be forehand or backhand. Propelling the ball or an aided release is a fault.

The serve must be hit diagonally to the service court opposite the server's correct position, and the ball must clear the opponent's non-volley zone (with or without touching the net) and land in the correct service court. It is a fault if the served ball: lands outside the correct service court; lands in the non-volley zone or on the NVZ line; contacts a permanent object before landing; or touches the server or server's partner. If a served ball touches the receiver or receiver's partner before landing, it is a fault on the receiving side. A served ball that touches the net and still lands correctly is in play — there is no service let in pickleball.

The serve and the return of serve must each bounce before being returned. The receiving side must let the serve bounce once before hitting it, and the serving side must let the return of serve bounce once before hitting it. Failing to allow the required bounce is a fault against the offending side. After these two bounces, the ball may be volleyed (struck out of the air) or played off a bounce. This rule neutralizes the serve-and-volley advantage and extends rallies.

All volleys must be initiated outside the non-volley zone. A player, or anything in contact with the player, may stand in or touch the NVZ at any time except during the act of volleying. It is a fault if a volleying player, or anything in contact with that player (including the partner), touches the NVZ — including the NVZ line — while volleying. The "act of volleying" begins when the ball is struck out of the air and ends when the player's follow-through momentum stops.

If a volleying player's momentum causes the player to contact anything (including the partner) that is touching the non-volley zone — even after the ball becomes dead — it is a fault. After contacting the NVZ, a player may not volley a ball until both feet have re-established contact with the playing surface completely outside the non-volley zone; volleying before doing so is a fault.

A ball contacting any part of a line is "in", with the key exception that a served ball landing on the non-volley-zone line is "out" (a fault), because a serve must clear the NVZ. A ball is "out" only when it lands completely outside the relevant line. Players must not call a ball "out" unless they can clearly see space between the line and where the ball hit; otherwise it is in.

Players are responsible for calling balls on their own side of the net, and must signal an "out" ball promptly by voice and/or hand signal. Out-call timing (2026): if a player returns the ball, the "out" call must be made before the opponent hits the ball or before the ball becomes dead, otherwise play continues; if a player does not return the ball, an "out" call made promptly is recognized even if the ball has just become dead — closing the old loophole of delaying a call until the next serve. Benefit of the doubt goes to the opponent. When doubles partners disagree on a call, conflict exists and the team's call is "in".

A fault ends the rally (dead ball) and results in a point or side out depending on the scoring system. Faults include: a ball hit into the net or that fails to cross; a ball that lands out of bounds; failing to return the ball before its second bounce; violating the two-bounce rule; a non-volley-zone violation; volleying before the ball has bounced twice as required; a ball that hits a player (other than the paddle or the hand below the wrist holding it); or a player or anything worn/carried touching the net, net posts, or the opponent's court while the ball is live.

A ball may be hit more than once by the same player, provided the stroke is continuous and in a single direction. For 2026 this is extended beyond a double hit: triple or more consecutive contacts are legal if they occur in one continuous, single-direction motion. It is a fault if the stroke is not continuous or not in a single direction, or if both partners strike the ball while attempting to return it (two-player hit).

A ball may be returned around the outside of the net post (it need not travel above net height), but it must not be hit between the net and the post or under the net. A player or anything worn/carried may cross the plane of the net after hitting the ball, provided contact was first made on the player's own side. Clarified for 2026: when a ball legally crosses the net, bounces in the opponent's court, and then — due to spin or wind — touches the net post, the rally is awarded to the player who hit the shot (it is not an automatic fault).

An extra ball carried by a player during a rally must not be visible to the opponent and must remain in the player's possession. For 2026 it is a fault when an extra ball carried by a player becomes visible to an opponent or falls to the playing surface while the ball is live — even if it is only slightly peeking out of a pocket. This eliminates distractions that could cause opponents to mistrack the ball in play.

A player must use and carry only one paddle during a rally and must have possession of the paddle when it contacts the ball. A player must not catch or carry the ball on the paddle. A completely missed shot leaves the ball live. If a ball becomes broken or cracked, play continues to the end of the rally and the rally is replayed only if all players agree the defect affected the outcome.

Each singles player or doubles team is allowed two standard time-outs per 11-point and 15-point game, and three time-outs for a 21-point game. Each time-out lasts a maximum of one minute. A time-out may be called between rallies before the next serve, or between games, by any player on the team, called audibly and/or by hand signal toward the opponents and the referee. Calling a time-out after the serve has been hit is a fault.

A player needing medical attention may request one medical time-out per match (not before the match starts). The referee summons on-site medical personnel; a 15-minute timer starts when assistance arrives, and play must resume within that period. A player who cannot resume after the 15 minutes is retired; in doubles, the partner may elect to continue (the retired player must leave the playing surface). For 2026, if a player rescinds the request after medical personnel are summoned but before they arrive, a standard time-out is charged instead (or a technical foul for delay if none remain).

Between games of a match the referee calls a time-out of a maximum of two minutes, during which players change ends and switch initial service for the next game (a team may change its starting server). Players may request to use one or both standard time-outs before the next game. The allowed time between matches is 10 minutes, and players must report to the court within 10 minutes after a match is called.

In best-of-3 or best-of-5 matches, players change ends between games (Rule 11.3). In a single-game match or a tie-breaker game, the referee calls an end-change time-out when the first side reaches 6 points (game to 11), 8 points (game to 15), or 11 points (game to 21); for the inclement-weather 7-point game the change is at 4 points. Play continues with the same server after the end change, with a maximum of one minute to switch ends.

Penalties follow a ladder of escalating severity. A Verbal Warning is a non-punitive caution for minor unsportsmanlike behavior; a Technical Warning is a punitive warning for minor misconduct (only one verbal warning per match) — neither changes the score, server or side. A Technical Foul is assessed for extreme unsportsmanlike conduct (e.g., dangerous paddle/ball abuse, profanity, objectionable language) and removes one point from the offender (or adds a point to the opponent if the offender is at zero). A receiving side can therefore win a game if the serving side, with the receiver one point from victory, is assessed a technical foul. Warnings and fouls may be issued any time players are near the court, including before the match starts (2026).

A referee may impose a match forfeit for a defined combination of technical warnings/fouls, or for dangerous paddle or ball abuse that strikes a person or damages property. The Tournament Director may eject or expel a player from the venue for injury to a person through paddle/ball abuse or other physical violence, or willful damage to the venue, at any time the player is at the venue (clarified for 2026). Also for 2026: spectators must not be consulted on any line call (changed from "should not"); in a non-officiated match the offended side may summon the Head Referee or Tournament Director, and in an officiated match the referee may issue a warning or technical foul.

The 2026 rulebook formalizes the Adaptive Standing division (Section 25.B) for standing players with a permanent physical disability significantly affecting mobility, balance or coordination (e.g., above-knee amputation, cerebral palsy, stroke, players using crutches or braces) who do not use a wheelchair; eligibility may be self-assessed. Assistive devices (prosthetics, braces, crutches, canes) are treated as part of the body but must not strike the ball. Eligible players may use a two-bounce allowance — letting the ball bounce twice before returning it, with the second bounce landing anywhere on the playing surface — but must declare it before the match and use it the whole match; failing to return before a third bounce is a fault.

Wheelchair rules are consolidated for 2026 in a dedicated section (25.A). The wheelchair is considered part of the player's body, with the large rear wheels treated like a standing player's legs for positioning. A player must keep at least one buttock in contact with the seat when striking the ball, and lower extremities must not touch the ground or a wheel while the ball is live. A wheelchair player may use a two-bounce allowance (return before the third bounce, second bounce anywhere). When serving, both large rear wheels must be on the surface behind the baseline; the front wheels and stabilizers may contact the non-volley zone, but a rear wheel contacting the NVZ while volleying is a fault. Players may partner with standing, adaptive standing or wheelchair players (hybrid doubles).