Use a paddle and a perforated pickleball ball on a court with a net
Stand behind the baseline and serve diagonally to the opposite service court
Keep both feet behind the baseline when serving
Serve underhand with the paddle below the waist
Hit the ball so it clears the net and lands in the correct diagonal service box
Use the right-hand rule for the first serve of the game: serve from the right side when your score is even, from the left side when your score is odd
Continue serving in the same pattern until a fault occurs
Only the serving team scores points
The serve is made by the serving side only; partners alternate serves after each point won
Return the serve after it bounces once on your side
Practice the double-bounce rule: after the serve, the receiving team must let it bounce before returning, and the serving team must let the return bounce before hitting
After the double-bounce, volleys are allowed from any position except inside the non-volley zone
Stay out of the non-volley zone when volleying: do not step into the kitchen area
Hit volleys only when the paddle and your momentum do not carry you into the non-volley zone
Aim to keep the ball low over the net and within the court boundaries
Use legal shots: forehand, backhand, dinks (soft shots over the net), and lobs when needed
Keep rallies going by returning the ball before it bounces more than once on your side (after the double-bounce phase)
Win the point when the opponent fails to return the ball legally, hits the ball out of bounds, hits the net, or commits a fault
Play to the agreed winning score (commonly 11 points, win by 2; commonly 15 in some formats, win by 2)
Rotate servers correctly in doubles: only the serving team has the right to serve and score until the point is lost
Call the score and confirm who serves next before continuing