INTRODUCTION TO PICKLEBALL
what is pickleball?
Fun, social and friendly. The rules are simple and the game is easy for beginners to learn, but can develop into a quick, fast-paced, competitive game for experienced players.
There is a reason so many players get hooked on this sport- its easy to start but hard to stop.
Get the basics and get started on your new obsession.
the basics
A fun sport that combines many elements of tennis, badminton and ping pong.
Played both indoors and outdoors on a badminton- sized court and a slightly modified tennis net.
Played with a paddle and a plastic ball with holes.
Played as double or singles.
Can be enjoyed by all ages and skill levels.
TRY PICKLEBALL OUT!
See if you like the unique game of pickleball!
You can try pickleball before joining the Sun City Anthem at Merrill Ranch (SCAMR) Pickleball Club and investing in a paddle.
The SCAMR Pickleball Club hosts a Welcome to Pickleball session from 12:00 noon to 2:00 pm on the second Sunday of every month for residents, running from January to the end of April. If you are interested in attending, you can register on-line by locating and clicking on the event on the Pickleball Calendar.
During the summer and fall months, please go to the Contact Us page and send us an email with the Subject “Beginner Class Request” to indicate your interest in attending a beginner session.
Members of the club will be available to teach you the basics of the game and answer any questions you might have.
More experienced players can join in a Drop-In play or talk to our Member-at-Large to determine where they would fit for round robin play. HOA members can play up to 3 times before joining the Pickleball Club.
Loaner paddles are available for checkout at the Union Center. Club members will provide the balls.
Wear tennis shoes and comfortable clothing.
See you on the courts!
“Pickleball – the fastest growing sport in America.”
MORE PICKLEBALL BASICS
The game of pickleball is usually played to a score of 11. The winning team must win by two points or play continues until one team wins by 2. In tournament play, games can be played to 15 or 21.
Pickleball is played on a badminton-sized court: 20’ x 44.’ The ball is served diagonally (starting with the Right Service Area), and points can only be scored by the side that serves.
Players on each side must let the ball bounce once before volleys are allowed, and there is a seven-foot no-volley zone on each side of the net, to prevent “spiking.” The server continues to serve, alternating service courts, until he or she faults. The first side scoring eleven points and leading by at least two points wins. Pickleball can be played with singles or doubles.
SERVING
Serves are to be made diagonally, starting with the right-hand service-square and alternating side to side after each point won. Note that only the serving team can earn a point. The serve must clear the seven-foot non-volley-zone in front of the net and land in the diagonal service court. The ball cannot touch the non-volley-zone line on the serve, otherwise it is deemed a service fault. See the definition of a fault below.
The server must keep both feet behind the back line when serving. If not performing a ‘drop-serve’, serves should be done underhand with the paddle below the waist. If performing a ‘drop-serve’, this rule does not apply. Drop-serves are now officially allowed as of 2022, where the server ‘drops’ the ball from their hand or paddle, lets it bounce and then hits the ball.
For Singles Play: The serving side will continue to serve until the there is a fault on the service.
For Doubles Play: At the start of each new game, the 1st serving team is allowed only one fault before giving up the ball to the opponents. After the initial loss of serve, both members of each team will serve and fault before the ball is turned over to the opposing team. When the receiving team wins the serve, the player in the right hand court will always start play.
As of 2021, there are no rules governing service lets. Therefore, the ball is allowed to touch the net on the serve.
FAULTS
A fault is committed when the ball:
Touches any part of the non-volley zone on the serve (including the line)
Does not land within the appropriate service area on the serve
Is hit out of bounds
Does not clear the net
Is volleyed from the non-volley zone
Is volleyed before a bounce has occurred on each side
Hits any part of a player (other than below the wrist), including clothing
VOLLEYS & DOUBLE BOUNCES
To volley means to hit a ball in the air without first letting it bounce. In pickleball, this can only be done when the player’s feet are behind the non-volley zone line (seven feet behind the net). Note: It is a fault if the player steps on the line or over the line on his volley follow-through.
The Double Bounce or the Two Bounce Rule indicates that each team must play their first shot off of the bounce. That is, the receiving team must let the serve bounce and the serving team must let the return of the serve bounce before playing it. Once these two bounces have occurred, the ball can either be volleyed or played off the bounce.
SCORING
Scoring in pickleball can be very confusing to beginners. The first rule of etiquette in pickleball is that the server and only the server should announce the score. The player that is standing in the right-hand service area of the serving side always starts. That player is server number 1 for this sequence only. The next time they get the serve, their partner may be in the right court to start and they become server number 1. Whoever starts the game in the right-hand service area will always be in this location when the team’s score is even: 0, 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10. Note that the serving team can only earn a point.
The sequence for announcing the score is as follows; serving team’s score first, opponents score second and server number third. So if the server announces 3 – 4 – 1, the serving team has 3 points, the opposing team has 4 points and server number 1 is serving. If the serving team wins a point, the score would be 4 – 4 – 1. The serving team switches sides after winning a point but the receiving team stays as is.