Mastering Pickleball: A Quick Guide to Scoring and Playing

Welcome, pickleball enthusiast! You’re about to embark on a whirlwind tour of pickleball mastery. Picture this: you stroll up to the courts, armed with this guide, ready to rock the game in under five minutes. Go on, give it a share with that buddy who could use a fast-track pickleball lesson. Let’s jump right in!

Understanding the Pickleball Court

Think of the pickleball court as a quirky jigsaw puzzle. It’s got sections like the Baseline, Sidelines, and the playful Left and Right Service Boxes. And let’s not forget the notorious 7-foot strip in front of the net called “The Kitchen.” Each game kicks off with a serve, and here’s a cool nugget: it needs to be underhand and diagonal. Serve it into the Kitchen or on its line, and it’s a no-go. But hit the Baseline or a Sideline, and you’re golden!

Serving and Returning: The Basics

Once the serve is up, the returners let it bounce before sending it back. Your return can land anywhere on their side. Here’s a snappy reminder: “Serve and stay, return and run.” The serving duo starts at the Baseline, while the returners shake things up with one player near the Kitchen line.

The Art of Positioning

After the serve and return, it’s like a strategic dance floor. The servers aim to inch up to the Kitchen line, while the returners try to keep them back. Why, you ask? Because the Kitchen is where the magic brews—points galore! Once the rally kicks off, it’s common for everyone to gravitate towards the Kitchen line, ready for some kitchen sorcery.

The Kitchen Rules: No Cooking Allowed!

The Kitchen is where the spice kicks in. No volleying if you’re in the Kitchen. If you’re behind the line, go ahead and volley, but keep your feet in check. You might see players pulling off a “dink,” a gentle shot that’s a real teaser. They’re waiting for a high ball to pounce on or a dinking blunder from their rivals. Remember, “In the Kitchen, keep it low and slow!”

Breaking Down the Scoring

Points happen when the other team sends the ball into the net, outside the lines, or lets it bounce twice. Before serving, call out the score like this: your score, their score, and server number. Only servers get to score. Both players serve before the switch, known as a “side out.”

Scoring Scenarios

Let’s paint a picture: the score’s 5-3. The first server stands in the right box and says “5-3-1.” Win, and they swap sides with their mate, changing it to “6-3-1.” Lose, and it’s the next server’s turn with “5-3-2.” After two lost rallies, the ball flips to the other team, who start with “3-5-1.” At game start, it’s “0-0-2.” Remember, you play to 21, but gotta win by two. In pickleball land, “It ain’t over till it’s over by two!”

Hit rewind if you need a replay. We’ve tucked in timestamps for smooth sailing. Thanks for tuning in, and don’t forget to hit like and subscribe to the PlayPickleball.com YouTube channel. Catch you on the court!