RULES

Pickleball is a fun and fast-paced racket sport that combines elements of tennis, badminton, and ping-pong. The game is played on a court with a net similar to that used in tennis.

The game is usually played in doubles, with two players on each side of the net.

The objective of the game is to hit a lightweight ball over the net and into the opponent’s court, with the aim of making it difficult for the opponent to return the ball.

Points are scored when the opposing is unable to return the ball, and the first team to reach 11 points, with a lead of at least two points, wins the game.

Here’s the overview:

Serving	The serve must be made underhand, with the server standing behind the baseline. The ball must be hit below the waist, and must land in the opposite service court. The serve must clear the non-volley zone, which is a seven-foot area on each side of the net.
Double Bounce Rule	The receiving team must let the serve bounce once before returning it. After the serve, both teams must let the ball bounce once before hitting it. This is called the double bounce rule.
Let Serves	If the ball hits the net during a serve and lands in the correct service court, the serve is considered a let and is replayed.
Non-Volley Zone	Players cannot hit the ball while standing inside the non-volley zone, which is the seven-foot area on each side of the net. However, they may enter the zone after the ball has bounced in it.
Switching Sides	At the end of each game, players switch sides of the court.
Scoring	Points are scored only by the serving team. The first team to reach 11 points, with a lead of at least two points, wins the game.
Faults	A fault is committed if the ball is hit out of bounds, does not clear the net, or lands in the non-volley zone on a serve. A fault also occurs if a player steps into the non-volley zone and hits the ball while standing in it.

Faults

In pickleball, a fault occurs when a rule violation is committed during play. Here are some common instances of faults and their consequences:

Serve Fault:

If the serve does not land in the correct service court, fails to clear the net, or lands in the non-volley zone (kitchen), it is considered a fault. The serving team loses the serve, and the opposing team gains the opportunity to serve.

Non-Volley Zone (NVZ) Fault:

If a player steps into the non-volley zone and hits the ball while standing inside it, it is a fault. The opposing team is awarded the point, regardless of the outcome of the shot.

Out-of-Bounds Fault:

If the ball lands outside the boundaries of the court, it is considered out-of-bounds. The opposing team earns the point, and the serving team loses the serve.

Double Bounce Rule Fault:

Both teams must let the ball bounce once on each side before hitting it after the serve. If a player hits the ball before it bounces, it results in a fault, and the opposing team gains the point.

Foot Fault:

If a player steps on or over the baseline or sideline during the serve, it is a foot fault. The serving team loses the serve, and the opposing team takes over the serve.

Fault on Let Serve:

If the serve hits the net and lands in the correct service court, it is called a let serve. In this case, the serve is replayed without any penalty.