Agree on the target and scoring format. This guide covers side out: only the serving team scores.
Serve diagonally
Put the serve into the opposite service court, past the kitchen. Call the score first so everyone knows who’s serving and how many points each team has.
You can use a volley serve or a drop serve, but they have different requirements. Check the USA Pickleball rulebook for the serve you’re learning and any event rules.
Let the first two shots bounce
Let the serve bounce before returning it. Then the serving team has to let your return bounce too. After that, you can volley or let the ball bounce.
Taking the return out of the air is a fault, even if it looks like an easy putaway.
You can stand in the kitchen
You just can’t volley from it. You can step in to hit a ball that has bounced. If you volley outside the kitchen, your momentum can’t carry you into it afterward.
Watch your feet on a short ball. A good hit doesn’t help if you step into the kitchen as part of the volley.
Count points on serve
Win while serving and you get a point. Win while receiving and service moves; you don’t add a point.
In doubles, that may mean the partner serves next rather than an immediate side out. The scoring guide explains the third number and why you start at 0–0–2.
Playing an event?
Follow your event’s rules for line calls, faults, and scoring.
The Jesters Sports scorer follows your rallies and service in side-out games. You still make your own line calls.
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