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Beginner Guide

Last updated: 9/27/23

Our Guide Covers:

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How To Get Started

You just heard about this wonderful new sport called Pickleball and you want to try it out but don’t know where to start…well here’s a quick guide to help you out!

 

  • The easiest and most efficient way to get started in pickleball is to find someone you know who is really into it. It’s incredibly likely that they will do whatever they can to give you a healthy start to the sport. Trust me; Pickleball players are always searching for new players to play with and usually have equipment you can borrow.

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  • If you are starting from scratch, we recommend learning the basic rules before hitting the local courts to play. This will allow you to pick up on the game much quicker when you first get to the court. It’s ok to only know the basics. You’ll learn the rest as you start playing with others. See our overview of the Basic Rules

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  • You’ll need basic equipment - this includes a paddle (~$50-$60 for a beginner paddle), pickleball ball (~$10 pack of 3), and some type of sturdy tennis or court shoe. If all you have are running shoes, that will work for the first few sessions but poses some risk to injury. More details on equipment down below.

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  • Next, you’ll need to find a place to play - we’ve got you covered with our list of best places to play for a beginner in the Cleveland area. See below!

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Basic Equipment

  • Starter kits - these kits typically come with two paddles, pickleballs and a carrying case. This can be great for a couple or family interested in getting started as it provides multiple pieces of equipment for a lower price point, rather than having to purchase everything individually, which tends to be more expensive.

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  • Paddle

    • Composite - We recommend getting an entry level composite paddle (~$60). This allows for a better experience as compared to a wooden paddle, in control, power, weight and a sweet spot. 

      • Selecting a paddle as a beginner is more about what you should avoid, rather than what you should get. 

      • Here are some things you should avoid:

        • Nomex and aluminum core paddles.

        • Elongated or “blade” paddles. These are the skinny looking paddles.

        • Avoid wooden paddles of any kind.

        • Paddles that are under 6.5 oz, or over 9 oz.

    • Beginner recommendation

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  • Pickleballs - A common mistake we see beginners make is using the wrong type of pickleball ball. Keep in mind there are indoor and outdoor types of pickleball balls. Check out the differences below…

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  • Net - as a beginner you shouldn’t have to worry about buying a net right away but thought we would provide some insight anyways. Sometimes you can bring your own net to a tennis court that has pickleball lines or you can tape off a court in your driveway. If you want a beginner net, it will cost around $120 - $170. I’d recommend a net that has an aluminum frame and comes with a carrying case for easy transport. 

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  • Shoes - Since in pickleball you’ll mostly do lateral movements, a proper tennis shoe or court shoe is best as they provide the most support and are sturdy. Running shoes are not ideal, as you run the risk of rolling your ankle. 

    • Here’s what you’ll find in a court shoe:

      • Flat soles and have very little treading if any at all.

      • Sometimes have a rubber or colorless sole to reduce scuffing.

      • Have support on all sides similar to a tennis shoe.

      • But often weighs less than a tennis shoe

    • A tennis shoe is similar but typically bulkier and heavier but still durable and does the job

    • Beginner recommendation - Men’s

    • Beginner recommendation - Women’s

 

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Best Places To Play As A Beginner (in Cleveland)

Here are a few places to play (indoor & outdoor) in Cleveland-Akron area where beginner’s can get introduced to the game and where there are consistent groups of players or scheduled leagues and/or lessons.

 

For a full list of places to play for beginners check out this GUIDE.

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If you think we are missing a location that would benefit a beginner, please contact us right away so we can add it.

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For more Indoor locations

refer to our full list of Weekly Indoor Times and Locations document HERE

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General Rules of the Game

We’ve put together a simple overview of the basic rules of the game, which includes videos demonstrating certain aspects of the game. Check out our How to Play page.

 

Take’s only ~10 minutes to read and watch all the videos

How to get started
Basic Equipment
Best place to play as a beginner
Generl Rules of the Game

How to Play

The following is an abbreviated form of the pickleball rules to give a quick overview of how the game is played. If there is a conflict between this summary and the official rules, the official rules prevail. The official rulebook can be found HERE

General:

  • Pickleball either is played as doubles (two players per team) or singles; doubles is most common.

  • The same size playing area and rules are used for both singles and doubles.

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The Serve:

  • The server's arm must be moving in an upward arc when the ball is struck

  • Paddle contact with the ball must not be made above the waist level.

  • The head of the paddle must not be above the highest part of the wrist at contact.

  • A "drop serve" is also permitted in which case non of the elements above apply.

  • At the time the ball is struck, the server's feet may not touch the court or outside the imaginary extension of the sideline or centerline and at least one foot must be behind the baselines on the playing surface or the ground behind the baseline

  • The serve is made diagonally crosscourt and must land within the confines of the opposite diagonal court.

  • Only one serve attempt is allowed per server. There are no lets. 

Serve
Serve Sequence

Serving Sequence:

  • Both players on the serving doubles team have the opportunity to serve and score points until they commit a fault *(except for the first service sequences of each new game).

  • The first serve of each side-out (when it changes over to the other team) is made from the right/even court

  • If a point is scored, the server switches sides and the server initiates the next serve from the left/odd court.

  • As subsequent points are scored, the server continues switching back and forth until a fault is committed and the first server loses the serve. When the first server loses the serve the partner then serves from their correct side of the court *(except for the first services sequences of the game).

  • The second server continues serving until his team commits a fault and loses the serve to the opposing team.

  • Once the service goes to the opposition (at side-out), the first serve is from the right/even court and both players on that team have the opportunity to serve and score points until their team commits two faults.

  • In singles, the server serves from the right/event court when his or her score is even and from the left/odd when the score is odd.

*At the beginning of each new game only one partner on the serving team has the opportunity to serve before faulting, after which the service passes to the receiving team.

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Scoring:

  • Points are scored only by the serving team.

  • Games are normally played to 11 points, win by 2.

  • Tournament games may be to 15 or 21, win by 2.

  • When the serving team's score is even (0,2,4,6,8,10) the player who was the first server in the game for that team will be in the right/even court when serving or receiving; when odd (1,3,5,7,9) that player will be in the left/odd court when serving or receiving.

Scoring

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Two-Bounce Rule

Two-Bounce Rule:

  • When the ball is served, the receiving team must let it bounce before returning, and then the serving team must let it bounce before returning, thus two bounces.

  • After the ball has bounced once in each team's court, both teams may either volley the ball (hit the ball before it bounces) or play it off a bounce (groundstroke).

  • The two-bounce rule eliminates the serve, volley advantage, and extends rallies.

DOUBLE-BOOUNCE-DIAGRAM.jpg
Non-Volley Zone

Non-Volley Zone (aka "the kitchen"):

  • The non-volley zone is the court area within seven feet on both sides of the net.

  • Volleying is prohibited within the non-volley zone. This rule prevents players from executing smashes from a position within the zone.

  • It is a fault if, when volleying a ball, the player steps on the non-volley zone, including the line and/or when the player's momentum causes them or anything they are wearing or carrying to touch the non-volley zone including the associated lines.

  • It is a fault if, after volleying, a player is carried by momentum into our touches the non-volley zone, even if the volleyed ball is declared dead before this happens.

  • A player may legally be in the non-volley zone any time other than when volleying a ball.

  • The non-volley zone is commonly referred to as "the kitchen.

Non-Volley-Zone_edited.jpg
Line Calls

Line Calls:

  • A ball contacting any part of any line, except the non-volley zone line on a serve, is considered "in."

  • A serve contacting the non-volley zone line is short and a fault.

Faults

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Faults:

  • A fault is any action that stops play because of a rule violation.

  • A fault by the receiving team results in a point for the serving team.

  • A fault by the serving team results in the server's loss of serve or side-out.

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Determining Serving Team:

  • Any fair method can be used to determine which player or team has first choice of side, service, or receive. (Example: a one or two on the back of the score sheet, flip a coin or your paddle).

Determine Serve
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