a) Volley Serve

At the time the paddle strikes the ball:

1. The server’s arm must be moving in an upward motion. This applies to forehand and backhand volley serves

2. The highest point of the paddle head must not be above the highest part of the wrist where the wrist joint bends at the point of contact

3. Contact must be at or below waist level.
   
   

b) Drop Serve

1. The Server must release the ball from one of their hands or drop it off their paddle face from any natural (unaided) height and hit the ball after it bounces

2. There is no restriction on how many times the ball bounces before being hit, or where it bounces on the playing surface

3. During the ball drop, you must not propel or throw the ball downwards, or it upward off your paddle

4. These rules apply to forehand and backhand drop serves.

1. Where to stand when serving – At the time you strike the ball when serving:

• Neither feet may touch the court on or inside the baseline, and you must be within the imaginary extensions of the court side and center lines.

• At least one foot must be on the playing surface (no aerial serves allowed)

2. Your serve must reach the correct service court (the service box diagonally opposite the server).

3. There is no ‘let’ in pickleball. The serve can touch the net but must clear the non-volley zone (NVZ) and the kitchen line.  Any other line on the service court is in.

4. If the serve clears the net or touches the net and then touches the receiver or the receiver’s partner, the server wins the point.

As you’re learning pickleball, it’s important to know how to score accurately.  We’ll walk you through how to keep and call the score in a doubles game as that is the way we play in the Club.

Service Order

1. Doubles Both players on a team will serve before a side out is declared, except at the start of the game when only the starting server will serve

2. The starting server in each game is designated as server two

3. A side out will occur once a rally is lost, or a fault is committed by the serving team during their second server’s service.  After a side out, service is awarded to the other team

4. The starting serve after any side out, will always be made by the player on the right (even) side of the court.  If the serving team’s score is even, the starting server will be the first server.  If the serving team’s score is odd, the other player will be the first server and the starting server will be second.

Calling the Score

When playing doubles in pickleball, the score will be called as three numbers as follows.
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1. The proper sequence for calling the score is: server score, receiver score, then, for doubles only, the server number: 1 or 2

2. To start a match, the score will be called as: zero - zero – two (0 -0 -2).  This means that as soon as the serving team commits a fault, the other team gets to serve.​​​​​​​
   
   

Two Bounce Rule

After the ball is served, each side must make one ground stroke prior to volleying the ball
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1. The receiver must let the ball bounce before returning the serve

2. The serving team must let the return of serve bounce before playing their next shot

3. From the 3^rd shot, players can volley the ball.

Non-Volley Zone (Kitchen) Rules

1. All volleys must be initiated outside the non-volley zone (the Kitchen).  If you have been in the kitchen, you must have both feet on the surface outside the non-volley zone before hitting a volley

2. It is a fault if the volleying player or anything that has contact with the volleying player touches or enters the non-volley zone while in the act of volleying.  This includes:

• The swing, the follow through, and the momentum from the volley action

• The paddle touching the non-volley zone during, before or after the contacting the ball

• The volleying player’s momentum carries them into the non-volley zone or causes the player to contact anything that is touching the non-volley zone, including their partner (even if the ball has become dead before this happens)

• The non-volley zone includes the kitchen line so be aware of your feet.

In short - you can be in the non-volley zone at any time and play a ball that has bounced in the kitchen, but when volleying the ball, you cannot make any kind of contact with the non-volley zone.

These are the rating definitions used for the 2-digit rating system used by the club in the absence of a player holding a DUPR rating.  These rating numbers do not correspond to the DUPR ratings and are intended as a guide to help you accurately self assess. See below for more on DUPR.

The Club will use this criteria to assess players who do not hold a DUPR rating to determine eligibility for performance-based club play, and for first time tournament entry.

Players can also use them to plot their pickleball own journey by self-rating, tracking progress and setting coaching goals.

Rating 1.0

• New player with basic understanding of the game and rules.

Rating 1.5

• Can hit the ball back and forth a bit
• Learning to serve
• Fails to hit easy balls frequently
• Beginning to learn the basic rules such as scoring, lines, side outs, etc.

Rating 2.0

• Sustains short rallies
• Makes basic strokes such as forehand, backhand, volley, and can serve the ball
• Understands court positioning and doubles rules

Rating 2.5

• Can sustain longer rallies but not a fast pace
• Makes most easy shots including backhands, but still needs some work
• Able to approach the non-volley zone and hit volleys.
• Aware of dinks
• Good understanding of the rules
• Struggles to cover the entire court

Rating 3.0

• Has a consistent serve and returns medium-paced balls reliably.
• Able to make all basic strokes. Lacks control when trying to place the ball.
• Attempts lobs and dinks with limited success.

Rating 3.5

• Consistent control and placement of medium-paced shots. Able to return fast-paced shots with slightly less success.
• Improved control and placement of the ball.
• Needs more shot variety.
• Can play aggressively at the non-volley zone.
• Anticipates opponent’s shots.
• Learning the strategy of doubles play.

Rating 4.0

• Consistent in both forehand and backhand strokes.
• Can use spin with some success.
• Can occasionally force errors when serving.
• May lose rallies due to impatience.
• Uses the dink and drop shot successfully.
• Demonstrates 3rd shot strategies.
• Aggressive net play in doubles.
• Full understanding of the rules.

Rating 4.5

• Beginning to master placement and spin.
• Beginning to master 3rd shot choices.
• Good footwork and positioning.
• Adjusts game style to account for opponent’s strengths/weaknesses and court position.
• Good shot selection. Does not force shots.
• Serves consistently and can vary speed and spin.
• Good court positioning. Anticipates opponent’s shot.

Rating 5.0

• Mastered all shot types. Excellent shot anticipation.
• Accurate shot placement.
• Forces errors. Limits their own unforced errors.
• Mastered dinks and drop shots.
• Mastered 3rd shot strategy.
• Mastered different strategies and can vary play style.
• Raw athletic ability is often what separates 5.0 players from the rest.

Source: Pickleball Canada 2-digit ratings for club use