Pickleball rules can be adjusted to singles play with a few modifications, including how scoring is called out, how many serves are allowed, and which side of the court players must serve from.
The Basic Rules for Pickleball Singles
If you want to dive into a singles game, you will need to know the basic pickleball rules, which differ in some key areas from pickleball games for doubles.
First Serve of the Game
There are multiple ways you might decide which team or player serves first. Some recreational groups designate one side of the court(s) to begin each game.
Others may use a coin flip to decide.
If a logo is on the tip of your paddle, you could spin the paddle on the ground, with the other player choosing “up” or “down.” If your opponent chooses the correct orientation of the logo, they serve first. If it is incorrect, you serve first.
Serving Rules for Singles
- Cross-Court Service: All serves must be made diagonally across the court to the opposite service box.
- Underhand Serve: Serves must be performed with an underhand motion. This means the paddle must be moving in an upward arc when the ball is struck.
- Paddle Position: The rule requires the paddle to be below the waist at the moment of contact with the ball. This is defined as the highest part of the paddle being below the wrist level.
- Serve Motion: The serve must be hit in an upward arc, which ensures the serving motion adheres to the underhand requirement.
- Serve Landing: The serve must clear the net, not touch the non-volley zone (including the line), and land in the correct diagonal service court.
- Service Attempts: Players get only one attempt per serve, except in the case of a let serve (the ball touches the net but still lands in the correct service box), which allows for a serve to be repeated without penalty.
- Position Based on Score: Players serve from the right side when their score is even and from the left side when their score is odd.
- Score Announcement: The server must call out the score before serving. In singles, the correct format is the server’s score first, followed by the receiver’s score.
- Scoring by the Server: Only the serving player can score points. If the receiving player wins the rally, they gain the serve but not a point.
- Receiving Rules: The receiving player must let the ball bounce once before returning the serve. Similarly, the server must also let the return bounce once before continuing play. This is known as the two-bounce rule.
Make sure also to check our article on what a legal serve is in pickleball.
The Non-Volley Zone or “Kitchen” Rules for Singles
The rules for the non-volley zone, also known as the “kitchen,” are the same for both singles and doubles games:
- Non-Volley Zone Dimensions: The kitchen, or non-volley zone, spans seven feet from the net on both sides of the court.
- Volley Restrictions in the Kitchen: Volleys are prohibited within the non-volley zone unless the ball has first bounced on the court.
- Line Contact After Volleying: Players must refrain from touching or crossing the non-volley zone line following a volley shot.
Two Bounce Rule
The two bounce rule is a fundamental part of pickleball, applying equally to both doubles and singles play.
Here’s a detailed explanation:
- Initial Bounces: After the serve, the ball must bounce once on the receiving side before the receiver can return it. Subsequently, the ball must bounce once again on the server’s side before the server (or the server’s partner in doubles) can return it.
- Post-Two Bounces: After these initial two bounces, players are allowed to either volley the ball in the air (without letting it bounce) or play it off a bounce.
- Non-Volley Zone Exception: Players are forbidden from volleying within the non-volley zone, regardless of the two-bounce rule’s completion. The ball must bounce once if a player is within the non-volley zone before they can hit it, ensuring fair play around the net area.
Scoring Points in Singles Pickleball
- Scoring Eligibility: In singles pickleball, only the person serving the ball can score a point.
- Side Out: If the receiver wins the rally, they do not score a point but instead gain the serve from their opponent.
This method of gameplay and scoring continues until the score reaches 11, provided there is a 2-point lead.
Faults in Singles Pickleball
Faults in singles pickleball happen under the following conditions:
- Ball Out of Bounds: Hitting the ball so it lands outside the court’s boundaries. However, if the ball lands on any part of the boundary lines, it is considered in play.
- Net Faults: The ball hitting the net and failing to go over to the opponent’s side.
- Double Bounce: The ball bouncing more than once on one side of the court before being returned.
- Serve Violations:
- Failing to serve the ball within 10 seconds after announcing the score.
- Stepping on the baseline or into the court before the ball is struck during the serve.
- Double Bounce Rule Ignored: Violating the two-bounce rule by volleying the ball (hitting it before it bounces) on either the first or second return of the game.
- Non-Volley Zone Faults: Executing a volley from within the non-volley zone, also known as “the kitchen,” or stepping into the zone during or just after hitting a volley.
Calling the Score while Playing Pickleball Singles
Calling the score in singles pickleball is simpler than in doubles:
- Score Announcement: The server is required to vocally announce two scores before serving: their own score first, followed by the opponent’s score.
- Determining Serving Side: The server’s score dictates from which side of the court the serve is made. If the server’s score is even (including zero), the serve is made from the right-hand side of the court. If the score is odd, the serve is from the left-hand side. This rule helps in maintaining a structured rotation and adds a strategic element to the serve.
- Timing: After the score has been announced, the server has 10 seconds to initiate the serve.
Rules in Pickleball: Singles vs. Doubles
A few main differences exist between pickleball singles games, and pickleball doubles games.
- Unlike doubles, service doesn’t always begin on the right side of the court in singles play. It depends on the score being even or odd.
- Each server has one serving opportunity rather than two.
- Doubles matches are always played on a full court. This is true of most singles matches as well. However, playing on only half of the court can decrease the difficulty of singles play. This is known as Skinny Singles, one of our favorite pickleball variations.
Below is a comparative table highlighting more key rules in pickleball for both singles and doubles play, offering a clear understanding of the similarities and differences between the two formats:
| Aspect | Singles Play | Doubles Play |
|---|---|---|
| Serving | Serve must be diagonal, from one side to the other. | Same as singles, with partners alternating serves after each fault. |
| Serving Side | Server alternates between right and left sides based on score. | Same principle, but also alternates between partners. |
| Score Calling | Server’s score first, then receiver’s score. | Server’s team score, receiver’s team score, serving partner’s number (1 or 2). |
| Serve Position | Based on the server’s score (even or odd). | Same as singles, with added complexity of determining which partner serves based on the sequence. |
| Point Scoring | Only the server can score points. | Only the serving team can score points. |
| Two Bounce Rule | Applies—both sides must let the ball bounce once before volleying. | Applies—same rule, ensuring the first two returns are groundstrokes. |
| Non-Volley Zone | Volleys must not be played from within the ‘kitchen’ unless the ball bounces. | Same rule applies, with strategy adjusted for team play. |
| Faults | Out-of-bounds, net faults, serve rule violations, etc. | Similar faults apply, with coordination between partners being crucial. |
| Side Out | Occurs when the server loses a rally, transferring serve to the opponent. | Same concept, but serve transitions between partners before going to the opposite team. |
| Strategy | Largely focused on individual skill and court coverage. | Emphasizes teamwork, communication, and positioning. |
Whether you’re a seasoned player or new to the game, embracing these guidelines will help you engage with pickleball at a deeper level, fostering a greater appreciation for the sport’s unique blend of simplicity and complexity.
