Small courtThe same size as a badminton court
Paddle and ballSolid paddle, light plastic ball with holes
All agesEasy to learn, gentle on the body
What is pickleball?
Pickleball mixes elements of tennis, badminton and table tennis. It's played with solid paddles and a light, perforated plastic ball on a small court with a low net, most often in doubles. Rallies are slower than tennis to start with, so beginners are playing proper points within minutes.
The basic rules
- Serve underarm and diagonally, so the ball lands in the opposite service area.
- Two-bounce rule: the serve must bounce, and so must the return. After that, players can volley.
- Stay out of the kitchen: the non-volley zone next to the net. You can't volley while standing in it.
- Games are usually played to 11, and you need to win by two points.
Social pickleball formats
Open play
Players turn up and rotate on and off the courts, so you play with and against lots of different people. It's the heart of pickleball's welcoming culture and a great way to start.
Round robins and rotating partners
Like a padel Americano, you play with a new partner each round and your points add up across the session, so everyone plays with everyone.
Ladders and social leagues
Regular sessions where results move you up or down, keeping games close and giving everyone something to play for each week.
How RallyPoint helps: we organise friendly social pickleball events, so you can just turn up and play. Our first events are coming soon: keep me posted, or bring RallyPoint to your venue.