PICKLEBALL
- Two-bounce rule: After a serve, the ball must bounce once on each side of the court before a player can hit it out of the air. This rule prevents the serving team from gaining an unfair advantage by rushing the net.
- Serving: The server must stand behind the baseline and hit the ball diagonally to the opponent’s side of the court. The serve must be underhand and the paddle must hit the ball below the waist.
- Scoring: The first player or team to reach 11 points with a 2-point margin wins. This means they must have at least two more points than the other side.
- Keeping the ball in bounds: The ball must stay in bounds.
- No volleying in “the kitchen”: Players must stay out of the no-volley zone.
PADEL
Some fundamental padel rules:
Points are started by an underarm serve before the rally is live.
Each shot must clear the net and bounce in the court before hitting the wall or cage, to be considered in.
If it hits the wall or cage without bouncing, the shot is out, and your opponents win the point.
Serves are drop serve, cross court into the opposite service box, a serve can bounce and hit the wall but if it hits the cage instead – the serve is out. You get a 2nd serve.
You’re only allowed one bounce before you have to hit the ball. If it bounces twice on your side of the court, your opponents win the point.
Scoring in padel is the same as tennis and is most commonly played as sets and games. To win one set, you have to win six games and be leading by two clear games.
Games are scored as:
- 15 – one point
- 30 – two points
- 40 – three points