The kitchen, the two-bounce rule, that weird three-number score — animated so it finally clicks. Five minutes and you'll get it.
Start with the court ↓A pickleball court is 20 × 44 feet. Tap each zone (or the buttons) to see what it's for — especially the one with the strange name.
The 7-foot zone on each side of the net. The one rule that defines pickleball: you can't hit the ball out of the air while standing here. You CAN step in to hit a ball that has bounced. Games are won and lost at this line.
The rule everyone forgets in their first game. After the serve, the ball must bounce once on each side before anyone can volley. Watch it play out:
Side view. The drive is fast and flat — and easy to attack. The dink arcs softly into the kitchen, where your opponent can't swing hard. Soft wins.
Doubles scores have three numbers, and it terrifies every beginner. Tap each number below to decode it. Say it out loud before every serve and it sticks within three games.
Next stop is the Dink Lab: the crew's tips grouped by stage — first week, first month, getting to 3.5 — plus a few games to practice your timing. Then come find us at Wilson Park, Saturdays at 7 AM.
Go to the Dink Lab →New to the crew? Saturday open play details →