Pickleball guides
Straight answers to the questions new and improving players actually ask. Written by players, the same way Dillball explains the game in the app. Start with the complete rules guide if you want the whole game in one place.
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Rules cheat sheet (PDF)
One printable page: court, serve, kitchen, scoring, rotation, faults.
Round robin generator
Build a fair rotation for any group size, with a shareable link.
Scoring explainer
Tap through rallies and watch the serve, side, and score update.
Pickleball glossary
Every term you will hear on a court, defined in plain English.
Rules and how-to
Pickleball Rules: The Complete Guide
The full rules of pickleball in plain English: the serve, the two-bounce rule, the kitchen, scoring, faults, and line calls. Everything you need to play.
6 min readPickleball Doubles Rules
The rules of doubles pickleball explained: serve order and server numbers, who receives, the two-bounce rule, the kitchen, when partners switch sides, and side outs.
5 min readPickleball Rules for Beginners
Learn the basic rules of pickleball fast: the court, the underhand serve, the two-bounce rule, the kitchen, scoring, faults, and how to win a game to 11.
4 min readThe Pickleball Kitchen Rule
The pickleball kitchen (non-volley zone) explained: what it is, why you cannot volley in it, the momentum fault, and when you are allowed to step in.
3 min readPickleball Court Dimensions
Exact pickleball court dimensions: 20 by 44 feet, net 36 inches at the sidelines and 34 at center, a 7-foot kitchen, plus a full measurement table.
3 min readPickleball Serving Rules
Learn the legal pickleball serve: underhand contact below the waist, behind the baseline, and diagonal into the correct box. Faults and who serves first.
4 min readPickleball Court vs Tennis Court: Size, Net, and Conversions
Pickleball court dimensions compared to a tennis court: 20 by 44 versus 36 by 78 feet, net heights, how many pickleball courts fit on one tennis court, and how to convert.
4 min readTwo-Bounce Rule in Pickleball (aka Two-Shot Rule)
The two-bounce rule: the serve must bounce, then the return must bounce, and no volleys until shot three. What counts as a fault, and why the rule exists.
4 min readScoring
How to Keep Score in Pickleball
How to keep score in pickleball, explained simply: calling the score in doubles and singles, the 0-0-2 start, side outs, and games to 11, win by 2.
4 min readPickleball Serve Rotation Explained
How pickleball serve rotation works: which side to serve from, when teams switch sides, first and second server rules, and the beginner even-score check.
4 min readWho Serves First After a Side Out in Pickleball?
The exact rule for who serves after a side out in doubles: the player standing in the right-hand court serves first, which is the partner whenever the team's score is odd.
3 min readPickleball Scoring Rules
Learn pickleball scoring: side-out vs rally scoring, games to 11 win by 2, server numbers in doubles, and when to switch sides. Simple, clear rules.
4 min readRally Scoring vs Traditional Scoring in Pickleball
How rally scoring differs from traditional side-out scoring in pickleball, why games feel different, and which one your rec group should use.
4 min readFormats
Pickleball Round Robin Formats
Compare pickleball round robin formats for open play: singles, fixed-partner doubles, rotating social doubles, plus how to handle byes and read standings.
4 min readKing of the Court Pickleball Rules
Learn how king of the court pickleball works: courts ranked in a ladder, winners move up, losers move down, partners re-mix, and a bench keeps it moving.
3 min readHow to Run Pickleball Open Play (Without the Chaos)
A practical playbook for organizing pickleball open play: choosing a rotation format, handling odd numbers and mixed skill, timing rounds, and keeping it fair.
5 min readDrills and strategy
Pickleball Strategy for Beginners
Simple pickleball strategy for new players: return deep, get to the kitchen line together, keep the ball low, aim at feet and the middle, and stop trying to win every point outright.
4 min readPickleball Drills to Get Better
Five to seven practical pickleball drills for two players: dinking, third shot drops, resets, serve and return depth, and footwork. Build real skills fast.
4 min readPickleball Strategy for Improvers
Practical pickleball strategy for improvers: get to the kitchen line together, hit the third shot drop, keep the ball low, dink with patience, and target the middle.
4 min readPickleball Ratings Explained (2.5 to 5.0, DUPR, and Self-Rating)
What pickleball ratings mean: the 2.0 to 5.0+ skill levels in plain English, how DUPR and tournament ratings work, and how to rate yourself honestly.
5 min readHow to Improve Your Pickleball Rating
A practical plan to raise your pickleball rating: cut unforced errors, own the third shot, get to the kitchen line, play up, and track your results so you can see it move.
5 min readThe Best Pickleball Score Apps (And What to Look For)
An honest look at what makes a pickleball scorekeeping app actually useful on court: rotation awareness, offline support, privacy, watch support, and group play features.
5 min read