Pickleball is a great sport. Not only does it get you moving but it’s also a lot of fun! To help ensure an enjoyable time and to keep club members safe (especially when all three courts are going all out!), below are some general guidelines.
Stray Balls
If your ball ends up in another court, yell “BALL!” If an errant ball enters your court or you hear “BALL” called, stop play immediately. Retrieve the ball and return it by throwing or gently hitting. Do not hit it along the floor with your foot or paddle. Finally, it’s especially important not to chase your ball onto other courts.
Was the ball in or out?
Official rules state that calling a ball in or out (or whether a serve landed in the kitchen) is done by the team whose side the ball landed. If there is any doubt, simply replay the point.
Open Sessions
Courts will be divided into Recreational Play and Competitive Play.This will be determined by the number of members and skill level in attendance at each session. Recreational Play means No Smashing – those that do will lose the point immediately.
For Competitive matches, a certain level of player skill is expected to ensure the enjoyment of all. You may be redirected to Recreational as needed – knowing that all Competitive players were Recreational at one time.
Rally Scoring
- To be used during Recreational Play to help move the games along and shorten the amount of time players are waiting for the next game.
- Games will go to either 15 or 21 (can be decided at the beginning of the night)
- You win a point at the end of each rally. You must win the game point on a serve!
- If you serve and win the point, players on the serving team switch sides and continue to switch sides as long as rallies are won. Remember: only 1 person will be serving – there is no player 1 and player 2
- Servers lose the rally – service goes to the other team – starting server location is based on their score – Even score the service starts on the right side. Odd score, service starts on the left side.
- The game is over when one team reaches either 15 or 21 but a team can only win by getting its final point while serving.
I agree with everything except I’m not clear on what no smashing means.
Hi Joanne,
In general, “smashing” is returning any ball hit high enough to hit overhanded with extreme force. Often this is done while standing near the kitchen but not always. Beginners/recreational players have shared that “smashes” are concerning, can be intimating and off putting. The Board heard that feedback and approved a “no smashing” rule for recreational play.
Hope that helps!