Have you ever heard someone shout, “You missed my rectangle!” on the court? I did…and it was adorable! 😂 But as fun as nicknames are, clear communication helps everyone—especially when playing with new partners or in tournaments.
Let’s get everyone on the same page. Here’s a quick look at the official names for areas and lines on a pickleball court.
Pickleball scoring leaves many new players confused. I too was confused — partly because I learned it from my son, who quickly Googled it and only gave me partial information; partly because everyone on the court seems to have their own rules (“I heard that you should…”); and partly because, well, it is confusing.
So let’s break it down together—hopefully, this helps the next time we hit the court.
Doubles Scoring Explained
Teams only get points when they are serving.
Pickleball doubles scoring uses three numbers.
As an example, the score is 7-2-1.
7 = Serving team’s score
2 = Receiving team’s score
1 = Server number (1 or 2)
How Serving Works
The serving player stays the server as long as their team wins points. After each point, the two teammates switch sides of the court. Switching sides continues until they receive a fault (i.e, lose the rally).
Then, the second server steps in—serving from wherever they are standing. There’s no side switching until they win a point. Once they do, they switch sides and continue serving until they fault. After that, it’s a “side-out”—the serve goes to the other team.
The Exception
The only exception is when you start a game, the first team to serve only gets one serve. This keeps the game fair and prevents an early advantage. (I’ve read that’s the reason, but I didn’t go down that rabbit hole…yet.)
Calling the Score
Before each serve, you should call out the score. Due to the exception, the first server of the game will say 0-0-2, or 0-0-start.
When the serve switches sides (after the first team faults), the other team’s first server will state the score (e.g., 0-0-1) and will begin serving on the right side of the court. If they score a point, they will switch sides with their partner and keep serving until they fault. Then, the second server on their team will get a turn.
That Was Harder Than I Thought…
OK – that was harder to explain than I expected! But hopefully, it makes a little more sense now.
I’d love to hear what you think. What part of scoring tripped you up most when you were learning? Or do you have a tip or trick that helped you remember how it works? I’d love to include some reader hacks in a future post!
One of the most unexpected parts of pickleball is how much joy it brings me.
The first thing that hooked me was the sound. When the ball hits the paddle just right, there’s a crisp, satisfying pop. You can hear the rhythm of the game change—speeding up, slowing down—just through the sound alone. I may sound strange, but it’s addictive.
I joined a local league in January with barely any experience. Before that, my friends, family and I played by our own ever-changing rules, and I didn’t play regularly. So showing up to play with strangers—people who knew the real rules and played with confidence—was intimidating. But then, every so often, you get that one perfect shot. Maybe it lands in the perfect spot, or hits the top of the net and falls in the kitchen…. grin.
And my favourite part? The community.
I can’t believe a bunch of strangers from just a few months ago already hold a place in my heart. I look forward to getting advice from the “wiser”, more experienced players, and I would have never met most of these people if we didn’t share this game.
My friends and I play once a week and it’s the highlight of my week. We catch up, we laugh, and we play. One friend gave me a keychain that says, “Pickleball is cheaper than therapy,” and it’s so true! Is it the highlight because they are great friends? Probably. But pickleball is what brings us together. It’s our why.
On a regular day, I’m not someone who enjoys cooking. I wish I loved it—but truthfully, I mostly cook out of a sense of duty to my family. I enjoy keeping them nourished, and occasionally I like creating something special. But for the most part I don’t like being in the kitchen.
In pickleball, there’s also a “kitchen”—and thankfully, staying out of this one is actually a good thing.
The kitchen is a marked area on either side of the net, extending 7 feet from it. It runs the full width of the court and is officially called the Non-Volley Zone (NVZ).
Most players hover right at the edge of the kitchen to maximize shot options while avoiding a fault.
Until recently (like today), I thought you weren’t allowed to stand in the kitchen at all—and that you could only enter if the ball bounced in there first. Turns out, that’s not exactly true.
Why This Matters to Me
As someone who doesn’t love being in any kitchen, I found this revelation oddly satisfying. But don’t be fooled—staying out of the kitchen (in pickleball) isn’t always easy. Sometimes I get drawn in without meaning to, especially during fast-paced exchanges at the net.
Kitchen Rules—Briefly Explained
Rule #1: No Volleys in the Kitchen
The biggest rule: you can’t volley while in the kitchen. A volley means hitting the ball out of the air before it bounces. If you’re standing in the kitchen—or even if your paddle, hat, shoelace, or momentum carries you in—it’s a fault.
You can stand in the kitchen. You just can’t volley while you’re there.
Rule #2: Let It Bounce First
If you’re inside the kitchen, you must let the ball bounce before hitting it. Otherwise, again—fault.
Bonus Tip: The Lines Count
The lines marking the kitchen are part of the kitchen. So if your toe touches the line while volleying, it’s still a fault. Precision matters!
Rule #3: Serving into the Kitchen? Don’t.
Final Thoughts
While I’m still learning, I’ve double-checked these rules against the USA Pickleball Rulebook—because, surprise! I don’t know everything… about pickleball 😜
So here’s to staying out of the kitchen—both at home and on the court. One feels like a chore; the other is a strategy.
Hi, I’m Sharon—and I have a confession… I’m absolutely hooked on pickleball.
I honestly don’t remember the first time I played pickleball, and I don’t remember getting obsessed right away. But that doesn’t matter now—because I’m in deep, and I want to share it with everyone. Even you! A reader that I might not even know. There is no stopping this train.
Now, if you’re picturing a super-athletic, headband-wearing, paddle-slinging sports machine… nope. That’s not me. I’m just regular woman who discovered pickleball and fell in love with it—not because I’m amazing at it (yet), but because it’s fun, so surprisingly addictive, and weirdly life-giving.
This Blog Is for Every Woman Who’s…
Trying to figure out how to hit the wiffle-y ball and keep it “in”
Wondering what the heck “the kitchen” is—and why we’re not allowed in it
Just trying to move, laugh a little, and meet some people along the way
Why “Staying Out of the Kitchen”?
It’s a pickleball thing (more on this later). But it’s also a life thing. As in: maybe there’s more to life than the same old loop of cooking, cleaning, organizing, chauffeuring… Maybe I just want to get out of the house, stop overthinking, and hit one great shot with other people who understand it too.
This won’t be a site full of elite-level tips or intense drills. It’s a space for us to enjoy the learning curve, laugh through the awkwardness, and share what’s working—and what’s totally not.
What You’ll Find Here
Beginner-friendly pickleball tips (without the pressure) – that may or may not work
Real reviews of gear that I use
Humorous court moments and learning mishaps – and there’s a lot!
Interviews, stories, and maybe a few rants along the way
If you’ve ever felt like you don’t quite fit the “athlete” mold—but still want to play hard, laugh loud, and show up fully—pickleball is for you. And this is your place.
Staying Out Of The Kitchen 