LEARN TO PLAY
Everything You Need to Start Playing — a self-guided beginner lesson and courtside refresher.
120 MIN
Full session
4–8
Players
1–2
Courts
BEGINNER · SELF-GUIDED
Start Here
SESSION OVERVIEW
One court · four beginner players · Focus on positions, rally order, swapping, formal scoring and serving.
START WITH
Work through the lesson in order once. Then return to the section you need beside the court.
YOUR GOAL
Understand the basics, get comfortable and start playing — not master everything today.
GOLDEN RULE
Control before power.
REMEMBER
Get on court and play.
A Quick Word About Safety
Keep loose balls away from your feet. Check the space before swinging. If someone calls “Ball!”, stop immediately. Avoid running backwards — turn and move instead. Communicate with your partner. If reaching feels unsafe, leave it. Stop for pain, dizziness or discomfort. No point is worth a collision or injury.
WORK THROUGH IT ONCE — THEN USE IT COURTSIDE
01
Meet the Paddle and Ball
Get comfortable with the paddle and ball before worrying about rules.
Remember
Relax your hand. Paddle in front. Control before power.
Balance the ball, bounce forehand and backhand faces, alternate, then walk slowly while bouncing. Try 5, 10, then set a 30-second best score.
Small movement · Small touch · Plenty of control
What matters more right now — power or control? Control.
02
Your First Pickleball Hit
Make clean contact and send the ball where you want it to go.
Remember
Paddle in front. Contact in front. Short swing.
03
Get the Ball Over the Net
Build a rally — not a winner.
Remember
Your first job is to keep the ball in play.
04
Learn the Court
Recognise the baseline, sidelines, centreline, service courts and kitchen.
Remember
Baseline at the back. Kitchen at the front.
05
The Kitchen: The Rule Beginners Get Wrong
Understand that you are allowed to stand in the kitchen; the restriction is about volleying.
Remember
Bounce? Step in. Volley? Stay clear. Kitchen line = kitchen.
06
Dinking
Play a soft shot that lands in your opponent’s kitchen.
Remember
Soft hands. Small movement. Lift, don’t hit.
07
Volleys
Hit the ball before it bounces with control.
Remember
Paddle up. Hands in front. Hit and reset.
08
How to Serve
Start a rally legally and consistently.
Remember
Behind the baseline. Serve diagonally. Clear the kitchen.
09
The Two-Bounce Rule
Understand how every rally begins.
Remember
Serve → Bounce → Return → Bounce → Play
10
Where Do Four Doubles Players Stand?
Understand sensible starting positions without mistaking them for fixed rules.
Remember
Server back. Receiver back. Partner near the kitchen.
11
Put a Rally Together
Play the structure of a full doubles rally before scoring.
Remember
Don’t worry about score yet. Get the rally structure right.
12
How Serving Order Works
Understand Server 1, Server 2 and the side-out.
Remember
Server 1 → Server 2 → Side-out
13
How Doubles Scoring Works
Call a standard three-number score and track a serving turn.
Remember
Score and swap. Lose and stay.
14
Why Does a Game Start at 0–0–2?
Understand the one-serving-opportunity start to a doubles game.
Remember
First team starts on 2.
15 / FIRST GAME
Play Your First Game
You now know enough to begin. For your first few games, play to 3 or 5 points so you get more repetitions of serving order and scoring.
WHICH TEAM? · WHAT SCORE? · SERVER 1 OR 2? · EVEN OR ODD? · CALL IT, THEN SERVE.
16 / SAVE THIS
Beginner Cheat Sheet
Serve diagonally. · Clear the kitchen and kitchen line. · Serve → Bounce → Return → Bounce → Play. · You can stand in the kitchen — just don’t volley while touching it. · Control before power. · Only the serving team scores. · Score and swap. · Lose and stay. · Server 1 → Server 2 → Side-out. · Start at 0–0–2. · Even right. Odd left. · Talk to your partner.
17 / QUICK CHECK
Quick Beginner Knowledge Check
No pressure. Tap through the card lessons above to check: serve bounce, return bounce, kitchen rule, kitchen line, score and swap, lose and stay, three-number score, side-out, 0–0–2, and even-right odd-left.
18 / READY TO PLAY
You Now Know Enough to Play
You can hold and control the paddle, rally, recognise the court, understand the kitchen, serve, use the two-bounce rule, set up doubles, recognise a side-out, call a basic score and start a game. You do not need to be brilliant yet. Get on court. Hit some balls. Ask questions. Make mistakes. Keep playing.
19 / WHAT’S NEXT
What to Practise Next
Improve Your Serve · Serve Return · Dinking Fundamentals · Volley Fundamentals · Moving to the Kitchen · Third Shot Basics · Doubles Positioning · Better Pickleball Footwork · Beginner Game Strategy · Rules & Scoring Refresher. Learning to play is only the start.
PICKLED PADDLERS COACHING
Build a better pickleball game, one session at a time.
Practical coaching sessions, drills, demonstrations and structured pathways for players and developing coaches.
LEARN TO PLAY · SKILLS · GAME IQ · COACHING