LEARN & PLAY
Learn the Court
You don’t need to memorise every marking on a pickleball court straight away. Start by learning the main areas. Once you know what they’re called and where they are, serving, scoring and positioning become much easier to understand.
3 SEPT 2026 - 3 MIN READ
Scott · Pickled to Play
The main court areas
Baseline
The line running across the back of the court.
This is the line you serve from behind.
Sidelines
The lines running down each side of the court.
They mark the outer edges of the playing area.
Centreline
The line that divides each side of the court into two service areas.
Right service court
The service area on the right side of the court.
Left service court
The service area on the left side of the court.
Non volley zone
The area closest to the net.
Almost everyone simply calls this the kitchen.
Non volley zone line
The line at the back of the kitchen.
The line itself is considered part of the kitchen.
See it on the court
This is where a simple labelled court diagram will do a lot of the work.
Your diagram should clearly show:
baseline
sidelines
centreline
right service court
left service court
kitchen
kitchen line
net
Keep the diagram simple and easy to scan. You don’t need lots of extra measurements or rule explanations on this page.
Can you find it?
If you’re standing on a court, try this quick exercise.
Point to the baseline.
Stand inside the right service court.
Find the centreline.
Step into the kitchen.
Stand just behind the kitchen line.
If you can recognise those areas comfortably, you already know enough court geography to start making sense of the basic rules.
Why this matters
Pickleball can feel confusing at first because coaches and players use court terms constantly.
You’ll hear things like:
“Serve from behind the baseline.”
“Move up towards the kitchen.”
“You’re in the right service court.”
Once you know where those areas are, those instructions become much easier to follow.
You don’t need to memorise everything.
Just learn the main landmarks first.
Quick check
What is the area closest to the net commonly called?
The kitchen.
Which line do you serve from behind?
The baseline.
Remember
Baseline at the back.
Kitchen at the front.
Centreline splits the service courts.
Learn the main areas before worrying about every rule.
Want to practise this on court?
The court markings start to make much more sense once you’re actually moving around and playing.
My beginner coaching sessions are relaxed, practical and focused on helping you understand the game without overcomplicating it.
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