Pickleball 101: Top Tips Before Joining

Pickleball is a fun and easy-to-learn paddle sport that's perfect for all ages and skill levels. Think of it like a mashup of tennis, badminton, and ping pong, played on a badminton-sized court with a slightly modified tennis net!

Haven't played before? No problem! We're here to equip you with the essential rules to dominate your lunchtime Pickleball competition in Barangaroo!

Pickleball 101

Pickleball is a doubles game, so grab a friend and head down to Barangaroo for a lunchtime pickleball showdown! Here's a breakdown of the key rules to get you started:
 

The Game

Matches are played to 11 points, win by 2 points to become the champion of the match! However only the serving team can score points. Games are typically played within a 1-hour time slot, fitting perfectly into your lunch break.
 

Serving it Up

Serves must be underhand and hit diagonally crosscourt. Both players on your team get a chance to serve until they commit a fault.

Fun fact: You can even drop the ball before hitting it for a serve!
 

The Kitchen is Off-Limits (Sort Of)

The "kitchen" is the non-volley zone within 7 feet of the net. You can't volley (hit the ball in the air) while standing in the kitchen, but you can enter to hit a bounced ball. Think of it as a way to keep things fair and prevent powerful smashes at the net.
 

Calling It In

Line calls are good! Any ball touching a line (except the non-volley zone line on a serve) is considered "in." If you're unsure about a call, it's always best to play on and let the point continue.
 

Faults Aweigh!

A fault is any rule violation that stops play. Serving faults or hitting the ball out of bounds are examples. A fault by the receiving team gives the serving team a point. A fault by the serving team means they lose their serve.