Pickleball Rules Explained Simply: Court, Serve and Scoring

Q: Can falls be prevented?

Yes, in part, through information, physical activity and adapting the environment. See the Santé publique France program.

Online since Oct 21, 2026 Last revised Oct 21, 2026 3 min read

Signed: the Bouger Longtemps editorial team. The facts were checked against their sources on October 19, 2026. This content doesn't replace a consultation. When in doubt, ask a health professional.

Top-down view of a pickleball court with its lines and the zone near the net, drawn in a clean style. — **Reading the Court.** The court is the same for singles and doubles, with a non-volley zone near the net where the ball can't be hit in the air. The serve is made below the hip, diagonally, and the ball must bounce once on each side before it can be volleyed. Only the serving team can score, and a lead of two points is needed to close out a game. These rules are enough to play from the first session.

What "Les règles du pickleball expliquées simplement : terrain, service et décompte" covers unfolds paragraph by paragraph, best read in the order given. It explains how to read a court, serve correctly and follow the score of a game.

Pickleball measurements — Compares the main court and net lengths set by the FFT rules. — **Pickleball Measurements** — Compares the main court and net lengths set by the FFT rules. Source : Les règles du pickleball — FFT rules, consulted in 2026.

Vocabulary First

A short glossary follows, meant to remove any ambiguity of language.

Falls

A fall is a common event among older adults. It can cause injuries, and Santé publique France urges prevention.

Take a telling example: Santé publique France offers an information program on fall prevention for the general public.

A complete entry appears under Falls.

How the Pieces Fit

The foundation is this: points count toward rankings in singles, doubles (by gender) and mixed doubles, and the FFT publishes its ranking every quarter (November, February, May, August).

The formal requirement reads as follows. To play in an FFT-sanctioned tournament, the event must be run by an affiliated club, an authorized organization, a league or a committee. A JAT1, JAT2 or JAT3 referee must oversee it at all times.

The starting point: pickleball was born in the United States in 1965 and appeared in France in 2015. It blends elements of tennis, padel, badminton and table tennis.

One basic rule is worth stating: points are counted 1 by 1, and only the server (or the serving team) can score. Matches are generally played to 11 or 15 points, with a minimum lead of 2 points. That rule anchors the paragraphs that follow.

Step by Step

Here's the next step. The serve is made below the hip, diagonally, and the ball must land in the opposite service area. The server stands behind the baseline. Keep this step in mind for the next one.

Deciding Factors

The starting point: the FFT runs three levels of competitive play, 3.0 (competitive beginners), 4.0 (intermediate) and 5.0 (high level).

What Are the Court Dimensions?

An example makes this clearer. The FFT runs Ligue championships, the French Championships, the summer Open de France (more than 300 competitors) and a winter Open in Marcq-en-Barœul.

A general picture emerges: the FFT counts more than 700 sanctioned pickleball tournaments nationwide, offering competitions at every level.

One order of magnitude to keep in mind: the net is 6.70 m wide. It's 86 cm high at the center and 91 cm high at the posts.

What Is the Non-Volley Zone?

One figure is worth citing: a pickleball court measures 6.10 m wide by 13.41 m long, whatever the format (singles or doubles).

Key Takeaways

The list below gathers what's worth remembering before moving on.

The net is 6.70 m wide.
The FFT runs three levels of competitive play.

Questions and answers

Can Falls Be Prevented?

Partly, yes, through information, physical activity and adapting the environment. See the Santé publique France program.

Final Word: The Essentials

As a reminder, the discussion covered vocabulary, how the pieces fit, the steps of play and deciding factors. May this reading serve as a base for moving on, at an easy pace, to the site's other pages.

On the same topic

Starting Pickleball After 55: The Complete Guide — The basics of the game and the first sessions for an adult beginner. Key points come first, then each concept is explained one at a time.
Pickleball Tournaments in France: Understanding Approval and Levels — How to spot an approved tournament and choose an event suited to one's level. Basic vocabulary notions are covered in turn.
First Pickleball Session: A Checklist to Review — Players arrive at a first game knowing the essential rules. Reading path: using the checklist closely, with the questions to ask and the terms to define.
Playing Pickleball in France: Clubs, Licenses and Medical Certificates — Where to play in France and which formalities to plan for. The essential principles are examined up close, followed by the vocabulary in plain terms.

Sources

Tout comprendre à la compétition du pickleball —
Homologation des tournois de pickleball —
La Fédération française de tennis obtient la délégation du pickleball, sport en vogue — Background on the delegation, competition from the badminton federation, the sport's origins and its arrival in France. Last consulted: 2026-10-18.
Les règles du pickleball —
Compétitions Pickleball —

This site is for information only and doesn't replace a doctor's advice. Anyone with a chronic condition, pain or doubts should consult a health professional before returning to sport.

The rules, licenses and figures of the Fédération française de tennis have been changing since the federation received the delegation for pickleball. They should be checked with the federation or a club.