2023 Pickleball Rules
USA Pickleball revises the rules each year. The revision process consists of new rule proposals, public comment period and then a final decision by the rules committee. New rules take affect at the change of calendar year.
Everyone is encouraged to read the rules. The 2023 rule book at USApickleball.org is linked here.
Rules Summary
Pro Tour Rules
Anyone watching professional pickleball play on TV, YouTube, or Facebook may wonder why they seem to be playing by different rules. Both the PPA (Professional Pickleball Association) and the MLP (Major League Pickleball) have a few different rules. In addition because the tours don't have a standard mechanism for changing rules, they may change at any time.
- PPA Rule Differences
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- A serve that hits the net and is otherwise good is a "let" and is re-served.
- The bounce serve is not allowed.
- MLP Rule Differences
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- The MLP uses rally scoring where a point is awarded on each serve (except the winning point must be scored on the teams serve).
- Serves that hit the net and is otherwise good is a "let" and is re-served.
- The bounce serve is not allowed.
- The MLP allows coaching from general managers, owners, team member (anyone?) between plays.
- MLP tie breakers (i.e. Dream Breaker) has players from each team rotating in (or out) after every four points.
- The MLP is banning certain paddle colors for visibility and safety. The banned colors are: white/gray, yellow/gold, yellow/green and neon yellow/neon green.
Non-Volley Zone Rules
For whatever reason a lot of players are confused about the non-volley zone (or Kitchen) rules. For many people, including some who have played for a number of years, their understanding is more like mythological lore that has been handed down and corrupted as in a game of telephone. The following videos from the Pickleball Channel do a good job of explaining the rules. And after you watch them you just may want to try and stamp out some of the myths.