There are certain obscure pickleball rules that many players do not know. Understanding these regulations can keep you from making critical mistakes on the court. Here are five rare rules to keep in mind during your next game.
1. The Walking Serve Momentum
Many people believe that when you serve the ball, you must stay back with both feet and then advance in. However, the rules allow for more movement.
- As long as at least one of your two feet stays established behind the line at the moment of contact, you are allowed to move into the court with your stroke.
- While you might not serve on one leg, you can absolutely serve and step forward legally.
- Players frequently use this rule to their advantage to gain forward momentum.
- It is becoming increasingly common to see players walk into their shot while serving the ball.
- You can walk directly into your shot, and your forward momentum can safely take you into the kitchen as long as at least one foot is on the ground behind the line at the point of contact.
2. Volley Faults: Dropped Gear and the Sideline Bailout
While players generally know that you cannot volley a ball and step into the kitchen, the rule is much more obscure regarding personal items.
- When you volley a ball, no part of you — even after the shot is completed — can touch the kitchen.
- If you are hitting a shot and accidentally drop your paddle, that action violates the kitchen rule and counts as a fault.
- This penalty also applies to clothing; if a piece of clothing like your hat falls into the kitchen, it automatically counts as a kitchen fault.
- When reaching for a ball and taking it out of the air, you must keep a firm grip on your paddle and ensure your accessories do not fall in.
- If you feel yourself starting to lose your balance and fall forward, a great legal bailout idea is to jump to the sideline.
- Jumping to the side helps you catch your balance and manage your forward momentum so that you are not penalized for a fault.
3. The Backspin "Ghost" Shot
An unusual scenario can occur if you hit a ball with a lot of height and backspin that barely crosses over the net.
- If that ball bounces and finds its way back over to your side, the other team is strictly required to hit the ball.
- If the ball bounces back over and the opposing team does not touch it, your team gets the point.
- If you are on the receiving side of this play, you must be prepared to hit the ball as it moves back, making sure you do not hit the net first.
- If it is going to cross back over the plane, you must make sure that you hit it.
- There is a specific nuance regarding how the ball spins back toward the net if it barely makes it over.
- If the ball spins back into the net and hits the center metal bar, the play is a redo.
- However, if the ball bounces back and just hits the net fabric without touching the bar, it is not a redo.
4. The Continuous Double Hit Rule
The double hit rule is a scenario that happens quite a bit on the court.
- A double hit occurs if you hit the ball in one motion, meaning it hits off your paddle and then your paddle hits it again.
- This contact is completely legal as long as it happens in one continuous swing.
- The shot must be executed in one smooth motion, meaning you cannot catch the ball and then hit it again.
5. Contacting the Ball Beyond the Net Plane
Reaching over the net is a critical rule that applies directly to shots like the Erne, as well as other areas of the court.
- If you contact the ball beyond the plane of the net, it is an automatic fault.
- In order to hit a legal Erne or put away a high-bouncing ball near the kitchen, you must make contact on your own side of the net.
- Once you make contact on your side, your follow-through is perfectly legal to take you across to the other side of the net.