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Pickleball Double Bounce Rule (Two-Bounce) Explained | Pickleball Rules

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What is the Double Bounce Rule in Pickleball?

Official Rule:
Two-Bounce Rule: After the ball is served, each side must make one groundstroke prior to volleying the ball.

(The wording in the newest version (2018) of the official pickleball rule book now refers to the rule as the “Two-Bounce Rule” rather than the “Double Bounce Rule”, scroll to the bottom if you really want all the specific wording).

It’s probably one of the the most common questions in pickleball, and one of the most important basic rules to understand as a beginner.

To explain the rule in further detail: for each point played in pickleball, each team must play their first shot off of the bounce. So on the serve, the receiving team must let the ball hit the ground. Then on the return, the serving team must let the return of the serve also bounce before hitting it. After the two bounces have occurred (once on either side of the net) the pickleball can then either be volleyed (hit directly in the air before it bounces) or played off the bounce.

  1. Ball is served
  2. Receiving team must let ball bounce before returning.
  3. Serving team must let ball bounce before returning
  4. Ball has bounced on either side, players on either team are now free to volley or groundstroke until the point is won.

Useful Definitions:
Groundstroke – Hitting the ball after one bounce
Volley – During a rally, hitting the ball while in the air, before the ball bounces.
Click here to see our full list of pickleball terms and definitions.

double bounce pickleball diagram

Two-Bounce Rule Video Example

Here is a short 2 minute video with a good basic overview of pickleball with a clear example of the two bounce rule in practice:

Wording.
Why do some people call it the “Double Bounce” Rule and others call it the “Two-Bounce” Rule?

Double Bounce vs. Two Bounce Rule?

The wording in the newest version (2018) of the official pickleball rule book now refers to the rule as the “Two-Bounce Rule” rather than the “Double Bounce Rule”. If you are interested in the specifics, here is the exact wording.

From the 2018 USAPA & IFP Official Tournament Rulebook. (International Federation of Pickleball & USA Pickleball Association):

Two-Bounce Rule. After the ball is served, each side must make one groundstroke prior to volleying the ball.
Click to open PDF of the official updated rule book.

Old version:
Here is the wording in the 2014 version of the rulebook. The rule has not changed, just the wording from “Double Bounce” to “Two-Bounce”.
Two-Bounce Rule. After the ball is served, each side must make one groundstroke prior to volleying the ball.

In previous versions of the rule book it was called the “Double Bounce Rule” (see below for details).

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2014 version of the rule book:

Double Bounce Rule. Following serve, each side must make at least one groundstroke, prior to volleying the ball (hitting it
before it has bounced).

4.H. Double Bounce Rule. The serve and the service return must be allowed to bounce before striking the ball. That is, each side must play a groundstroke on the first shot following the serve. After the initial groundstrokes have been made, play may include volleys.

Why change the the term?
This wording was mostly likely changed to help avoid confusion with a “Double Bounce” in pickleball.
3.A.6. Double Bounce – A ball that bounces more than once on one side before it is returned

Why does the Two-Bounce Rule exist in pickleball?

If the rule did not exist, pickleball points would most likely be very short and it would be a pretty frustrating game to play. If you imagine the game without the rule, the receiving side could wait for the serve at the kitchen line (NVZ). A high serve could be smashed midair back at the serving team. A soft serve could be dinked just over the net, forcing the serving team to sprint to the net from the baseline making it very difficult to return the shot.

The two bounce rule eliminates the serve and volley advantage and facilitates longer extended rallies.

If you are not convinced, next time you play – while you are warming up with the other team try playing a few points without the two bounce limitation. I think you’ll soon see that without the rule it would totally change the game and be a lot less fun.

Side-note:
For wheelchair pickleball, double bounce is allowed.
14.B Double-Bounce Rule. The wheelchair pickleball player is allowed to double bounce the ball on his or her side of the net. The second bounce can be anywhere inside or outside of the court boundaries.

3 thoughts on “Pickleball Double Bounce Rule (Two-Bounce) Explained | Pickleball Rules”

  1. Of a ball hits the net goes over and bounces on the frame of opposing players and then bounces on the floor….is that considered 3 bounces or 2?
    Thx

    Reply

  2. Playing the other day and the second bounce landed in the NVZ. I was then told that the 2nd bounce and of course the serve could not bounce in the kitchen.
    I’ve seen that the lob is the better shot off the serve, makes since but we aren’t pros so a pour RETURN second hit might hit inside the kitchen. Legal or not , point or no point

    Reply

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