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Pickleball Etiquette

Pickleball is as much about the people as the points. A little courtesy goes a long way, and the unwritten rules below are what keep open play welcoming whether you're brand new or a regular. None of it is complicated, and most of it comes down to one idea: leave everyone glad they played with you.

Before the game​

What's the etiquette before a pickleball game? Should I introduce myself before playing? How do I warm up politely? What are good manners before a pickleball match? How do I be courteous at open play?

The first thirty seconds set the tone for the whole game.

  • Introduce yourself: say hello to your partner and your opponents before the first serve. A quick name and a "good luck" instantly makes the match feel friendlier.
  • Learn names: use them during the game when you can. "Nice shot, Maria" beats "nice shot" every time, and it's how strangers turn into regulars you look forward to seeing.
  • Warm up considerately: a few dinks and a couple of serves is plenty. Keep your warm-up on your own court and out of the way of games already in progress.

💡 Tip New to a group? Open play is the easiest place to meet people. Showing up a few minutes early and introducing yourself to whoever's around is the fastest way to feel like a regular.

During the game​

What's the etiquette during a pickleball game? How do I call out the score? How do I make honest line calls? What do I do if my ball goes onto another court? Is it OK to coach during a game? What is good sportsmanship in pickleball? How should I treat my partner and opponents?

Once you're rallying, etiquette is mostly about keeping things fair, safe, and fun for everyone on the court.

  • Call the score before every serve: say it loud and clear in the standard order, your side's score, then your opponents', then your serve position (1 or 2). It keeps everyone on the same page and avoids mid-rally disputes.
  • Make honest calls: you're the referee on your side of the net. Call lines fairly, and when a ball is genuinely too close to tell, give your opponents the benefit of the doubt.
  • Mind the clock: if your venue has time limits or a rotation, wrap up your game on time so the next players can get on.
  • Stay off other courts: don't step onto a neighboring court to grab your ball mid-point. Wait for a break in their game and ask, or let them send it back.
  • Yell "BALL!" loudly: if a stray ball rolls onto another court, call it out right away. A ball underfoot is the most common way people get hurt, so this one matters.
  • Skip the unsolicited coaching: unless someone asks for a tip, let them play their game. A mid-match lesson rarely lands the way it's meant to.
  • Have your partner's back: celebrate their good shots, shake off the misses, and never pin a lost point on them. You win and lose as a team.
  • Keep it positive: no outbursts, no trash talk, no sulking after a bad point. Reset and play the next one.
  • Acknowledge good play: a quick "great get!" to an opponent who just smoked a winner is what makes pickleball pickleball.
  • Play everyone fairly: it's fine to be competitive, but don't relentlessly target the weaker player or take advantage of someone's physical limitations. Good games leave both sides wanting a rematch.

💡 Tip When in doubt, call it their way. Giving the benefit of the doubt on a close line call costs you almost nothing and earns you a reputation as someone people want on the next court.

Thanks to Bruce Keilin for this content.