How to Play Pickleball Singles: Rules, Scoring, and Strategy

Yes, pickleball can be played with two people as singles: one player on each side of the net. Singles uses the same 20-by-44-foot court and most of the same core rules as doubles, including the serve, two-bounce rule, kitchen rule, line rules, and side-out scoring. The biggest scoring difference is that singles uses a two-number score call, not the three-number doubles call.

Can you play pickleball with two people?

Yes. Singles pickleball is the one-player-per-side version of the game. It is not a separate court game and it does not remove the kitchen, the two-bounce rule, or the diagonal serve.

Singles rules in the short version

The core singles rules are familiar if you know doubles. Serve diagonally. Let the serve bounce before returning it. Let the return bounce before the server hits the third shot. Respect the non-volley zone when volleying. Most boundary lines are in, while the non-volley-zone line is a fault on the serve.

How singles scoring works

The two-number score call

Singles score calls have two numbers. Say the server’s score first and the receiver’s score second. If you are serving and the score is 3-5, you say 3-5 before serving. There is no server-one or server-two number because there is no partner.

Even and odd serving sides

The server’s score tells you which side to serve from. When your score is even, serve from the right/even court. When your score is odd, serve from the left/odd court. The receiver stands diagonally opposite.

A simple singles scoring example

Serving and returning in singles

The serve is still diagonal and must land in the correct service court beyond the non-volley zone. Because singles gives you no partner to cover the next ball, a deep, reliable serve is more valuable than a risky serve that produces faults.

Kitchen and two-bounce rules in singles

The kitchen rule applies fully in singles. You may enter the kitchen to play a ball that has bounced, but you may not volley from the kitchen or let your volley momentum carry you into it.

Court positioning for singles

Singles positioning is less about matching a partner and more about recovery. After serving or returning, recover toward a central position that lets you cover the next likely angle. You cannot guard every line at once, so your goal is to reduce the easiest open target.

Singles strategy for your first games

Serve deep and recover

A deep serve pushes the receiver back and gives you time to prepare. Do not chase aces at the expense of serve consistency. In singles, a missed serve gives away the chance to score.

Return deep and buy time

A deep return is one of the simplest ways to make singles easier. It buys recovery time and keeps the server from attacking a short ball immediately.

Use controlled passing shots

When your opponent moves forward, aim for controlled passing shots rather than low-percentage winners. Make them hit one more ball, especially if they are moving through the transition area.

Approach the kitchen selectively

Moving forward can win points, but approaching at the wrong time can expose open court behind you. Come in behind a deep return, a strong approach, or a ball that puts the opponent under pressure.

Common doubles habits that hurt in singles

Doubles players often expect a partner to cover the open side, rush the kitchen line automatically, or play soft cross-court patterns that leave too much open court in singles. Singles asks you to balance offense with recovery.

Simple first-game plan

Use a simple plan for your first singles game: serve deep, return deep, recover toward the middle, respect the two-bounce rule, avoid volleying from the kitchen, and call two-number scores before every serve.