The double bounce rule in pickleball, officially called the two-bounce rule, says the serve must bounce once before the receiver hits it, and the return of serve must bounce once before the serving team hits it (Rule 10.A of the 2026 USA Pickleball Official Rulebook). After those two bounces, either team may hit the ball out of the air (a volley), as long as they are not standing in the kitchen. Breaking the rule is a fault: if the receiving team volleys the serve, the serving team wins the rally, and if the serving team volleys the return, it loses the rally. One catch: the rulebook uses the words "double bounce" for something different, a ball that bounces twice on one side, which is also a fault (Rule 10.B.1). This guide covers both, with examples, the mistakes new players make, and why the rule exists.
The rule at a glance
| Shot | Who hits it | Must it bounce first? | 2026 rule |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Serve | Server | Yes, the receiver must let it bounce | 10.A, 10.A.1 |
| 2. Return of serve | Receiver | Yes, the serving team must let it bounce | 10.A, 10.A.2 |
| 3. Third shot | Serving team | It is hit off a bounce (because of shot 2). The receiving team may volley it. | 10.A |
| 4. Every shot after that | Anyone | No. Volley or let it bounce once, your choice, except volleys from the kitchen | 10.B, 11.A |
| Any shot | Anyone | It may never bounce twice on your side before you hit it | 10.B, 10.B.1 |
What the 2026 rulebook says
Rule 10.A is one sentence: the serve and the return of serve must each bounce before being returned. Two fault rules sit under it:
- Rule 10.A.1, no bounce by the receiver. If the receiver hits the serve before it bounces, it is a fault against the receiver.
- Rule 10.A.2, no bounce by the serving side. If the server or the server's partner hits the return of serve before it bounces, it is a fault against the serving side.
Section 1 of the rulebook, which lists the features that make pickleball unique, describes the same idea in plain words: after the serve, the receiver must let the ball bounce before the first return, and then the serving team must let the ball bounce before its first return. The rule is the same for singles and doubles, and the rally scoring option keeps it, since all standard rules apply under rally scoring except the listed changes (Rule 14.A.1).
Two-bounce rule vs double bounce: not the same thing
Most players say "double bounce rule" when they mean the two-bounce rule, and that is what people are usually searching for. But the rulebook's own definition of "Double Bounce" (Section 2) is "when the ball bounces twice on one end of the net before it is returned." That is a fault on any shot, at any point in the rally:
- Rule 10.B: a player must return the ball before a second bounce.
- Rule 10.B.1: if a player fails to return the ball before it bounces twice, it is a fault against that player.
So there are two different bounce rules, and they work together:
| Two-bounce rule | Double bounce fault | |
|---|---|---|
| Rule number | 10.A | 10.B, 10.B.1 |
| What it requires | At least one bounce before you hit the serve or the return | No more than one bounce before you hit any ball |
| When it applies | Only the first two shots of each rally | Every shot of every rally |
| Common name | "Double bounce rule," "bounce-bounce rule" | "It bounced twice" |
Put together: the serve and the return must bounce exactly once. Every other shot may bounce once or not at all.
There is one exception to the one-bounce limit. Players using wheelchairs may let the ball bounce twice, with the second bounce anywhere on the playing surface (Rule 25.A.9), and it is a fault only if they do not return it before a third bounce (Rule 25.A.9.a). Eligible adaptive standing players have a similar allowance (Rule 25.B.3).
The rule in action: a doubles rally, shot by shot
Team A is serving. Team B is receiving.
- The serve. The Team A server hits an underhand serve diagonally into Team B's service court. The Team B receiver stands back near the baseline and lets it bounce. (Bounce one.)
- The return. The Team B receiver hits the return deep into Team A's court, then walks forward to the kitchen line. The receiver's partner is already up there. Both Team A players stay back near their baseline and let the return bounce. (Bounce two.)
- The third shot. A Team A player hits the ball off the bounce. Now the two-bounce rule is done. Team B, standing at the kitchen line, may volley this ball.
- The rest of the rally. Anyone may volley or hit off one bounce. The only limits now are the kitchen (no volleys while touching it, Rule 11.A) and the double bounce fault (never two bounces on your side).
In singles it works the same way, with one player per side. The server serves, the receiver lets it bounce and returns, the server lets the return bounce and hits the third shot, and from there the rally is open.
What happens when someone breaks it
A two-bounce violation is a fault, and a fault ends the rally (Section 2 definition of "Fault"). What that means for the score depends on who broke it and which scoring system you play.
| Who broke the rule | Traditional (side-out) scoring | Rally scoring (Rule 14.A) |
|---|---|---|
| Receiving team volleyed the serve | Serving team wins the rally and scores a point (Rule 4.A) | Serving team scores a point |
| Serving team volleyed the return | Serving team loses the rally. In doubles the serve passes to the second server, or it is a side out if the second server was serving (Rules 5.B.5, 5.B.6). No point is scored. | Receiving team scores a point and gets the serve |
For more on how points and side outs work, see our pickleball scoring guide.
Situations that confuse people
The serve is clearly going out. Can I volley it or catch it?
No. If you hit the serve before it bounces, it is a fault against you (Rule 10.A.1), even if it was going long. If the served ball touches you or anything you are wearing or carrying before it lands, that is also a fault against the receiver (Rule 7.E.5). Step out of the way and let it land. If it lands out, it is a fault on the server.
The return is going out. Can the serving team volley it?
Same answer. Hitting the return before it bounces is a fault against the serving side (Rule 10.A.2), wherever it was going. Let it land and call it out.
Does the return have to land past the kitchen?
No. Only the serve must clear the kitchen (Rule 7.E). The return can land anywhere on the serving team's side, including the kitchen, and it is in (Rule 8.B). It still has to bounce before the serving team hits it.
The return clips the net and drops over. Does that count?
Yes. A ball that touches the net and lands on the other side stays in play (Rule 13.A). It still has to bounce before the serving team can hit it.
Can the receiver's partner volley the third shot?
Yes. Once the serve and the return have each bounced, the rule is satisfied. The receiving team can volley the third shot, as long as the volleying player is not touching the kitchen (Rule 11.A).
Does the serving team have to hit the third shot off the bounce?
Yes, the third shot is the serving team's first hit after the return, and the return must bounce first. That is why the third shot is so often a soft "third shot drop" hit from the back of the court.
Who calls a two-bounce fault in casual play?
In games without a referee, players are expected to call faults on themselves and their partner (Rule 9.B.2). The rulebook lets you call only two kinds of faults on an opponent: kitchen faults and service foot faults (Rule 9.B.3). If you think an opponent volleyed the return, you can mention it after the rally, but the final decision belongs to the player who allegedly committed it (Rule 9.B.4). Most two-bounce faults are obvious, so this rarely becomes an argument. In tournaments with a referee, the referee calls it.
Why the two-bounce rule exists
Without it, the serving team could serve and charge the net, then volley the return before the receiver had time to move up. Most rallies would be over in two or three shots. The rule takes away that advantage in three ways:
- It keeps the serving team back. Because the serving team must let the return bounce, both serving players have to wait near the baseline until the return lands.
- It gives the receiving team the first chance at the net. The receiver can hit a deep return and move forward while the serving team waits for the bounce. In doubles, the receiver's partner usually starts at the kitchen line already.
- It makes rallies longer and softer. The serving team has to find a way forward from the back, which is why the third shot drop and the dink exist. See what is a dink in pickleball for the soft game that follows.
Together with the kitchen (what is the kitchen in pickleball) and the underhand serve, the two-bounce rule is a big part of why pickleball rewards placement and patience more than raw power.
Common mistakes with the two-bounce rule
- The server runs in after the serve. New players coming from tennis often follow their serve to the net. Then the return comes at their feet and they either volley it (fault) or have to hit an awkward half-volley. Stay back after you serve and wait for the bounce.
- The server's partner stands at the kitchen line. Your partner can stand anywhere while you serve (Rule 5.B.4), but standing at the net means they cannot volley the return. Start the serving partner back at the baseline too.
- The receiver stands too close. If you stand at the service line to receive, a deep serve gets behind you and you are tempted to volley it. Stand a step or two behind the baseline so the serve bounces in front of you.
- Thinking the rule lasts all rally. It covers only the serve and the return. After that, volleying is allowed and often the right choice.
- Volleying a ball that is going out. Volleying the serve or return is a fault even if it was flying long. Let it land.
- Mixing it up with the double bounce fault. Letting a ball bounce twice on your side is a fault on every shot (Rule 10.B.1). A bounce in the kitchen counts as a bounce like any other.
- A short, soft return. The receiving team's advantage comes from time. A deep return gives you time to reach the kitchen line before the third shot. A short return lets the serving team step in and hit at you while you are still moving.
How to use the rule to your advantage
When you are receiving
- Return deep, close to the baseline, and to the middle or to the weaker player.
- Walk forward after the return. You want to be at the kitchen line, split-stepping, by the time the third shot comes.
- Hit a higher, slower return if you need more time to get forward. Depth matters more than speed.
When you are serving
- Serve deep so the return comes from far back, which gives you more time.
- Both players stay at the baseline until the return bounces.
- Hit the third shot soft into the kitchen (a third shot drop), then move forward together. Practice it with the drop and reset drills in our pickleball drills guide.
For the full set of rules, including serving and the kitchen, see our pickleball rules guide and pickleball serving rules. If you are just starting, how to play pickleball for beginners walks through a first game.
For the player who waits for the bounce
We make pickleball gifts, and a few of our designs fit the player who stays back, waits for the bounce and plays the long game:
- For the server who never foot faults or rushes in: the embroidered Toes Behind the Line Hat ($32) or T-shirt ($27).
- For the patient player at the kitchen line: the Seven Feet of Patience T-Shirt ($27) or mug ($19).
- For the one who calls every score out loud: the Score Calling Is My Cardio T-Shirt ($27).
Our tees are soft cotton casual tees, for wearing to and from the court rather than as performance wear. Everything is printed to order in the US and ships free in the US. More ideas in pickleball gifts.
Frequently asked questions
Is the double bounce rule the same as the two-bounce rule?
In everyday talk, yes. Most players say "double bounce rule" for the two-bounce rule (Rule 10.A): the serve and the return must each bounce once. In the rulebook, though, a "double bounce" means a ball bouncing twice on one side, which is a fault (Rule 10.B.1).
Does the two-bounce rule apply in singles?
Yes. Rule 10.A applies to singles and doubles. The receiver lets the serve bounce, and the server lets the return bounce.
Can you volley the third shot in pickleball?
The receiving team can, as long as the volleying player is not touching the kitchen. The serving team cannot volley the return, so the third shot itself is always hit off a bounce.
Can the ball bounce twice in pickleball?
No, not before you hit it. A ball that bounces twice on your side is a fault against you (Rule 10.B.1). The exception is wheelchair play, where the ball may bounce twice (Rule 25.A.9).
What happens if you volley the serve in pickleball?
It is a fault against the receiver (Rule 10.A.1), so the serving team wins the rally and, in traditional scoring, scores a point. If the serve hits you before it bounces, that is also your fault (Rule 7.E.5).
Does the two-bounce rule apply with rally scoring?
Yes. Rally scoring changes how points are won, not the bounce rules (Rule 14.A.1).
Why is it called the two-bounce rule?
Because two bounces must happen before anyone may volley: one on the receiving side (the serve) and one on the serving side (the return).
Sources
- 2026 USA Pickleball Official Rulebook, Section 1, Section 2 (definition of Double Bounce and Fault), Rules 4.A, 5.B.4 to 5.B.6, 7.E, 7.E.5, 8.B, 9.B.2 to 9.B.4, 10.A, 10.A.1, 10.A.2, 10.B, 10.B.1, 11.A, 13.A, 14.A.1, 25.A.9, 25.B.3. The rulebook is the final word; this page is a plain-English summary.
- USA Pickleball rules summary