If you’re new to the game and want to avoid giving away easy points, understanding faults in pickleball is a must. A fault occurs when a player breaks a rule during play, resulting in the loss of a rally or serve. It may sound simple, but many beginners get tripped up by common mistakes they don’t even realize they’re making. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the different types of pickleball faults, explain the latest rule changes, and give you practical tips to avoid them.
What Is a Pickleball Fault?
Pickleball faults are any rule violation that results in the end of a rally. When a fault occurs, the opposing side either wins the point or gains the serve. Faults can happen on the serve, during a rally, or even after a ball is considered dead. They range from stepping in the wrong place to hitting the ball incorrectly.
Common examples include:
- Hitting the ball out of bounds
- Committing a foot fault
- Volleying the ball while in the non-volley zone
- Breaking the double bounce rule
- Faults on the serve due to form or positioning
Knowing the rules isn’t just about avoiding penalties—it’s about playing confidently and fairly. To explore other essential skills for beginners, check out our article on pickleball footwork, which helps with court coverage and positioning.
Serving Pickleball Faults: Get the Game Started Right
Serving faults are among the most common pickleball errors. These typically happen when the serve technique or server’s position is incorrect. The serve must be underhand, and the ball must be struck below the waist with the paddle head below the wrist.
Another important rule is the drop serve, where the ball must fall naturally from your hand before being hit. However, a major update from the USA Pickleball Rulebook 2025 states that players can no longer add spin to the ball before a drop serve. This rule change ensures fairness and eliminates deceptive spins that give servers an unfair edge.
Also, make sure your feet are behind the baseline and you’re serving from the correct side of the court. If not, it’s a fault.
Foot Faults: Watch Your Step
Foot placement plays a crucial role in avoiding faults. A foot fault occurs when a player’s foot crosses the baseline before serving or when they step into the kitchen while volleying. You must remain completely behind the baseline until after the ball is struck during a serve.
During rallies, foot faults most commonly occur in the non-volley zone, also known as the kitchen. You’re not allowed to volley (hit the ball out of the air) while standing in or touching the kitchen line. Even if your momentum carries you into the kitchen after a volley, that’s still considered a fault.
Practicing solid court coverage and maintaining a balanced ready position can help reduce these errors. One effective strategy is to use a split step just before reacting to your opponent’s shot, keeping you light on your feet and ready to reposition quickly.
The Kitchen Rules: Understanding the Non-Volley Zone
The kitchen—or the non-volley zone (NVZ)—is a seven-foot area on either side of the net where you’re not allowed to volley the ball. This rule is in place to encourage longer rallies and fair play.
Faults in the NVZ typically happen when:
- A player volleys the ball while touching or standing inside the kitchen
- Momentum causes a player to step into the kitchen after a volley
- The paddle or any part of your body touches the kitchen while volleying
To stay fault-free in this zone, only step into the kitchen when the ball has bounced. Try to reset the rally by dinking or hitting soft shots instead of going for aggressive volleys near the net.
Double Bounce Rule: Don’t Rush the Net
One of the unique rules in pickleball is the double bounce rule, which is simple but often overlooked by new players. After the serve, each side must let the ball bounce once before hitting it. That means:
- The receiving team must let the serve bounce.
- The serving team must then let the return bounce.
Only after those two bounces can players start volleying. If a team volleys before the second bounce, it’s a fault.
This rule promotes longer rallies and gives both teams a fair chance to get into the point, especially in doubles.
Ball Contact Faults: Keep It Clean
To avoid pickleball faults, players need to ensure the ball is struck cleanly and legally. Here are some contact-related faults to look out for:
- Double hits: Striking the ball more than once in a single swing.
- Carrying: Lifting or slinging the ball instead of striking it cleanly.
- Illegal contact: Hitting the ball with a hand or body part instead of the paddle.
- Paddle violations: Using an altered paddle or striking the ball with something other than the paddle face.
These infractions can be subtle but are strictly monitored in tournament settings. In casual games, just focus on making clean contact and using proper technique.
Other Faults That Happen Frequently
Not all pickleball faults are obvious. Some errors happen during play and catch even seasoned players off guard. These include:
- Hitting the net: If the ball hits the net and doesn’t go over, it’s a fault (except during serves, where net serves that land correctly are now live).
- Ball landing out: If your shot lands outside the sidelines or baseline, it’s a fault.
- Contacting the net: Touching the net with your paddle, clothing, or body during play results in a fault.
- Striking a permanent object: If the ball hits ceiling beams, lights, or other fixtures before landing, that’s also a fault—especially in indoor settings.
Situational awareness and good shot selection can help you avoid these.
Recent Pickleball Fault Rule Changes (2025)
Rule updates from 2025 introduced a few changes to faults that all players should be aware of:
- Pre-spun drop serves are banned. The ball must be dropped naturally without adding spin before hitting it.
- Let serves are now live. If a serve hits the net but still lands in the correct service box, it’s considered in play and must be returned.
These updates, outlined in the official rulebook, were made to streamline gameplay and reduce arguments over service faults.
Tips to Avoid Pickleball Faults
Improving your awareness and technique can go a long way toward playing fault-free pickleball. Here are some quick tips:
- Practice serving within the correct boundary lines.
- Use the ready position and maintain balance throughout rallies.
- Avoid rushing to the net too soon—let the ball bounce.
- Stay alert when playing near the non-volley zone.
- Know the rules and keep up with updates regularly.
- These small habits can prevent you from making common errors and boost your confidence on court.
These small habits can prevent you from making common errors and boost your confidence on court.
FAQs About Pickleball Faults
What is considered a fault in pickleball?
A fault is any violation of the rules during play—such as stepping into the kitchen while volleying, serving incorrectly, or letting the ball bounce twice.
How many pickleball faults are allowed?
In doubles, each player gets one serve per turn (except at the start of the game). A fault ends their service opportunity. In singles, you lose the serve after one fault.
Can the ball hit the net and still be in play?
Yes, especially during a serve. If the ball clips the net and lands in the correct area, it’s now considered live under the new rules.
What happens if a player steps into the kitchen after hitting a volley?
That’s a fault. Momentum doesn’t excuse the rule—you can’t enter the NVZ if you volley the ball.
Conclusion: Know the Rules, Play Smart
Mastering the rules around pickleball faults isn’t just about memorization—it’s about building awareness and forming good habits. From knowing where to place your feet to adjusting to updated serve rules, understanding what causes a fault helps you play cleaner, smarter, and with more confidence. As you play more games, you’ll start spotting potential faults in real time—and avoiding them will become second nature.
