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Court Reservations Team Play
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- Service always begins from the right hand court. The server must keep both feet behind the baseline during the serve with one foot on the court surface or ground at the time the ball is struck. The serve must be underhand with the ball contacted below the waist and the paddle head below the wrist when the ball is struck. Serves must travel diagonally and land between the non-volley zone and the baseline of the service court opposite of the serving player. Players must announce the score prior to serving. The team on the North end of the court serves first.
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At the start of each new game, the first serving team is allowed only one fault before giving up the ball to the opponents (see list of faults below). Thereafter both members of each team will serve and fault before the ball is turned over to the opposing team.
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Each player is allowed only one serving attempt unless it is a “let” serve. A let serve occurs when the serve hits the net and the ball lands in the opponent's service court. If this occurs, the serve is played over. If the ball hits the net and lands in the non-volley zone, it is a fault and the ball is not re-served.
- A team scores points only when serving. When the serving team scores a point, the server moves to the other side of the serving team’s court. If the serve rotation is done properly, the serving team's score will always be even when the player that started on the right side is on the right side and odd when that player is on the left side. Games are played to 11 points and you must win by 2 points.
- Double Bounce Rule: Each team must play their first shot off the bounce. That is, the receiving team must let the serve bounce and the serving team must let the return of the serve bounce before playing it. After the two bounces have occurred, the ball can either be volleyed or played off the bounce.
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Non-volley Zone: To volley a ball means to hit it in the air without letting it bounce. All volleying must be done with the player’s feet behind the non-volley zone.
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The ball may only bounce once per side; after the ball is hit by a player it must travel to the other side of the net.
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Faults:
1) Hitting the ball out of bounds.
2) Volleying the ball before it has bounced once on each side.
3) Hitting the ball into the net or hitting the net with your paddle or body.
4) Hitting the ball in the non-volley zone before it is allowed to bounce.
5) Stepping on or over the non-volley zone line on a follow through.
6) Server swings the paddle with the intent of hitting the ball but misses.
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Strategies:
- Hit the ball to where your opponent isn’t.
- Keep your opponent moving.
- Quick, low shots are often the best shots.
- Always try to stand in the middle of your area; it is easier to cover the area you are guarding.
- Keep the ball low; only hit it high and far when you need to recover.
- Pickle ball is a game of shot placement and patience, not brute power or strength.
Power is important but is only a small part of the game.