If you are a beginner and thinking ‘Can you play singles pickleball?’ The answer is yes!
Singles pickleball is a lot like doubles pickleball. The only difference is that there is one person on each side of the court. There are two ways to serve in singles pickleball: from the right side of the server’s court when the score is even, and from the left side when the score is odd.
Pickleball is a fun paddle sport similar to tennis. It combines tennis, table tennis, and badminton, blending excitement and competitiveness, while being inclusive. In this blog, we familiarize you with everything you need to know about both singles and skinny singles formats, from rules, strategies, and tips, so you can play a fun-filled game.
What is Pickleball Singles Game?
In a singles pickleball game, one player competes against another, which is a 1 v 1 game. The entire pickleball court is your responsibility, as you are alone on your side of the court without a partner to rely on. Pickleball singles requires excellent physical ability and cognitive skills as players have a larger portion of the court to cover.
The rules of pickleball singles differ from doubles rules.
The major change in the rules of pickleball singles is regarding the server sequence; no third number indicates the server, as there is no concept of server 1 and server 2 like in doubles. This means that the score in singles pickleball will have only two numbers, i.e., the first number will be the server’s score and the other will be the receiver’s score.
The first serve begins on the even/right side of the court. When the server wins, the server keeps the serve and switches sides to the other side of the court.
What is Skinny Singles?
Skinny singles is a form of singles pickleball that uses only half of the pickleball court width and is played one-versus-one. It is played by dividing the court in half along the centerline, reducing the playable court width. This creates a narrower court for more accurate, precise shots and strategic gameplay.
Skinny singles has the same rules and scoring as singles pickleball with a few variations. If you want to practice for doubles pickleball, this format is a great way to mimic the doubles game. Playing against your opponent both crosscourt and directly in front replicates the traditional doubles pickleball game.
How to Play Skinny Singles?
Skinny singles pickleball or mini-singles is similar to singles pickleball with some differences. However, it is closer to doubles than the conventional singles game, as you are responsible for half of the court, as in a doubles pickleball game. However, the serving is similar to the singles serving pickleball techniques. If the server faults, it results in a side-out. This is a word used in pickleball to refer to losing the opportunity to serve, and that opportunity goes to the opponent.
Skinny Singles Rules
Skinny singles is played on a standard pickleball court, but you do not use the entire court during the gameplay. Below are some skinny singles rules:
- Players should position themselves diagonally from each other on the opposite sides of the court. They need to assume the conventional serving and receiving position from their right side of the court, with the server standing behind the baseline.
- During a rally, play occurs only within the designated half of the court (determined by the server’s score) on each side of the net.
- The player’s score will determine the player’s serving position; when score is even, they will play from the right side of their court; when score is odd, they will play from the left side of their court.
Skinny Singles Scoring
The skinny singles scoring is similar to singles scoring rules.
- The game will be played to 11, win by 2.
- Matches will be played to 11, 15, or 21, win by 2.
Skinny Singles Court
The standard pickleball court width is reduced for skinny singles; the playable width for each player is 10 feet (half the standard court). The outer lines of the court include one sideline, baseline, and the center line that serves as other ‘sideline’ to the player’s side of the net.
Want to play Pickleball or Padel
How is Singles Pickleball Game Played?
The singles pickleball game is played similarly to the doubles, with a few modifications. Below are a few things you need to know about singles pickleball to guide you through the gameplay:
- The first serve for each player is done on the right-hand/even side.
If the server wins the point, the server will switch sides of the court. - The players will continue to serve, switching sides from right to left until a fault.
- If the server loses the rally, the serve goes to the receiver.
Remember that the score determines the serving side. If the score is even, serve from the right; if it’s odd, serve from the left. Remember these basic rules that will help you keep up with the pace of singles pickleball and play a thrilling game.
Rules of Singles Pickleball
- Server Rules: Similar to doubles, in singles pickleball, the first serve is taken from the right side of the court. To determine who serves first, methods like a coin toss are used. The pickleball one-on-one rules involve one player on each side. If the server wins the rally, they serve again but move to the left side of the court. Players continue serving from the opposite side until they lose a rally or commit a fault. If a fault happens, the service moves to the opponent, known as ‘side-out’. If it’s their first time to serve in the game, the serve is made from the right side of the court.
- Scoring Rules: In singles, there is no third number. The score in singles shows the number of points each player has won, for instance, 2-1. This tells that a player with 2 points is currently serving, as the server’s score is always known as first.
- Volleys: The volleys in the singles game are similar to doubles; there is no volleying in the non-volley zone or kitchen.
- Double Bounce: The double bounce rule also applies, meaning that the player receiving the serve must allow the ball to bounce before returning it to the other side of the court. Also, the server must wait for the ball to bounce before returning it.
Basic Court Setup For Singles
The pickleball court for singles is the same size as the court for doubles. The standard pickleball court dimensions are:
- 20 feet wide and 44 feet in length.
- The kitchen is 20 feet wide and 7 feet from the net towards the baseline.
- The net is 22 feet from each baseline and can be up to 22.5 feet wide.
How does Singles Differ From Doubles Pickleball?
Singles and doubles pickleball are two different forms of pickleball with few variations as mentioned below:
| Comparing Singles and Doubles Pickleball | ||
| Aspect | Singles | Doubles |
| Players | One vs. One | Two vs. Two |
| Scoring | Two-number call (e.g., “5–3”) | MindVibe Stage: Music for Inner Peace by Rohit Bakshi |
| Serving | One server per side, switching based on score parity (even/right, odd/left) | Two servers per team; only one server begins the game |
| Court Coverage | Entire court covered by one player | Court divided between two partners |
Serving: In pickleball doubles, each partner typically gets a turn to serve before losing the serve (side-out). The main exception is at the beginning of the game, where only the first server gets a turn before the side-out. Singles is easy: if the player messes up, they lose the serve immediately.
Scoring: In singles, there is no third number as there are only two players, while in doubles, the score is called out with a third number. For instance, the score in singles will be 1-2, while in doubles the score will be 3-2-2.
First Server-Exception: In singles, there is no ‘first server exception’ as there is only one server per side, while in doubles, for the first serve of the game, only one server on the first serving team gets to serve.
Scoring Differences Between Singles Vs Doubles
Although the rules of pickleball singles are similar to doubles, there are many differences. Most importantly, you are playing singles pickleball with one opponent. Another difference between singles and doubles is the scoring rules.
Doubles Scoring:
- Games to 11 points (win by 2; tournaments may use 15 or 21).
- Only the serving team can score.
- Serving rotation:
- First serve of the game: only Server 1 serves (no second server until the first loss).
- After that, both players serve alternately before the serve passes to the opponents.
- Score call: Three numbers:
- Example: “5-3-2” = serving team has 5, opponents have 3, Server 2 is serving.
Singles Scoring:
Games to 11 points (win by 2).
Only the server can score.
Serving position:
Right/even side if the server’s score is even.
Left/odd side if the server’s score is odd.
Score call: Two numbers
Example: “5-3” = server has 5, receiver has 3.
General Guidelines
- Win by 2 points – (that is 12-10, 16-14).
- Points are earned just on the serving side (team or person).
- When the score is 0 or even, the right/even service court is always used.
Pickleball Singles Tips for Beginners & Advanced Players
Singles pickleball is a fast-paced sport loved by people around the globe. It is easy to learn and can be played by people of all ages and skill levels. Here are some pickleball singles tips for beginners & advanced players to ace the game.
- Hit your serve near the middle T of the baseline, allowing you to get into a position for the next shot. This will also prevent the opponent from getting a better angle to return the ball.
- Ensure to serve deeply to keep your opponent back behind the baseline; forcing them to take longer to return the shot.
- If you are the receiver, hit an arcing and deeper return shot, giving you more time to move up to the kitchen line.
- Begin from the middle of the court, after you have hit a shot move to the center and don’t leave a large space for your opponent to focus on.
- Look at your opponent’s weakness, usually the backhand, and use it to your advantage. If you notice them moving one way, hit your shot the other side, and it’s challenging to reverse that momentum, allowing you to score.
Essential Singles Pickleball Strategies
If you are looking to take your pickleball singles strategy to the next level, here are some pickleball singles tips:
- If your opponent moves to the left or right, you do the same but stay near the centerline.
- Try keeping the returns deep and near the corners.
- Try to bring the opponent to use their backhand, as most players are weaker at backhand shots.
- Keep changing shots so the opponent cannot predict your shots, try making them think you are hitting one shot but hit another shot.
- Use of lobs, but only when required and your opponent is at the non-volley line.
- In case your opponent has managed to get to the non-volley line and you are at the back, you have 3 options:
- You hit a hard shot.
- A drop shot that hits the ground at the opponent’s feet.
- A lob shot, which is a high-lofted & deep hit.
Advanced Singles Pickleball Strategy
As you progress, you build better and more controlled skills. Here are some pickleball singles strategies for advanced players to take your game to the next level:
- Keep Track of Your Shots: One of the main advanced pickleball strategies is tracking your shots. On your return of serve or third shot, chase the ball up to the court after you hit. This will reduce the space for your opponent to aim, as you are covering all the angles
- Move into the Non-volley Zone: The best pickleball technique is cutting off the opponent’s angles on the court. For this work, your way into the non-volley zone and ensure you cut off the angles.
- Strong Placements & Passing Shots: Strong placement and fundamentals are key advanced pickleball strategies for singles and doubles. Especially in singles, where you are responsible for your side of the court without any partner to rely on.
- Angles & Passing Shots: This is crucial in singles pickleball as it’s about making the most of the open court. Take benefit of all angles and passing shots to defeat your opponent.
Conclusion
Pickleball is a versatile sport accommodating players of all ages, fitness levels, and skill sets, whether you are a group of four or two, pickleball welcomes all. So, if you are only two people at your next pickleball game, play pickleball singles and enjoy a day filled with thrill and competitiveness. So grab your pickleball paddle and head to the pickleball court near you!
Want to play Pickleball or Padel
Freequently Asked Questions
How do you play pickleball singles?
Pickleball singles can be played by two players on a standard pickleball court with a server serving diagonally across the court and hitting the ball to the receiver side.
How to be better at singles pickleball?
To improve your gameplay in singles pickleball focus on strong fundamentals, placements, and varying shots that are deep served focusing on opponents’ weaknesses.
When to drop in singles pickleball?
A drop is a strategic shot to surprise your opponent by making the ball land near the net, making it hard to reach quickly. It should be used as your third shot after the receiver has returned the serve, particularly when you notice they are struggling to hit deep returns.
What are the 5 P's of pickleball?
The 5 P’s of pickleball are Positioning, Patience, Placement, Power, and Percentage.
Is singles pickleball good exercise?
Singles pickleball can be a good workout as you have to cover the entire court on your own.
