The two-bounce rule (or double-bounce rule) requires that, after the serve, the ball bounces once on the receiving side, and the return bounces once on the serving side, before either team may volley (hit out of the air). This means the first two shots of every rally must bounce. The rule neutralises serve-and-volley dominance, gives the receiving team time, extends rallies and underpins pickleball’s tactical depth — it’s the reason the serving team needs the third-shot drop to advance to the net safely.
Key points
- Serve and return must both bounce
- Then either team may volley
- Prevents serve-and-volley dominance
- Creates the need for the third-shot drop
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