Discover Pickleball

at Magnuson Athletic Club

Magnuson Athletic Club now offers indoor Pickleball courts

Get ready to experience the fastest-growing sport that combines fun, fitness, and friendly competition — Pickleball! With over 4.8 million players nationwide, Whether you’re a seasoned player or just starting out, our courts and community are the perfect place to learn, play, and improve your game. 

Two Ways to Play:

  • Contact the front desk to rent the court. Subject to availability. 
  • Come during an open court timeslot (see below).

A limited number of free paddles and balls are available upon request.

Open Court — Your Pickleball Community Awaits!

Our open court times offer a flexible way to play without the commitment of renting a court. Whether you’re looking for a casual game or practice time to hone your skills, our courts are available to fit your schedule. Simply check our availability, grab your gear, snag some buddies, and head over for an energetic session. Let’s build our Pickleball community together!

Session Times:

  • Tuesdays, 1pm – 2pm
  • Thursdays, 2pm – 3pm
  • Saturdays, 1pm – 2pm

Why Play Pickleball?

  • Fun for All Ages: Enjoy a sport that’s accessible and engaging for players of all skill levels.  
  • Great Exercise: Improve your agility, balance, and coordination while breaking a sweat. 
  • Social Connection: Build friendships and bond with other players in a vibrant, inclusive environment.

Pickleball Basic Rules

Whether you’re new to the game or looking to brush up on the basics, understanding the key rules is essential for a smooth and enjoyable experience. From scoring to serving and everything in between, our quick guide will help you feel confident and ready to hit the court.

The server’s arm must move in an upward arc when hitting the ball, with contact made below waist level. The paddle head must also stay below the wrist at the point of contact. Alternatively, a ‘drop serve’ is allowed, bypassing these rules. The server’s feet cannot touch the court or cross the imaginary sidelines or centerline, and at least one foot must stay behind the baseline on the ground or playing surface. The serve must go diagonally crosscourt and land within the opposite diagonal court’s boundaries. Only one serve attempt is allowed per turn.

Service Sequence
In doubles, both players on a serving team can serve and score points until a fault is committed, except during the first service of a new game. The serve starts from the right-hand court, switching to the left-hand court after each point scored. This alternates until a fault ends the first server’s turn, and the second server takes over from the correct side of the court. The second server continues serving, switching sides with each point, until their team commits a fault, transferring the serve to the opposing team. When serves switch (side out), the opposing team starts from the right-hand court, and both players serve until two faults are committed. In singles, the server serves from the right-hand court when their score is even and from the left when odd. At the start of a new game, only one player from the serving team serves before a fault transfers service to the other team.

Traditional Side-Out Scoring

In traditional side-out scoring, points can only be earned by the serving team. Games are typically played to 11 points, with a requirement to win by 2 points. For tournament play, games may extend to 15 or 21 points, still requiring a 2-point margin to secure the win. When the serving team’s score is even (0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10), the player who started as the first server for that team will serve or receive from the right-side court. Conversely, when their score is odd (1, 3, 5, 7, 9), the first server will occupy the left-side court while serving or receiving.

Rally scoring takes a different approach, allowing a point to be scored after every rally, regardless of which team is serving. This system emphasizes continuous action and rewards success immediately after each point, streamlining gameplay and creating a faster-paced match.

When the ball is served, the receiving team must let it bounce before returning it. The serving team must also let the ball bounce once before hitting it back. This creates a two-bounce sequence—one bounce in each court. After these bounces, both teams can volley the ball (hit it before it bounces) or play it off the ground. The two-bounce rule helps neutralize serve-and-volley advantages and encourages longer, more strategic rallies.

The non-volley zone, or “the kitchen,” is the area within 7 feet on both sides of the net. Players cannot volley the ball while in this zone to prevent powerful smashes near the net. It’s a fault if a player steps into the zone, including the boundary lines, during a volley or if their momentum causes any part of their body, clothing, or equipment to touch it. Even after the ball is no longer in play, entering the zone due to momentum is still a fault. Players can legally be in the non-volley zone at any other time, as long as they aren’t volleying.

A fault occurs when a rule violation interrupts play. If the receiving team commits a fault, the serving team is awarded a point. On the other hand, if the serving team commits a fault, they either lose their serve or a side-out is declared, depending on the context.

A fault occurs when: 

  • A serve does not land within the confines of the receiving court
  • The ball is hit into the net on the serve or any return
  • The ball is volleyed before a bounce has occurred on each side
  • The ball is hit out of bounds
  • A ball is volleyed from the non-volley zone
  • A ball bounces twice before being struck by the receiver
  • A player, player’s clothing, or any part of a player’s paddle touches the net or the net post when the ball is in play
  • There is a violation of a service rule
  • A ball in play strikes a player or anything the player is wearing or carrying
  • A ball in play strikes any permanent object before bouncing on the court