The Pickleball 55 Rulebook
Ease in with an easy play style, play 10-minute games where longer rallies earn your team more points, then wind down.
Two players, opposite sides of the net, helping each other enjoy the next shot. You play as one team: every point belongs to both of you, and nobody wins or loses.
The basic rules
Cooperate across the net. Play comfortable, returnable shots: every shot is hit so your partner can return it.
Keep standard playing rules. Standard serve legality, boundaries, bounce, volley, and kitchen rules apply. The serve and its return must each bounce before being hit. After these two bounces, you may also volley (hit the ball in the air, before it bounces), but only from outside the kitchen.The kitchen is the zone next to the net, and it includes its line. After a volley, do not step or fall into it. You may step in to play a ball that has bounced. See the USA Pickleball rules summary for the standard rules.
Serve gently and take turns. Use a normal pickleball serve: underhand and diagonal. Take turns serving, one rally each.This replaces the usual score-based serving order.
Let difficult balls go. No deliberate lobs or overhead smashes. If one occurs, end the rally and restart; that rally scores nothing. Standard faults also end a rally. Nobody loses points for a miss or for stopping.Nobody has to run back to the baseline or hit shots in a set order. Either player can pause, request a different pace, switch play styles, or finish. Stop play before retrieving balls and keep spare balls out of the playing area.
How to play: ease in, games, wind down
Ease in for 5 minutes. Gentle movement and easy hitting with an easy play style, such as Soft touch or Step back.
Play games: each is 10 minutes, as many as you want. This is where you score. Play any style you like to keep rallies going: any legal, returnable shot, with the basic rules above. Rest briefly between games.
Wind down for 5 minutes. Finish with a relaxing play style, such as Half speed or Pick a side. End with a short walk and an easy stretch.
Examples: 2 games are 20 minutes of play, 30 minutes with easing in and winding down. 4 games are 40 minutes of play, 50 in all. Add short rests between games as you like. Either player may finish early, and the game timer is a chance to pause, never a reason to keep playing.
Team score: longer rallies earn more
A rally starts with the serve and ends when the ball is out of play: a fault, a miss, or a ball you let go. Score each rally by the highest level it reached.
| Level | Rally time | Points |
|---|---|---|
| - | under 10 seconds | 0 |
| 1 | 10 to 19 seconds | 1 |
| 2 | 20 to 29 seconds | 3 |
| 3 | 30 to 44 seconds | 6 |
| 4 | 45 to 59 seconds | 10 |
| 5 | 60 to 89 seconds | 15 |
| 6 | 90 seconds or more | 25 |
Longer rallies earn more. Points grow faster than time, so one long rally beats several short ones: a 60-second rally (15) is worth more than two 30-second rallies (12), and a 90-second rally (25) is worth more than a 60 and a 30 together (21).
90 seconds is the top. It is hard to reach, but possible. Once a rally reaches it, the rally has earned all it can. Ease off and let the next tough ball go.Rallies under 10 seconds score nothing, and they are still good play.
Estimates are fine. No watch? Count "one-thousand-one" in your head. Not sure between two levels? Score the lower one.
A game is 10 minutes. Set a timer, finish the rally in progress when it sounds, then add up your points. Only games score; play styles do not. You choose how many games to play.
Time it with a watch or phone. You need two things: a 10-minute countdown timer for the game, and a stopwatch that counts up for each rally. Most digital watches and smartwatches have both, and so does any phone.Two watches: one player runs the game timer, the other times rallies. One watch: use it for rallies, and leave a phone timer on the bench.
Keeping score, step by step
on a wrist, counts up
phone on the bench, counts down
After each rally
- Start the stopwatch as the serve is hit.
- Stop it when the rally ends: a fault, a miss, or a ball you let go.
- Read the seconds and call out the level, such as "Level 3!"
- Add one to that level: tap + on the game card, or make a mark on a paper card.
- Reset the stopwatch for the next serve.
After each game
- When the 10-minute timer sounds, finish the rally in progress and score it.
- For each level, multiply the number of rallies by its points, then add them up. The game card does this for you.
- Save the game on the game card, or write the total down.
- Add it to your team score, then rest and start the next game if you like.
Example game: four rallies at level 1 (4 points), three at level 2 (9), two at level 3 (12), and one at level 5 (15) make 40 points.
Add each game to your team score, a running total that belongs to the two of you. There are no rankings against other teams; the only score that matters is your own, growing over time. Tally on your phone or print a paper card with the game card.
Scoring is optional. On any day, you can simply rally.
Play styles: easy, relaxing, and fun
These are suggestions, not rules, and they are unscored. Start with an easy one, finish with a relaxing one, and try a fun one whenever you like. Mix them, change them, or make up your own. Missing a style's aim is never a fault: keep playing, or let the ball go.
Soft touch. Both stand near the kitchen line and trade gentle shots that bounce in the kitchen.Easy. Best for easing in. Normal pickleball rule: while you are in the kitchen or on its line, you may only hit a ball that has bounced.
Step back. Start with Soft touch. Every minute or so, both take a few steps back, until you are rallying from the baseline.Easy. Best for easing in, because it warms you up a little at a time. Do it in reverse to wind down.
Half speed. Play ordinary rallies at about half your usual pace. Let the ball come to you.Relaxing. Best for winding down.
Pick a side. Agree on forehands or backhands, and give each other shots to that side.Relaxing. A steady rhythm for the start or end of a session. Add straight ahead or crosscourt if you like.
Target. Each of you names a spot on your side, such as "the middle of my service box." Your partner aims gentle shots there. Anywhere near the spot is good enough.Fun. Any time. Use a spot, not an object, so nothing on the court can trip you.
Switch hands. Try a few gentle rallies with your other hand, then switch back.Fun. Any time. Keep it short and easy.
Four players? Play the same way, two per side. Everything works the same, and one person keeps the game card.
The format is intended to encourage comfortable, cooperative play, not guarantee injury prevention. An enjoyable session matters more than any score.
Tried it? Tell us what worked and what did not: alex@i80.com. The rules improve with every report.
Rally together. Your way.
Refined with play. v2.2, October 9, 2026: adds level 6 for rallies of 90 seconds or more (25 points), and replaces themes with six play styles (easy, relaxing, and fun) plus a short walk and stretch to wind down. v2.1, October 7, 2026: adds the team score, 10-minute games, and themes for easing in and winding down.