The 2026 updates to the official USA Pickleball rulebook focus on improving clarity to support consistent rule enforcement, addressing past ambiguities in wording. The contents have also been reorganized to separate general rules of play, which apply to all games including recreational play, from rules that apply mostly to tournament play. I’ve listed some of the key changes below:

• Act of volleying is more clearly defined. This was moved from rule 9.B.1 to the definitions section. Official definition: The act of volleying begins when the ball is hit out of the air before bouncing (i.e. volleyed) and ends when the player’s movement from the follow-through action (i.e., momentum) stops.

• Round robin tiebreaker process is more clearly defined. The round robin tiebreaker process was defined in 12.C.4 in the 2025 rulebook. This has moved to 15.B.4 in the 2026 rulebook. Ties must be broken in accordance with the sequence in 15.B.4.a through 15.B.4.f (a fifth tiebreaker has been added to decide standings).

• Spectators must not be consulted on any calls. Previous wording on 13.C.2.a stated “Spectators should not be consulted on any calls.” This has moved to section 8.J and the wording has been updated to more firmly state “Spectators must not be consulted on any call.” The change from “should not” to “must not” makes this rule mandatory rather than just a suggestion. This applies to recreational and tournament play. In a non-officiated tournament match, the players may summon the Head Referee or Tournament Director if their opponent or partner uses spectators for any calls. In an officiated match the referee could issue a Verbal or Technical warning, or Technical Foul for violation or repeated violation of this rule.

• Ejection for willful damage to property. 22.L states that the Tournament Director is authorized to eject a player from the tournament or expel a player from the venue for any flagrant, egregious behavior that is injurious or deemed to be detrimental to the tournament. The update was made to encompass other behavior, such as damage to the venue, that the Tournament Director feels is appropriate to remove a player or spectator.
  
• Penalties before a match begins. 22.A The referee is authorized to assess verbal warnings and penalties to a singles player or doubles team any time during a match while the players are in the vicinity of the court, including before the match starts. This rule reminds players that they are responsible for their behavior when the match has been called and, on their way to and arriving at the court.

• Double hit rule clarified to cover multiple hits. 10.D Balls can be hit more than once, but the stroke must be continuous in a single-direction by one player. This clarification allows the rare triple hit, which will be treated the same as a double hit.

• Partner disagreement. 8.H The word “doubt” has been removed to clearly state that when partners disagree on a line call, then conflict exists, and the team’s call will be “in.”

• Games can potentially be won by a Technical Foul. 4.B The first singles player or doubles team to score the winning point wins the game. This means you do not have to be serving to win the game. If the receiving team is only one point away from game point and the serving team is assessed a Technical Foul, the receiving team is awarded one point—giving them the game.

• Paddle adding spin to the ball at contact during a serve is allowed. 7.B.2 Some natural rotation of the ball is expected during any release of the ball. The server must not manipulate the ball to add spin with any part of the server’s body or the paddle prior to hitting the ball to make the serve, except that the server may allow the ball to roll off the face of the paddle by gravity. Spin may be applied to the ball upon contact by the paddle. This means a player may legally apply spin to the ball with the paddle during the serve, as long as all other serving rules are followed. In other words, adding spin at the moment of paddle contact is allowed. This is one of the most misunderstood rules. When the ball is released—whether for a volley serve or a drop serve—no spin may be applied by the hand. However, spin may be added by the paddle when it contacts the ball. In other words, players are allowed to apply spin to the serve using their paddle, just not with their hand during the release.

• Prompt line calls. 8.F.3 If a player returns the ball, their “out” call (made audibly by voice, visibly by hand signal, or both) must be made before the ball is hit by the opponent or before the ball becomes dead; otherwise, play continues. If a player does not return the ball, an “out” call made promptly will be recognized, even if the ball becomes dead before the “out” call is made.

• Rescinding a Head Referee call. 20.J Players may appeal any officiating decision to the Head Referee or Tournament Director. After a request for the Head Referee or Tournament Director has been acknowledged by the referee, the player may rescind the request; however, the player or team will be charged a standard time-out. When a standard time-out is not available, the referee will assess a Technical Foul against the player or team. The rule change makes it a penalty to request a Head Referee or Tournament Director and then withdraw the request after benefiting from the delay.

• Rescinding a medical time-out request. 21.C.4 If the player rescinds the medical time-out after the medical personnel have been called and before they have arrived, a standard time-out will be charged and the medical time-out will not be charged. When a standard time-out is not available, the referee will assess a Technical Foul against the player or team for delay of game.

• Rally scoring. 14.A.2 A point is scored by the singles player or doubles team that wins each rally. This means that you no longer have to serve to win the game or match. When the receiving team has game point, they can win the rally and thereby win the game or match, since a point is now awarded on every rally.

• Clarification on what makes a volley serve legal. 7.C The volley serve must meet the following arc, paddle head, and ball height requirements in order to be considered legal. NOTE: The addition of the word “clearly” makes the rule more enforceable.
  • The server’s paddle must be moving in a clear upward arc when the paddle contacts the ball.
  • The highest point of the paddle head must clearly not be above the highest part of the server’s wrist joint when the paddle contacts the ball.
  • The ball must clearly be no higher than the server’s waist when the paddle contacts the ball.

• Wrong score called. A player may stop a rally to ask for a score correction before the return of serve is hit and before the ball becomes dead. The additional clarifications specifically state the appropriate actions in various scenarios when an incorrect score has been called.
  • 6.F.1 Replay – Incorrect Score Called. When an incorrect score is called and the rally is stopped before the return of serve and before the ball becomes dead, the rally must be replayed with the correct score called.
  • 6.F.2 Fault – Correct Score Called. When a player stops a rally to challenge a correct score call, it is a fault against the player who stopped the rally.
  • 6.F.3 Fault – Late Challenge to Score Call. When a player stops a rally to ask for a score correction after the return of serve is hit, it is a fault against the player who stopped the rally.
  • 6.F.4 Incorrect Score Identified After Rally. When an incorrect score was called and the rally is completed, the result of the rally stands, and the score must be corrected before the next serve.

• Faults for extra ball. 24.B An extra ball carried by a player during a rally must not be visible to the opponent and must remain in possession of the player. When an extra ball carried by a player is visible to an opponent or falls to the playing surface while the ball is live, it is a fault against the player. This levies a stricter penalty for a player dropping or displaying a non-playing ball during a live rally.

• Paddle or ball abuse. Aggressively or recklessly striking or throwing a ball or paddle in frustration or anger that strikes an individual or damages facility property can result in match forfeit, ejection from the tournament, and/or expulsion from the venue.

• Time-out requests. 21.A.2 Any player may call a time-out between rallies before the next serve occurs or between games. The time-out must be called audibly by voice or visibly by hand signal, or both, and must be directed toward the opposing player or team and to the referee. When a player calls a time-out after the serve has been hit, it is a fault against that player. If the time-out call is not made audibly by voice or visibly by hand, the referee may assess a Verbal warning or Technical warning for delay of game. Players must ensure that their opponents—and the officiating team, if present—are aware that play has been paused for an official time-out. Players may not leave the playing area without clearly calling for a time-out.

Challenger or Champion level USA Pickleball members may submit rule change requests between April 1 and June 1 in order for their suggestions to be considered for implementation the following year. You can learn more about the rule revision process here.