Skinny singles pickleball: court, rules and mini-singles
Half-court singles for two players. A to-scale court diagram, the official mini-singles rules and where casual games differ.
How does skinny singles work in pickleball?
Skinny singles is half-court singles for two players. USA Pickleball sanctions it as mini-singles: a standard court with the centerline extended through each non-volley zone, and only one half of each end in play, set by each player's own score. Casual games can skip the extra line.
| USA Pickleball mini-singles | Casual skinny singles | |
|---|---|---|
| Court | A standard court plus an extra line that carries the centerline through each non-volley zone (Rule 14.B.1.c). | The guides we read differ: one says no extra lines are needed, another says to draw one. |
| Half in play | The right or left half at each end, set by each player's own score (Rule 14.B.1.a). | The guides differ: one agreed half for both players, or positions that follow the score. |
| Boundaries | Baseline, outer sideline and centerline. The other half is out (Rule 14.B.1.b). | The centerline works as the other sideline. |
| Scoring | The same as standard singles. | Described as games to 11. |
Court
- USA Pickleball mini-singles
- A standard court plus an extra line that carries the centerline through each non-volley zone (Rule 14.B.1.c).
- Casual skinny singles
- The guides we read differ: one says no extra lines are needed, another says to draw one.
Half in play
- USA Pickleball mini-singles
- The right or left half at each end, set by each player's own score (Rule 14.B.1.a).
- Casual skinny singles
- The guides differ: one agreed half for both players, or positions that follow the score.
Boundaries
- USA Pickleball mini-singles
- Baseline, outer sideline and centerline. The other half is out (Rule 14.B.1.b).
- Casual skinny singles
- The centerline works as the other sideline.
Scoring
- USA Pickleball mini-singles
- The same as standard singles.
- Casual skinny singles
- Described as games to 11.
Skinny singles and mini-singles
Skinny singles is the casual name. Mini-singles is USA Pickleball's name for the version in its rulebook: Rule 14.B in the 2026 Official Rulebook, read 2 November 2026, calls it a half-court variation of standard singles. USA Pickleball's Mini-Singles FAQ (2022) says several kinds are played recreationally, that this is the only one it approved for sanctioned tournaments, and that it is not approved for golden ticket tournaments, Diamond Regionals or the National Championships. It describes the game as less taxing on the body while keeping dinking and driving in play.
Where casual games differ from the official rules, this page says so. It describes the official game first, then the casual versions.
The court, to scale
- The court is 20 ft wide and 44 ft long. The centerline splits each end into two halves of 10 ft.
- The non-volley zone, the kitchen, reaches 7 ft from the net on each side, so 15 ft of court lies between its line and the baseline.
- The arrow is the serve, from the server's right half to the receiver's right half: a diagonal, because they face each other.
The 20 by 44 foot court is Rule 3.A.1, and the non-volley zone's 7 feet from the net is Rule 3.A.4.c. The 10 foot halves and the 15 feet between each non-volley zone line and its baseline are arithmetic from those numbers: 20 divided by two, and 44 minus 14, divided by two.
Who plays from which half
In official mini-singles each player's position comes from their own score, whether they are serving or receiving. An even score means the right court, and an odd score means the left court. Whichever court a player is in is the one in play at that end, and the centerline, including the extra line through the non-volley zone, is the other sideline of the in-play court. A ball must land in the opponent's court that is in play (Rule 14.B.3).
Because each player's court follows their own score, the receiver does not switch courts when the server scores. The Mini-Singles Format Instructions give the four cases:
| Server's score | Receiver's score | Server plays from | Receiver plays from | Rally |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Even | Even | Right court | Right court | Cross-court |
| Odd | Odd | Left court | Left court | Cross-court |
| Even | Odd | Right court | Left court | Straight across |
| Odd | Even | Left court | Right court | Straight across |
Both scores even
- Server plays from
- Right court
- Receiver plays from
- Right court
- Rally
- Cross-court
Both scores odd
- Server plays from
- Left court
- Receiver plays from
- Left court
- Rally
- Cross-court
Server even, receiver odd
- Server plays from
- Right court
- Receiver plays from
- Left court
- Rally
- Straight across
Server odd, receiver even
- Server plays from
- Left court
- Receiver plays from
- Right court
- Rally
- Straight across
Serving, faults and scoring
All standard singles rules apply except Rule 14.B's changes. The server serves to the receiver's correct court, keeps serving while they win rallies, and switches courts after each point. A side out follows when the server loses a rally.
Serving from the wrong court is a fault. A receiver standing in the wrong court is not: the instructions say there is no fault for incorrect receiver position, but a serve that lands outside the in-play court is out, and the receiver can call it. Read the Format Instructions for the examples.
Scoring is the same as standard singles, according to the FAQ. In the rulebook's standard scoring only the server scores, and a game is typically played to 11 and won by a 2 point lead.
Casual versions
Casual guides describe the game in different ways. Bounce.game's guide (19 June 2026) says casual play needs no extra lines and both players use the same agreed half. The Dink (29 March 2023) gives two versions: in one the server's position changes with the score and the returner stays put, and in the other neither player moves. Play Pickleball (page dated 02/26/2024) says to draw a line extending the centerline through the kitchen and treat the centerline as the other sideline.
Agree which version you are playing before the first serve. USA Pickleball's FAQ (2022) notes that several kinds are played recreationally and that only the version in Rule 14.B was approved for sanctioned tournaments, so a casual setup is not the official game.
How to set up a game
- Mark the extra line if you want the official game. Painter's tape or non-marking tape on the centerline, through each non-volley zone. The FAQ says the colour need not match the other lines.
- Pick the version. Official mini-singles, or one of the casual setups, and say which.
- Say the score before every serve. Each player's court depends on it, so both players need to know both scores.
- Play standard singles scoring. Games are normally played to 11 and won by 2.
- Take the extra line up before doubles. USA Pickleball asks tournament directors to remove it so it does not distract doubles players.
Common mistakes
- Moving the receiver when the server scores. In mini-singles the receiver's court follows their own score, so they stay put.
- Hitting into the wrong half. A ball that lands outside the in-play court is out.
- Leaving out the extra line in the official game. Rule 14.B.1.c says it must be provided.
- Assuming everyone plays it the same way. The casual versions differ, so agree one.
More formats
With three players, see cutthroat. For bigger groups, see the round robin guide or compare every format on the formats page. PickleCrew's app does not run skinny singles.
Frequently asked questions
What are the skinny singles pickleball court dimensions?
The court is the standard 20 feet wide and 44 feet long, and each half is 10 feet wide. In a casual game where both players share one lengthwise half, the playing area is 10 by 44 feet. In official mini-singles the half in play at each end changes with the score.
What is skinny singles in pickleball?
Half-court singles for two players. USA Pickleball's name for its sanctioned version is mini-singles, which it describes as half-court singles that is less taxing on the body but still strategic. Casual games vary in how they set up the halves.
How do you play skinny singles pickleball?
Play singles on a standard court using one half of each end. In official mini-singles each player plays from the right half when their own score is even and the left half when it is odd, with an extra line carrying the centerline through the non-volley zones. Casual games may use one agreed half for both players.
How is skinny singles scored?
USA Pickleball's FAQ says mini-singles is scored the same as standard singles: only the server scores, and a game is normally played to 11 and won by 2. The casual guides we read also describe games to 11.