Official Rulebook

Tenndel is a racket sport for players from tennis, pickleball, padel, and badminton backgrounds. It uses tennis scoring on a standard pickleball court, with pickleball paddles and a deflated tennis ball — not a wiffle ball. There is no non-volley zone: players may volley from anywhere on the court.

The sport is designed to be learned in a single session while offering enough depth for lifelong mastery. Tenndel is governed by Tenndel International and played under the official rules outlined in this document.

Matches can be played as singles or doubles. The official format for sanctioned play is doubles, though singles is permitted for recreational sessions.

Court: Standard pickleball court dimensions (20 feet × 44 feet for doubles). Unlike pickleball, Tenndel has no non-volley zone — the full court is in play.

Net: Standard pickleball net height (36 inches at sidelines, 34 inches at centre).

Paddles: USAPA-approved pickleball paddles. No modifications permitted in sanctioned play.

Ball: A standard tennis ball deflated to approximately 50% of its normal pressure. This is the key difference from pickleball — not a perforated plastic wiffle ball. The deflated tennis ball is heavier, bounces more predictably, and feels familiar to tennis, padel, and badminton players. Official Tenndel balls are recommended for tournament play.

Footwear: Non-marking court shoes required on all indoor surfaces.

Attire: Athletic clothing. No colour restrictions for recreational play.

The serve must be delivered underarm with a smooth, continuous motion. Overhead serving is not permitted.

The server must stand behind the baseline with both feet behind the line at the moment of contact.

The serve must be hit diagonally cross-court into the opponent's service box.

The ball must bounce once in the service box before the receiver may return it.

Only one serve attempt is permitted per point (no second serves, unlike tennis).

A fault occurs if: the serve is hit overhead; the ball lands outside the service box; the server steps on or over the baseline before contact; or the ball touches the net and does not land in the correct service box (let serves are not replayed).

Service alternates between partners in doubles after each point, following the same order as pickleball.

Tenndel uses standard tennis scoring: 0 (love), 15, 30, 40, game.

A player must win by two points to claim a game. At 40–40 (deuce), play continues until one player leads by two points.

A set is won by the first player or team to win six games, with a two-game margin required. At 6–6, a tiebreak is played to seven points (win by two).

A match is typically best of three sets in sanctioned play.

Only the serving player or team can score a point. If the receiver wins the rally, it is a side-out and no point is awarded.

Players may volley the ball from anywhere on the court — at the net, in mid-court, or from the baseline.

There is no non-volley zone or kitchen in Tenndel. Unlike pickleball, you are free to attack the net and volley without restriction.

A volley is any shot struck before the ball bounces on the court surface. Volleys are permitted on the serve return and throughout the rally.

Players must still respect the boundaries of the court. A volley that lands out of bounds is a fault.

Tenndel courts have no walls. The ball must remain in play within the court lines only.

Tenndel is built on accessibility, sportsmanship, and community. Players are expected to call their own lines honestly and resolve disputes with respect.

The sport is designed to be social. Sessions should prioritise inclusion — welcome new players, rotate partners, and celebrate effort as much as outcome.

City Representatives are the local ambassadors of Tenndel culture. They are responsible for maintaining the spirit of the game in their communities.

For official tournament rules, equipment specifications, and sanctioning guidelines, contact Tenndel International at rules@tenndel.com.