A fun sport for all ages!
What is pickleball?
Pickleball is a paddleball sport (similar to a racquet sport)
that combines elements of badminton, table tennis, and tennis. Two or
four players use solid paddles made of wood or composite materials to
hit a perforated polymer ball, much like a wiffle ball, but it is more
durable, over a net. A non-volley zone (or kitchen) prevents volleys
close to the net, and the serving team cannot volley the return of
serve. Pickleball is enjoyed by people of all ages and athletic
abilities thanks to its ease of play and straightforward rules.
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Fun Facts
- Pickleball is the fastest growing sports in the U.S. 🇺🇸
- A fun sport that combines many elements of tennis 🎾, badminton 🏸 and ping-pong 🏓.
- Can be played as both a singles 🧍🏻♀️ and doubles 👫🏽 sport.
- The sport is named after a dog 🐶, named Pickles, who enjoyed chasing the ball while his owners played.
- A sport that can be enjoyed by all ages and skill levels! 🤩
The rules
Pickleball can be played as a singles or doubles game, the court and rules are the same for both. A pickleball game is normally played to 11 and must be won by 2. You can only score a point while serving. The serve must be hit with an underhand swinging motion and the ball contacted below the hips. When hitting the serve the server must be behind the baseline and serve into the adjacent service box as is done in tennis. When the ball is served the player on the receiving side must let the ball bounce once before hitting it. When the ball is returned to the serving side the ball must again bounce once before being hit. After the ball has bounced once on each side the ball can be hit without bouncing.
The court layout
A pickleball court is the same size as a doubles badminton court and measures 20×44 feet. In pickleball, the same court is used for both singles and doubles play. The net height is 36 inches at the sidelines and 34 inches in the middle. The court is striped similar to a tennis court with right and left service courts and a 7-foot non-volley zone in front of the net (referred to as the “kitchen”). Courts can be constructed specifically for pickleball or they can be converted using existing tennis or badminton courts.
Types of paddles
A pickleball paddle is smaller than a tennis racquet but larger than a ping-pong paddle, usually measuring between eight and 15 inches long. Originally, they were made of wood, but newer paddles are made of lightweight composite materials like aluminum or graphite. The shape of a pickleball paddle is all about preference when you play.
Types of pickleballs
Pickleballs are similar to whiffle balls, with holes throughout, but they are much more durable. They are about the same size as a baseball. Balls are made of plastic and vary based on indoor or outdoor use (outdoor pickleballs have smaller holes); they are traditionally white or yellow in color.
Learn more about pickleball in this video!
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