What Is Pickleball?

Pickleball is a paddle sport that combines elements of tennis, badminton, and ping-pong. It is played with a paddle and a perforated plastic ball, similar in size to a wiffle ball. The game can be enjoyed indoors or outdoors on a small, rectangular court with a low net. Here’s a more detailed description of the game:

Court and Equipment:

Court: A pickleball court is 20 feet wide and 44 feet long, which is about one-fourth the size of a standard tennis court. It is divided into halves by a net that is slightly shorter than a tennis net.

Net Height: The net is set at 34 inches at the center and 36 inches at the sidelines.

Paddle: The paddle is a flat, rectangular piece of equipment with a handle, similar to a large table tennis paddle. It’s usually made of materials like wood, composite, or graphite.

Ball: The pickleball is a lightweight plastic ball with evenly spaced holes, resembling a wiffle ball. It’s designed to allow for controlled flight and bounce.

Gameplay:

Serving: The game starts with an underhand serve. The server must stand behind the baseline and serve diagonally across the net to the opponent’s service area.

Double Bounce Rule: Both teams must let the ball bounce once on their side before they can start volleying.

Volleying: Once the ball has bounced once on each side, players can either volley (hit the ball without letting it bounce) or play it off a bounce.

Non-Volley Zone (Kitchen): This is a seven-foot area on either side of the net. Players cannot volley the ball while standing inside the non-volley zone. They can step into the zone after the ball has bounced, but must return behind the line before volleying.

Scoring: Only the serving team can score points. Points are scored when the serving team wins a rally. The first team to reach 11 points (winning by 2) wins the game.

Rotation: After scoring a point, the serving team switches sides, and the server on the winning side gets to serve to the opposing team.

Tiebreaker: If the score reaches 10-10, the game continues until one team has a two-point advantage.

Strategy:

Players often focus on strategic positioning, effective serving, and controlling the pace of the game.

The non-volley zone (kitchen) is a crucial area for strategic play, as players must carefully time their movements to avoid entering it before they’re allowed.

Team communication and understanding each other’s playing style is important for doubles play.

Pickleball is known for its social and inclusive nature, making it an enjoyable sport for players of all ages and fitness levels. Its combination of physical activity, strategy, and social interaction has contributed to its widespread popularity in recent years.