Pickleball is one of the fastest-growing sports across the world. Whether you're a fan of tennis, badminton, or table tennis — pickleball is a mix of all three and is incredibly fun and easy to learn. With its increasing popularity, more people are jumping on board and learning how to play this exciting sport!
What Is Pickleball?
Pickleball was first invented in 1965 in Washington, USA. It combines multiple elements from other racket sports. Players use paddles to hit a plastic ball with holes over a net similar to games such as tennis, badminton, and table tennis. This sport is played on a badminton-sized court with a modified tennis net. The court is striped similar to tennis with left and right service courts. There is also a non-volley zone in front of the net called the “kitchen”.Since its inception, pickleball has grown immensely popular across different demographics. From seniors looking for a new way to get exercise to younger people seeking an exciting sport to play with friends — this game has really taken off over the last decade.
What Do I Need to Get Started?
To start playing pickleball, you’ll need a few basic items. Firstly, pick up a pair of pickleball paddles. They can range anywhere from $10 to more than $150. Shop around to find the racket for you with the most comfortable weight, grip, and shape within your budget. Next, you’ll need pickleball balls. There are different balls used indoors and outdoors with a varying number of holes, hole diameter, weight, hardness, and durability. There are a range of pickleball brands on the market, but TOP, Dura, and ONIX are some of the most prevalent brands and are approved by USA Pickleball Association for tournament play.You should also get a pair of shoes that has an outsole designed for the surface you’ll be playing on. For example, if you are playing on hard courts, tennis shoes are recommended.
What Are the Basic Rules of Pickleball?
Pickleball can be played as singles or doubles. According to USA Pickleball, doubles is more frequently played. The basic traditional rules are relatively straightforward, including the following:
- Points are only scored by the serving team/player.
- When the team/player that serves has a score in an even number, the server for that team plays from the right side of the court, while a score in an odd number means the server plays from the left side.
- Serves must be hit underhand, diagonally cross-court (outside of the “kitchen”), and you must hold the paddle and ball below your waist.
- Players serve until they commit a fault, which involves any rule violations that stops play.
- The team that serves first gets only one chance to serve until they commit a fault. However, the opposing team gets a chance for both players to serve, meaning until they make two faults.
- There’s a two-bounce rule, which means that each side has to let the ball bounce once before returning it. Following those two bounces, you can either hit the ball before it bounces (a volley) or off a bounce.
- On both sides of the net, there’s a zone called the “kitchen”. This is a no-volley zone, meaning you can only hit a ball from this area if it bounces first. If you hit a volley while standing in this zone, it’s a fault. It’s even a fault if you accidentally step into the area after hitting a volley.
- The game ends when a team/player gets to 11 points with a two-point lead.
Knowing these basic rules can help you get started playing this fast-growing sport that's taking over the world!
Where Can I Play?
Across the US, you can find dedicated pickleball courts popping up everywhere at local parks, schools, resorts, and even recreational centers. There are a range of types of courts when it comes to this racket sport. This includes indoor and outdoor courts built specifically for pickleball, and sometimes courts are converted using existing badminton or tennis courts. Some courts have lights, so you can play at night. Each location can also have its own unique etiquette. Some allow there to be music while others will request noise to be kept to a minimum. Additionally, there can also be time limits in place, restricting how long you can play at one time. And you may have to get in touch with the court’s local community leader to understand the rules and etiquette.Want to find pickleball courts in your area and get connected with the local communities who play on them? Find out everything you need to know about your local courts on Bounce!
Ready to Get Started?
Pickleball is an incredibly accessible sport that provides a range of physical and mental health benefits. It’s adaptable to any skill level and can be a really fun social activity. So, what are you waiting for? Grab some paddles and hit the court!If you’re interested in playing pickleball, check out Bounce to find players to hit with, coaches to learn from, and courts to play on and get started on your pickleball journey today!
