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Anyone looking for a fun way to exercise and compete should learn how to play pickleball. The?fastest-growing sport in the US?for the last three years, it originated in the mid-1960s in the state of Washington.
Pickleball is booming, rules are easy to follow and the game is a perfect match for athletes of all fitness levels.
What is Pickleball?
Pickleball is a sport played with a “paddle” and not a “racket” that looks a lot like a combination of padel and tennis.
The pickleball court is similar to tennis courts but smaller, with a rectangular shape and lines for serves and boundaries. The sport can be played indoors and outdoors, with a net crossing the center of the court – similar to tennis.
Pickleball is often played as doubles, but singles is also a hugely popular option.
The sport is generally less of a strain to play compared to the likes of tennis, so it is quickly growing in popularity among people looking to become more active while staying injury-free.
Pickleball is now so popular, that people are now wagering on the sport. If you’re interested, you can learn?how to bet on pickleball here, with our complete guide.
Pickleball Rules
Before you head out to the courts, you’ll need to learn how to play pickleball and its rules.
Serving:?The game begins with an underhand serve, which must be executed diagonally to the opponent’s service court. The server must serve from behind the baseline and hit the ball below the waist.
Volley and Non-Volley Zone:?A non-volley zone (or, the kitchen) is on both sides of the court, near the net. Players standing inside this zone can only hit the ball if the ball has already bounced first.
Scoring:?Points are scored only by the serving side. A game’s typically played to 11 points, and a team must win with a minimum two-point margin. In tournaments, games may be played to 15 or 21 points.
Calling the Score:?The score must be called prior to playing the point by the serving team or player. If a player fails to call the score prior to the serve being made, the point must be replayed.
Double Bounce Rule:?After the serve, the receiving team or player must let the ball bounce once before volleying it. Subsequently, the serving team must also let the ball bounce before they can volley it. This double bounce rule encourages strategic placement and dinking.
Faults:?Common faults include stepping into the non-volley zone, hitting the ball out of bounds, and serving into the wrong service court. The receiving team gains a point or the serve when the serving team commits a fault.
Pickleball 101 – Court and Equipment
Pickleball 101 is knowing courts are not as large as tennis courts. Tennis courts are generally 78 feet long and 36 feet wide; Pickleball courts are 44 feet long and 20 feet wide.
The smaller dimensions are necessary because the ball isn’t as lively as a tennis ball. Pickleballs are a little larger and have holes in them.
There is no set standard for pickleball paddles. However, The official USAPA (USA Pickleball Association) rulebook requires combined length and width to stay at 24 inches (a maximum of 17 inches in length along with the corresponding width).
For example, 17 inches in length means the width can’t exceed 7 inches, but if the length is 16.5 inches, the width can be 7.5 inches.
These dimension requirements include end caps and edge guards if they are a part of the paddle. The most common sizes are 16.5 inches by 7.5 inches and 16 inches by 8 inches.
A paddle’s thickness is also up for customization, with lighter, thinner options popular for more power.
When it comes to courts, the primary difference between singles and doubles, of course, is that the court is more crowded in doubles. Unlike tennis, the pickleball court dimensions do not change when moving from a singles match to a doubles match.
Pickleball Scoring
Before playing the sport, you’ll need to know pickleball 101 on scoring to avoid getting into some awkward situations on the court.
These are the key guidelines for keeping score:
- Points are scored only by the serving team
- The only way to score a point in pickleball is by?winning a rally
- A rally begins with a serve and keeps going until a fault is committed, the ball goes out of bounds, or one team fails to return the ball within the court’s boundaries
- Games are normally played to 11 points, you have to win by 2 points
- Tournament games may be to 15 or 21, you have to win by 2 points
- When the serving team’s score is an even number (0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10), the player who was the first server in the game for that team will be in the right/even court when serving or receiving
- When the serving team’s score is odd (1, 3, 5, 7, 9), that player will be in the left/odd court when serving or receiving
Pickleball Gameplans
What is the PPA?
The Professional Pickleball Association (PPA) works alongside the USA Pickleball Association?(USAPA), the sport’s governing body. It was formed in 2018 and covers all aspects of the sport, including amateur and professional competition.
The key roles of the PPA and the?PPA Tour?include:
- Tournament planning –?The PPA’s main role is tournament organization. The majority of these events are at a professional level and are hosted in the United States. However, as the sport grows, they plan to extend to parts of Europe and Asia.
- Competitive platform –?Part of the PPA makeup is ensuring that professional events are competitive. This requires them to attract the best pickleball players in the world, largely down to ensuring competitive prize money, and purses. One of the biggest signings has been former tennis superstar, Eugenie Bouchard, who’s set to go pro in 2024.
- Promotion and development –?The PPA has to promote and develop the sport at all levels, particularly on the professional level. New sponsorships are a way to drive additional income, which plays another key role in the targets for the group.
- Player support –?While not a governing body for the sport, the PPA does look after professional players in terms of support regarding finances, guidance, tournament help (travel, etc.), and creating paths for athletes to reach the highest level.
- Collaboration –?Their role includes working with other governing bodies, such as the USAPA, and other regional pickleball associations, to create a collective effort in the promotion of pickleball around the world. They also monitor pickleball sports betting and make sure the sport remains competitive and fair.
Where to Play Pickleball
A quick Google search will turn up Pickleball courts in your area, but?USA Pickleball also has a site?to guide your search for a place to play.
From Florida to Washington State, Pickleball courts are becoming more and more common across the nation. Many municipalities are replacing some tennis courts with Pickleball courts, while many others are building from scratch.
Even the?American Association of Retired Persons has a quick guide?on how to get started.
Conclusion
Pickleball is here to stay. Its rules and few entry requirements make it an ideal sport for anyone looking to get active and competitive, no matter how fit you are.
The APP says over?50 million people played the sport?over a 12-month period and the numbers are expected to continue growing in the coming years.
FAQs
How big is a Pickleball court?
What are the serving rules in Pickleball?
What are the basic Pickleball rules?
Who invented pickleball?
Why is it called pickleball?
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References
- https://usapickleball.org/places-to-play/?(USA Pickleball)
- https://www.cbsnews.com/news/pickleball-professional-sport-how-much-you-can-earn/?(CBS News)
- https://usapickleball.org/what-is-pickleball/official-rules/rules-summary/?(USA Pickleball)
- https://usapickleball.org/what-is-pickleball/how-to-play/?(USA Pickleball)
- https://www.pickleheads.com/guides/pickleball-strategy?(Pickleheads)
- https://www.aarp.org/home-family/friends-family/info-2022/pickleball.html?(AARP)
