Pickleball is a fun, fast-paced game that combines elements of tennis, badminton, and ping pong. It can be played as a singles game (1 player per side) or doubles (2 players per side), and is easy for beginners while also offering strategic depth for more experienced players. Learn the secrets to dominate your first pickleball game!

History of Pickleball

Pickleball was invented in 1965 by three dads—Joel Pritchard, Bill Bell, and Barney McCallum—in Bainbridge Island, Washington. They created the game as a fun activity for their families, using improvised equipment and a badminton court.

The sport has since grown in popularity, spreading across the United States and internationally. Today, pickleball is played by millions of people of all ages and skill levels. The sport has official governing bodies, standardized rules, and numerous tournaments, making it a mainstream recreational activity.

Understanding the Basics: What is Pickleball?

Pickleball is a paddle sport that combines elements of tennis, badminton, and ping-pong. It is played on a court with a net, similar to a tennis court but smaller in size. The game can be played as singles or doubles and uses a perforated polymer ball, similar to a wiffle ball.

The objective of pickleball is to score points by hitting the ball over the net and into the opponent's court in such a way that they are unable to return it. The game is easy to learn for beginners and provides a fun, competitive environment for players of all ages.

Court Set-up: Dimensions and Layout

Size: Pickleball is played on a 20 x 44-foot rectangular court (same size for singles and doubles). Fit and Fun Playscapes offers a reusable stencil and paint kit to paint a court on the pavement.

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

Non-Volley Zone (Kitchen): A 7-foot area on both sides of the net is the "kitchen" (non-volley zone), where you are not allowed to hit the ball in the air (volley) unless it has bounced first. A volley means hitting the ball before it bounces. Players can only volley the ball outside the kitchen (not in the 7-foot zone near the net).

Essential Gear: What You Need to Get Started

To start playing pickleball, you will need a few essential pieces of equipment. First, you need a pickleball paddle, which is smaller than a tennis racquet but larger than a ping-pong paddle. Paddles can be made from various materials including wood, composite, and graphite.

Next, you'll need pickleballs, which are lightweight and have holes in them. They come in different colors and are designed for indoor or outdoor play. Comfortable athletic shoes with good support are also important to prevent injuries. Lastly, wearing moisture-wicking clothing can help you stay cool and comfortable during the game.

Objective:

The goal of the game is to score points by hitting the ball over the net and into the opponent’s court. A point is scored when:

• The opponent fails to return the ball within the boundaries of the court.
• The opponent hits the ball out of bounds or into the net.
• The opponent commits a fault (such as standing in the kitchen while volleying).

Mastering the Serve: Serve Techniques and Strategies

The serve is a critical part of pickleball and can set the tone for the entire rally. The game begins with one player serving. In doubles, the player on the right side serves first.

To execute a proper serve, you must hit the ball underhand and make contact below the waist. The serve must land in the diagonal service court opposite the server. The serve must be hit diagonally from the right side of the court to the opponent’s right side service box (across the court) and must land in the opposite diagonal service box. If it lands outside, it’s a fault.

There are several serve techniques you can use to gain an advantage. The basic serve is a simple underhand hit, while more advanced players might use a topspin serve to make the ball harder to return. Another effective strategy is the soft serve, which drops the ball just over the net, forcing your opponent to move quickly.

In doubles, the server continues serving until they lose the rally. After that, the partner serves. When a team loses its serve, the other team serves next. A player gets only one chance to serve (no second chances, unlike in tennis).

Effective Court Positioning: Where to Stand and Why

After the serve, the ball must bounce once on each side of the net before players can begin to volley (hit the ball in the air). This is called the double bounce rule. The serve must bounce once in the receiver's side. The receiving team must let the ball bounce once before returning it. After both sides have let the ball bounce once, players can either hit the ball in the air (volley) or let it bounce again.

Court positioning is essential for both singles and doubles play. In singles, you should stay near the center of your side of the court to cover more ground. Always be ready to move forward to the net or backward to the baseline depending on the opponent's shot.

In doubles, communication with your partner is key. Both players should avoid standing in the same spot and instead cover different areas of the court. Ideally, one player should be at the net while the other stays back to cover deep shots. This positioning helps in maintaining a strong defense and quick transition to offense.

Scoring, Faults & How to Play:

In pickleball, only the serving team can score points. If the receiving team wins the rally, they do not score a point, but they get the serve. A game is typically played to 11 points, but you must win by at least 2 points. Some games may be played to 15 or 21 points.

In doubles, the first team to serve starts on the right side, and when they win a point, they move to the left side. In doubles, players switch sides after every point scored.

A fault occurs when:

1. The ball lands outside the boundaries of the court.
2. The ball is hit into the net.
3. A player volleys the ball while standing in the kitchen.
4. The player fails to let the ball bounce before returning it (before the first or second bounce).
5. The server steps on or over the baseline while serving.

Let's Play! The first player serves the ball underhand, from the right side of the court, diagonally to the opponent's service box. The ball must bounce once on each side. (Recall the double bounce rule.) The receiving player lets the ball bounce once before returning it. After both sides have let the ball bounce, players may hit the ball in the air (volley) or let it bounce.

Players hit the ball back and forth across the net. If a player fails to return the ball correctly, it’s a fault and the other team wins the point. Points are only scored by the serving team. In doubles, the server and their partner will switch sides after every point they score.

The first team to reach 11 points, and be ahead by at least 2 points, wins the game!

Winning Strategies: Let's Win This!

Positioning: In doubles, players should work together to cover the court. Often, one player is near the net while the other covers the backcourt.
Keep the Ball Low: Try to keep the ball low to the net, especially when volleying. This makes it harder for your opponent to return.
Dink Shots: A dink shot is a soft, controlled shot that lands just over the net. It’s often used in the non-volley zone to set up better offensive opportunities.
Stay Out of the Kitchen: Don’t step into the kitchen while volleying, or you’ll lose the point. You can enter the kitchen to play a ball that has bounced.
Serve Deep: Try to serve the ball deep into the court to give your opponent less time to react and reduce their options for a return. doubles pickleball, teamwork is crucial for success. One effective strategy is the 'stacking' technique, where players switch positions after the serve to optimize their strengths. This can confuse opponents and create opportunities for winning shots.

Pickleball is an exciting and easy-to-learn sport that's fun for players of all ages. It’s a social, fast-paced game that mixes strategy with physical activity. Once you get the hang of it, you’ll find that pickleball is a highly engaging and rewarding sport.