Pickleball is one of the fastest-growing sports worldwide, combining elements of tennis, badminton, and ping-pong. It’s accessible for all ages and skill levels, making it perfect for recreational players and serious athletes alike. As a coach with two decades of experience, I’ll break down what pickleball is, its basic rules, court layout, and essential equipment to get you started confidently.
What is Pickleball?
Pickleball is a paddle sport played either as singles or doubles. Players use solid paddles to hit a perforated polymer ball over a net. The game’s popularity stems from its simplicity, fast pace, and minimal physical strain compared to other racket sports, while still providing a great workout that builds agility, endurance, and coordination.
Basic Rules of Pickleball
- Serve: The serve is underhand, hit below the waist, and must be diagonal into the opponent’s service court.
- Scoring: Only the serving side can score points. Games are typically played to 11 points, and a team must win by 2 points.
- Double Bounce Rule: After the serve, each side must let the ball bounce once before volleys (hitting the ball before it bounces) are allowed.
- Non-Volley Zone (Kitchen): The 7-foot area on each side of the net is called the kitchen, where volleys are prohibited to prevent aggressive net play.
- Faults: A fault occurs if the ball is hit out of bounds, does not clear the net, is volleyed in the kitchen, or violates the double bounce rule.
Pickleball Court Layout
The court size is 20 feet wide by 44 feet long for both singles and doubles, much smaller than tennis courts, which allows for quicker rallies and easier coverage. The net height is 36 inches at the sidelines and 34 inches in the middle. Key markings include:
- Baseline: The back boundary lines.
- Sidelines: The side boundaries.
- Non-Volley Zone Lines: Mark the kitchen on each side.
- Service Courts: Divided diagonally by the centerline for serving.
Basic Equipment You Need
- Paddle: Pickleball paddles are smaller than tennis rackets, made from lightweight composite materials like graphite or fiberglass for easy maneuvering.
- Ball: The pickleball is a plastic ball with holes, similar in size to a wiffle ball but designed to have controlled bounce and speed.
- Net: A standard pickleball net is portable and easy to set up, with adjustable tension.
- Shoes: Use court shoes with good lateral support and grip, ideally designed for indoor or outdoor courts depending on your playing environment.
Pickleball is easy to learn but challenging to master, offering both fun and fitness. With the right knowledge and equipment, you can start playing confidently and enjoy all the benefits this dynamic sport offers.
