Pickleball: The Fastest-Growing Sport for Fun & Fitness

Tired of playing badminton, tennis, and other racket sports? But don’t want to ditch racket sports altogether? Try pickleball! Over the last few years, pickleball has been rising in popularity and is considered one of the fastest-growing sports in the United States. It is a combination of major racket sports, played with a smooth-faced paddle and a hollow plastic ball with holes.

It’s a racket sport that can be played both indoors and outdoors. This blend of sports has captured the hearts of players of all age groups and skill levels. Still wondering how pickleball is different from tennis or other racket sports? Let’s find out.

What is Pickleball?

It is a sport that combines elements of tennis, table tennis, and badminton and is quickly becoming a popular recreational sport. Pickleball is played by 2 players (singles) or 4 players (doubles) on a badminton court with a slightly modified tennis net. It is played with a smooth-faced paddle and a hollow plastic ball with holes. It’s a fun, social, and friendly sport that is quite easy to learn but can develop into a fast-paced competitive game. More on the equipment required for the game later. First, let’s look at how this sport came into effect.

Pickleball’s history

Pickleball was invented in 1965 by a group of neighbors on Bainbridge Island, Washington. In 1984, the first rulebook for pickleball was published. By the 1990s, the sport was being played all over the U.S. In the early 21st century, pickleball saw incredible growth. The sport was also included in many physical education classes in schools.

In 2010, the International Federation of Pickleball (IFP) was organized to help develop the sport and promote it around the world. The original member associations were from the United States, Spain, India, and Canada. USA Pickleball National Championships and U.S. Open Pickleball Championships are a few notable tournaments. The IFP’s major event is the Bainbridge Cup tournament, featuring pickleball teams representing different continents competing against one another. Let’s come back to the required equipment before moving forward. 

Pickleball Equipment

• Paddle: Paddles for pickleball are made of non-compressible material, and the surface of the paddle must be smooth. The standard size of the paddle, combining length and width, should not exceed 24 inches (0.61 m), and the length cannot exceed 17 inches (0.43 m). There are no requirements regarding thickness or weight.
• Ball: The ball should be made of durable molded material with a smooth surface and must have between 26 and 40 evenly spaced circular holes. The ball must weigh between 0.78 and 0.935 ounces (22.1 and 26.5g) and measure between 2.87 and 2.97 inches (73 and 75mm) in diameter.
• Net: The net is 36 inches (0.91m) high at the ends and 34 inches (0.86m) high at the center. The net posts should be 22 feet (6.7 m) apart, measured from the inside of one post to the inside of the other.

Since we have knowledge of the equipment now, let’s see what pickleball court dimensions look like. 

Pickleball Court Dimensions

Whether you’re playing in a serious tournament, casual games with friends, or even watching a match, knowing the pickleball court layout is important.

Pickleball Court Layout:

• Baselines: Sit at the ends of the court parallel to the net.
• Sidelines: Run the length of the court.
• Non-Volley Zone (NVZ): The area on either side of the net, bound by a line parallel to and 7 feet from the net and two sidelines.
• Centerline: extends down the center from the baselines to the NVZ, dividing the court.
• Service Area: The area beyond the NVZ on either side of the centerline, including the centerline, sideline, and baseline.

Surface:

The surface area should be at least 30 ft by 60 ft. Hard surfaces made of concrete and asphalt are suitable for outdoor games. Grass surfaces do not allow the ball to bounce.

Lines:

Lines can be made with chalk, tape, paint, or even crayons, but tape is the best option.

Indoor:

Lines, spacing, and netting required for indoor pickleball play are the same as for outdoor, but different surface, lighting, and fencing options are available. Indoor play allows for fluorescent lighting options. Additionally, indoor play allows for different flooring options like hardwood or rubberized surfaces, which are not feasible outside. Fencing requirements also vary, as the surrounding environment indoors does not pose as many risks as outdoors.

It is crucial to know the rules of any game before mastering it. Pickleball can be played in singles or doubles. Below are some basic pickleball rules you should know before starting a game.

Pickleball Rules

• The serving team scores points. A team has to win by 2 points.
• When the serving team’s score is even, the server plays from the right side of the court. When the score is odd, the server plays from the left side of the court.
• When serving the ball, you must hold the paddle and the ball below your waist and serve underhand.
• The serve is made diagonally cross-court, and the ball must land within the confines of the opposite diagonal court.
• During the first serve of the game, the player serves from the right side and gets only one chance to serve (until they commit a fault). For the opposing team, both players get the chance to serve (until their team makes two faults). After that round, each team gets only one fault before the serve switches.
• After serving, the ball should bounce in the receiver’s court, and when returning, it should again bounce in the server’s court. After the ball has bounced once in each court, you can either hit the ball before it bounces or after it bounces. This is called the ‘Two-Bounce Rule.’
• There is a non-volley zone called ‘the kitchen.’ This zone is within 7 feet on each side of the net. You can only hit a ball from this zone if it bounces first. It is considered a fault if you hit a volley while standing in the kitchen. It is also considered a fault if you accidentally step into the kitchen after hitting a volley, even if you are carried by momentum.
• A ball touching any part of the line is considered ‘in.’
• A serve that hits the kitchen is short or a fault.

Conclusion

Pickleball is an excellent way to get a full-body workout and improve cardiovascular health. It can also be easily adopted at any skill level, regardless of your age or prior experience with racket sports. The sport’s popularity has increased so rapidly that it is played by many celebrities, including Leonardo DiCaprio, Bill & Melinda Gates, Selena Gomez, Emma Watson, Serena Williams, Kim Kardashian, and many more.

Pickleball is a fantastic way to socialize and meet new people. And the Playo app helps you to search for the nearest pickleball court and book a session to reconnect with friends and family with no hassle. On Playo, you can also meet new people by joining games and flash camps.

Get the app now and play the newest, super-trending sport!