Have you been hearing a lot about Pickleball lately? Have your friends invited you to play the
same in their backyard? Or are you really curious about this lesser-known game? If yes, then you
have definitely come to the right place. Being a pickleball player myself, I know everything
about the game, and I am familiar with the truly fun side of it. So in this all-in-one article, I am
going to explain everything about this game that you need to know before holding the pickleball
paddle in your hand and doing the first ever serve!
Origin of Pickleball
What is even more exciting than the pickleball game itself is its origin story. It was created in
1965 on Bainbridge Island in Washington state by three eager but bored parents. Pickleball itself
has an extended dad-joke vibe to it that is silly, playful, and, most importantly it is fun as hell.
According to the legend, a group of friends decided to play a game with their families one
afternoon but lacking the necessary ping pong, tennis, or badminton equipment; they simply
combined all three games into one that made the most of what they already had. One man even
created a paddle in his basement using leftover wood. And that’s how this game came into being.
Pickleball is now so popular that it is played in gyms, on courts, and even in the streets across the
country. The impromptu, unplanned nature of the game is what makes it attractive and amazing.
Just a paddle and a Wiffle ball are required to play this game. There are no tennis racquets,
hardly any drills, and definitely, no planning is required for this one. Both indoor and outdoor
variations of this game are possible. And suppose you develop into a true pickleball competitor?
Then there are competitions held across the country, including the U.S. Open, that you can play.
Why is it called “pickleball”?
It’s interesting that there is debate over how the pickleball name was chosen by the creators.
According to the widely accepted version, the name was adapted from oarsmen’s slang, where a
“pickle boat” is made up of leftovers and subs from the opposing team. a mash-up team, much
like Pickleball is a mash-up of sports. According to a different theory, one of their dogs would
scurry off with the ball in the middle of the game, giving the game its name. After much debate,
it was discovered that the dog was really born after the sport was created. In any case, the story
remained because it is entertaining to say.
How do you play Pickleball?
A large, 36-inch net divides the 44 by 20-foot area into two pickleball courts. The playing zones
on either side of the net are referred to as “the kitchen,” and there are a left service court and a
right service court on either side of the net, respectively. Players strive to hit the side directly
diagonal from their service court without touching the kitchen when serving underhand from the
baseline (end of the court, facing the net). Before returning the serve, the opposing player must
allow the ball to bounce once. The teams can now decide whether to volley the ball directly into
the air or let it bounce before hitting it after it has made one initial bounce on each side of the
court. Unless the Wiffle ball is already in the air, you must refrain from hitting the ball while in
the cooking zone. As in tennis, you can play a doubles match or a singles match in Pickleball as
well. All you need is a pickleball, which resembles a Wiffle ball, and thin plywood paddles,
which can all be conveniently stored in a car’s trunk.
Pickleball Scoring 101
When a member of the other team or player sends the ball beyond the goal line, out of bounds, or
repeatedly bounces it, you score. In Pickleball, teams often play best two out of three, with a
maximum of eleven points. If you opt to play just one game, you must play to 15 points. You
need to triumph by two points in each scenario.
Pickleball is incredibly adaptable, which contributes greatly to its appeal. Pickleball has become
a sport that can be adapted to numerous situations without requiring a large list of specialized
equipment or circumstances. The court doesn’t need much space because it is smaller. Due to
this, the activity is particularly social, much like bowling or golf. You can play a fast-paced
game without being too far apart from your companion to engage in lighthearted ribbing. Smack-
talking is another popular American leisure time.
The sport is more addictive because it is easy for everybody. It moves quickly and strategically
without being exclusive or unduly challenging to understand. The pickleball community says
that you can start playing after just five minutes of instruction. One of Pickleball’s appeals is the
community itself. There is typically less ego engaged in Pickleball because the nature of
competitiveness is a little less. Both newcomers and veteran pickleball players are welcomed to
the court. In fact, it’s usual to praise an opponent’s shot while a game is still in progress.
Pickleball is ideally suited for people of all ages. This might be the selling point for me as a
parent. I enjoy spending time outside with my child. The idea of playing a low-impact game on
the court together would seem to be the perfect way to improve our relationship. Pickleball
courts have been a common addition to public parks. There is also a restaurant with the
endearing name Chicken N Pickle where the game and its kismet partner, fried chicken, take
centre stage. I’ve also seen merchandise with a pickleball motif, such as a shirt with the words
“I’d hit that” and a Wiffle ball clip art illustration.
Pickle Ball Rules for Beginners
Pickleball is a popular game that is entertaining and has a funny name. In actuality, it has been
for a while. It hasn’t even been slowed down by a pandemic. Pickleball’s fundamental rules will
help you pick up the sport far more quickly, enjoy it more, and compete at a higher level.
Following are some of the most basic rules of this game that every beginner must know about.
Ball Inbound
Pickleball is a racquet or paddle sport in which the ball cannot go off the court. Where you can
and cannot hit the ball is determined by the white lines on either side of the court. You forfeit
your serve or give the ball back to the opposing team if you hit the ball out of bounds. Therefore,
it should go without saying that you should keep the ball in play and avoid hitting it outside of
the box.
It may seem like I am stating the obvious, but a pickleball regulation that is directly related to a
key tactic is not striking the ball out of bounds. Keep the play to the ball. In Pickleball, it is
prohibited to hit the ball into the net or under it, in addition to hitting it out of bounds. These
three errors are collectively referred to as “faults.”
Pickleball differs from other sports in that when a mistake is made; the ball goes to the opposing
team. Only while you’re serving can you score. As the serving team, you receive the ball and the
opportunity to score a point if your team, the return of serve team, wins the rally.
Your chances of winning are better the fewer mistakes you make. Because the ball must bounce
during both the serve and the return of serve in Pickleball, some of the advantages of serving are
lost. The majority of points are won at the net, so even if you serve the ball “out,” you have a
better chance of doing so when you return.
One of the key distinctions between Pickleball and other net-centric sports is this simple
modification. According to experts, you’ll win more games if you commit fewer errors. Even 5.0
players frequently make many safe shots while leaving their opponents to commit the error.
Serving: Underhand At The Baseline
Pickleball’s serving regulations are very simple. Decide who will be the server by using a coin
toss, a random number generator, or a similar method. Fortunately, the server doesn’t gain much,
creating a level playing field for all parties. The pickle “ball” must be struck below the waist and
underhand. In Pickleball, serving overhead, like in tennis, is prohibited. Set your sights on the
service area across from you while keeping one foot behind the baseline.
To the other side of the court, strike the ball diagonally. It must not be knocked right across, or
else it is considered a fault. Every serve begins on the court’s right side, moving to the left if the
point is won. Back to the right, and so forth. Additionally, the serve must land outside of the no-
volley zone. Unfortunately, the next serve either go to your teammate if you’re playing doubles
or directly to your opponent in singles if you make a wrong serve or it lands out or in the net. No
second serves are permitted.
One Ball Bounce Per Side
The two-bounce rule is undoubtedly the most distinctive and significant pickleball rule. This
explains why the “Two Bounce Rule” in Pickleball is so well-known. And newcomers frequently
forget it, especially if they are the ones doing the service. In Pickleball, both the serve and the
return of serve must have at least one bounce on each side. Be careful to let the single ball
bounce when it comes your way after the service before you strike it. Pickleball is the only sport
in which the return of serve must also be permitted to bounce. In this case, you have to wait for
the ball to bounce before playing it if you served and your opponent hit a deep return towards
you. Either team may play the ball in the air or allow it to bounce following the two-bounce rule.
Both singles and doubles are subjected to this rule.
Serves Can’t Land In The No-Volley Zone
You forfeit your serve if the ball touches the no-volley area during the serve. You have to be
careful about that. But after that, feel free to throw the ball into the kitchen. This shot is known
as a “drop-shot” and is a pickleball standard. Anywhere inside the bordered box, which is located
7 feet from the net, is a no-volley zone. On each pickleball team’s side of the court, there is a no-
volley zone.
The “kitchen line” is another name for it. You’ll observe that the game is mostly played from the
kitchen line once the serve and return of serve have been made, so you’ll know where it is. When
someone says, “Stay out of the kitchen,” they mean that you cannot enter this part of the court
until the ball has bounced inside of it. To put it simply, the ball must land in the kitchen for the
step into the kitchen to occur, but only after a right serve has been carried out.
When serving, aim past the kitchen line and toward the baseline at the back of the other team’s
court. It is best if the serve is deeper. In fact, a fundamental winning strategy for players of any
skill level is to keep their opponent near the baseline while they are at the cooking line. Although
hitting the ball beyond the no-volley zone appears simple on serves, it’s one of the hardest shots
to make consistently, Particularly for a newbie. Aim high and extend your serve beyond the
kitchen line. If it’s not deep enough, your opponent will be able to charge in and swiftly reach the
kitchen line. This provides them with a benefit. On the other hand, if you hit it too deeply, there’s
a chance the ball will travel too far and go out of bounds. Practice is necessary to achieve
perfection.
