What Is Pickleball?

I recently visited my grandma in her retirement community in Florida and she introduced me to this awesome new game. Imagine a mix between badminton, tennis, and ping pong. The game is called pickleball and it’s a fast-paced, outdoor/indoor sport that can be played in singles and doubles.

Origins of the Game

The game originated in the U.S. when a family wanted to play badminton, but they couldn’t find any shuttlecocks. So instead, they improvised and used wiffle balls and ping pong paddles with a lowered net.

This was the start of the game, which is now popular throughout the country and especially so in retirement communities.

How to Play Pickleball

Pickleball can be played in either singles or doubles and the first side to reach 11 points wins. There are a number of rules that are all pretty easy to learn.

There is a non-volley zone on each side of the net in which players can not volley or hit the ball back without it first bouncing. The player must make there play on the ball after the first bounce, and then the opposing team must let the return shot bounce before they play it.

There are several ways in which a team can be faulted. If the team doesn’t allow the ball to bounce once after it’s bounced on the other side of the net this is a fault. It’s also a fault if someone volleys the ball in the non-volley zone.

What You Need to Play

To play it you need balls (very similar to wiffle balls), a paddle, a net, a court (can be indoor or outdoor), a pickleball bag to carry all your gear in, and a friend! 🙂

Since it’s not likely that you’ll have your own court, you’ll need to travel. Nets can be costly, and not everyone has a tennis court or a yard big enough to play in. You can find local tournaments in your area to play with others. Be sure to invest in a colorful sports duffle to carry everything you need in.