What Is Pickleball?

What is Pickleball?

Pickleball is a fun, social, and friendly sport.  The rules are simple and the game is easy for beginners to learn. The game develops into a quick, fast-paced, competitive game for experienced players.

The Basics:

1. A fun sport that combines many elements of tennis, badminton, and ping-pong.

2. Played both indoors and outdoors on a badminton sized court with a slightly modified tennis net.

3. Played as doubles or singles with paddles and a plastic ball with holes.

4. Is enjoyable for all ages and skill levels.

Brief History:

Pickleball was invented in 1965 on Bainbridge Island, a short ferry ride from Seattle, Washington.  Three dads: Joel Pritchard, Bill Bell, and Barney McCallum, whose kids were bored with their usual summertime activities, are credited for creating the game.  Pickleball has evolved from original handmade equipment and simple rules into a popular sport internationally.

Pickleball Court Layout:

A pickleball court is the same size as a doubles badminton court and measures 20x44 feet.  The same court is used for both singles and doubles.  The net height is 36 inches at the sidelines and 34 inches in the middle.  The court is striped similar to a tennis court with right and left service courts and a 7-foot non-volley zone in front of the net (referred to as the "kitchen").  Courts can be constructed specifically for pickleball but are often converted using existing tennis or badminton courts.

Reference: usapickleball.org, n.d., What Is Pickleball, 1/30/2023, https://usapickleball.org/what-is-pickleball/