Pickleball is a sport that combines elements of badminton, tennis, and table tennis in its various formats. The game can be played in singles or doubles form. The game is played with a perforated polymer ball, paddles similar to (and sometimes slightly longer than) tennis rackets, and indoor or outdoor courts of various sizes.
https://pickleballspots.com/ is a site dedicated to providing information and resources for the pickleball community. We have a statewide court directory, a pickleball club directory and links to Pickleball Associations. We also cover the latest news and information on tournaments, events and rules of the game.
Pickleball world(s)
The game was invented in the mid 1960’s by U.S. Navy Captains Joel Pritchard and Bill Bell while they were stationed at NAS Moffett Field in Mountain View, California. Today there are several national organizations that coordinate activities throughout the United States and internationally between groups using different rules for gameplay.
The official International Federation of Pickleball Associations governs competition between pickleball players worldwide, including separating out competition for juniors (players under 21 years of age). For the most part these organizations work together to promote pickleball, however they do have different rules.
Pickleball scoring
The game of pickleball is played using the same basic principles as tennis. The court size can vary from full sized singles courts or doubles court, to 1/4 or 1/6 of the size of a regulation USTA singles court. Regulation USTA courts are 78 feet long and 36 feet wide. Singles courts are 60-feet by 20-feet while doubles courts are one half that length (a net divides each side).
Pickleball courts can be made any length but 10-foot wide versions have become popular for home use because standard width wood studs (2″x4″) allow for easy assembly into 6 foot wide courts.
Pickleball set-up
The Pickleball nets are 33 inches high, strung between the doubles alley line and an overhead cord attached to side posts or a fence. The serves must be diagonal from the corners without touching the sidewalls at any time during play. Balls that hit the sidewall will result in a point for the opposing team.
Service boxes (12 feet long by 3 1/2 feet wide) and baseline touch zones (4 foot wide) define the sides of each court; they serve no functional purpose other than making small court sizes possible and limiting where players can hide their paddle when not hitting the ball. All lines on a court should be made with lime or paint (not string).
Players are allowed to mark lines on a court without approval, however they should be prepared to remove those marks if asked by the owner/manager of the court.
Pickleball rackets
The Pickleball Paddle is perforated with holes as is often the case with other sports paddles. The holes allow air to flow through them which makes them very light and allows players more control over their shots. The material itself can vary significantly based on player preference; some materials are very stiff for added power while others are flexible for increased control.
Most pickleball paddles are made from wood (usually birch) or composite materials like graphite or kevlar that offer strength and flexibility at an acceptable price point. There is not a “right” material for pickleball paddle but there are many wrong materials such as metal and aluminum.
These types of paddles can be dangerous to the players because they are too heavy and do not offer enough flexibility which means that these types of paddles will hurt more when hit off center.
Pickleball playing style
The game begins with a serve from the right side of the court by one player from each team. The receiving team must return the ball before it bounces twice or else it is considered a point for their opponents. After this first point, teams alternate hitting the ball to each other until someone scores (by making their opponent unable to return it).
The rally continues until one team fails to make a legal return. While hitting the ball, players may take one step prior to hitting the ball. In doubles, players may take two steps prior to hitting the ball. Players are allowed to lean over the court as long as they do not interfere with their opponent’s ability to make a return shot.
The players can hit the ball in any direction they want as long as it goes over the net and stays within bounds on their opponents side of the court.
Pickleball strategy
The scoring system is similar to tennis where a player must win at least three points in a game but no more than five points in a game or else they lose that set (except for 2 out of 3 games). If both teams reach 5 points each then it becomes deuce which means that the next team to score 2 points wins the game.
If it becomes deuce then you play until one team scores 7 points total (one more than needed to win). A match is won when a team wins two sets i.e. can attain 13 points in both games.
Pickleball stats
A Pickleball ball weighs approximately 1 ounce and has a diameter of 2 ¼ inches. The outer shell of the ball is made from various materials depending on its intended use; outdoor balls are usually solid rubber while indoor balls are hollow plastic spheres to help keep their bounce over time.
There is no official court dimension or material which means that any type of wood or grass surface may be used as long as it is smooth and flat. However, a pickleball court size can vary significantly based on the space available for play.
We hope this article has clarified any questions you had regarding the rules of pickleball. If you are looking for more information on how to purchase a pickleball paddle then please refer to this article.
