Pickleball 101
New to pickleball?
Whether you're a beginner who just wants to learn a new sport for fun, or you're a seasoned player who craves the thrill of more competitive play, this game with the funny name offers something for everyone
What is Pickleball?
Pickleball is a racket sport that combines elements of tennis, badminton, and ping-pong. It's played with paddles and a plastic ball on a court that's similar in size to a badminton court.
Pickleball was invented in 1965 in Washington state. It's suitable for all ages and skill levels and has become one of the most popular racket sports in the world!
What are the basic rules?
Pickleball rules include serving underhand, keeping the ball in bounds, and not volleying in the kitchen.
Serving
Serves must be made diagonally across the court from the baseline. Serves must be made underhand, with the paddle below the waist.
Serves cannot land in the kitchen, including on the kitchen line.
The kitchen
The kitchen is a 7-foot non-volley zone on both sides of the net If you're in the kitchen, your opponent can hit the ball anywhere in your direction without you being able to return it until it bounces.
Scoring
The game ends at 11, 15, or 21 points. When serving, you must state the score before each point In singles, you announce your score first, then the receiver's score.
Other rules
The ball must stay in bounds. Players can hit the ball after it has bounced once on each side.
For the full list of Pickleball rules, head over to USA Pickleball and download the latest rulebook.
Videos to watch
YouTube is a fantastic resource for all players. From getting a better understanding of the rules, through to advanced techniques and drills, through to reviews of the latest paddles and associated kit.
We even have our own channel where we make videos that are a focussed helping on our pickleball community.
Here's a list of recommended YouTube channels for you to browse.
