What is pickleball
**Pickleball** is a fast-growing paddle sport that combines elements of tennis, badminton, and table tennis. It is played on a **badminton-sized court (20 feet wide by 44 feet long)** with a **slightly lower net (34 inches high at the center)**, using a **perforated plastic ball** and **solid paddles** made of wood, graphite, or composite materials. The game is typically played in **doubles**, though singles is also common, and features unique rules such as the **non-volley zone (“kitchen”)**, where players cannot volley the ball, and the **double-bounce rule**, requiring the ball to bounce once on each side before volleys are allowed.
The sport was invented in **1965 on Bainbridge Island, Washington**, by three fathers—Joel Pritchard, Bill Bell, and Barney McCallum—who created it to entertain their children using leftover equipment: a badminton court, table tennis paddles, a wiffle ball, and a lowered tennis net. It gained popularity in the Pacific Northwest and has since grown into a nationwide phenomenon, becoming the **fastest-growing sport in the United States** for four consecutive years (2021–2024), with an estimated **19.8 million players in the U.S. by 2024**.
Pickleball is known for being **easy to learn but challenging to master**, making it accessible to people of all ages and skill levels. It emphasizes **strategy, precision, and social interaction**, with a focus on long rallies and low-impact play, making it ideal for casual fun and competitive play alike. The sport is governed nationally by **USA Pickleball**, which sets official rules, sanctions tournaments, and promotes the game across the country.
How to Play Pickleball
**Pickleball is played on a badminton-sized court with a slightly lowered tennis net, using solid paddles and a perforated plastic ball.** The game is typically played in doubles (two players per team), though singles and mixed doubles are also common.
### **Basic Gameplay and Rules**
– **Serve**: The serve must be underhand, with the paddle contacting the ball below the waist, and the ball must travel diagonally across the net into the opposite service area. The serve must clear the **non-volley zone (or “kitchen”)**, a 7-foot area on each side of the net.
– **Two-Bounce Rule**: After the serve, the ball must bounce once on each side of the net before either team can volley (hit the ball in the air). This rule extends rallies and reduces the advantage of aggressive serving.
– **Non-Volley Zone (Kitchen)**: Players cannot volley the ball while standing in or touching the kitchen. However, they can enter the kitchen to play a ball that has bounced.
– **Scoring**: Only the serving team can score points. Games are usually played to **11 points**, and a team must win by **2 points** (e.g., 11-9, 13-11). In tournament play, games may be to 15 or 21 points.
### **Serving Rotation**
– In doubles, both players on the serving team get a chance to serve until they commit a fault.
– The score is announced as **three numbers**: team’s score, opponent’s score, and which server is up (e.g., 3-3-1 means the first server is serving).
– The first serve of a game starts from the right-hand service court. After scoring, the server switches sides.
### **Winning a Point**
– A point is scored when the opposing team commits a fault, such as:
– Serving into the kitchen or out of bounds.
– Hitting the ball into the net or out of bounds.
– Vollying from the kitchen.
– Failing to return the ball after the two-bounce rule.
Pickleball is known for being accessible to all ages and skill levels, combining elements of tennis, badminton, and table tennis, with a slower pace and less physical strain than traditional tennis.