Pickleball

Described as a combination of ping pong, tennis and badminton, pickle ball is claimed to be the fastest-growing sport in America. Pickleball is officially named as “paddle sport” and is often played in schools, recreation centers, correctional facilities, camps, YMCA's and retirement communities.

The history of pickleball started back in the summer of 1965 on Bainbridge Island, Washington. U.S. Congressman Joel Pritchard, William Bell and Barney McCallum created the mini-tennis game to provide entertainment for their families. Pickleball started on an asphalt badminton court in Pritchard’s backyard. Without a shuttlecock, Pritchard improvised with a Wiffle-type ball. The children found it difficult to hit the 3-inch ball with the lightweight rackets. So, Pritchard, Bell and McCallum made wooden rackets that resembled ping pong paddles. Pickleball was named after Pickles, the family dog. Pickles would always chase after the wayward balls and hide them in the bushes. The rest is pickleball history.

The game is played on a court the same size as a badminton court. The net is lower than the badminton’s net, set at 36 inches high on the edges and drop to 34 inches in the middle. The pickle-ball is similar to a wiffleball. The ball used for outdoor play is made with heavy material and having smaller holes. Thinner material is used for indoor play. Pickleball paddles are similar to that of ping pong paddles. It is commonly made out of wood and is used by many institutions due to lower costs. Lightweight fiberglass and composite paddles are also used because of their lower weight and higher durability.

The basic pickleball rules have unique attributes not found on other racquet sports. First is the serve position. The player on the right always serves first. Both sides are allowed to serve with one foot across the baseline. Second is the no-volley zone. Seven feet from the net, a line marks the non-volley zone. Players are not allowed to hit the ball without letting it bounce first if you enter this zone. Last is the double-bounce rule. The receiving team of the serve and the server must both hit their first shots off the bounce. After that, the ball can be volleyed.

To score in pickleball, a team gets a point when they win a rally they served. When a point is gained, the winning team switches sides. First team to get 11 points wins the game. Pickleball has gained popularity among teenagers as well as seniors over the past few decades. High schools also have pickleball games and drills as part of their gym class program. For tournament schedules, pickleball skills tips and other pickleball info, you can visit the United States of America Pickeball Association (USAPA) website at usapa.org