In 1976, Tennis magazine published a story about an obscure game called pickleball. At the time, “America’s newest racquet sport” was little more than a tennis-badminton hybrid with a niche following in the Pacific Northwest. While many new sports take generations to catch on, pickleball surged into mainstream culture within two decades.
According to the USA Pickleball Association (USAPA), pickleball has seen a 650% increase in players since 2013. What started as a backyard pastime is now played in all 50 states at 4,000+ locations.
But what exactly is pickleball? Here’s the scoop on the sport that’s sweeping the nation. (Feel free to use this Table of Contents to jump any helpful sections.)
What Is Pickleball?
Pickleball is a paddlesport that incorporates elements of tennis, badminton, and ping pong. It can be played indoors or outdoors on a badminton court, a modified tennis court, or a dedicated pickleball court.
Similar to other racquet or paddlesports, pickleball can be played as singles (one-on-one) or doubles (two-on-two.) Players use 8”x15” pickleball paddles (usually made of wood) and a slightly heavier version of a Wiffle ball. Thanks to pickleball’s ease of play, simple rules, and small playing area, the game is enjoyable for players of all ages. Pickleball initially gained popularity amongst seniors, but it’s recently become popular at colleges and community recreational centers.
The best part about pickleball is how easy it is to get the hang of. You don’t need years of experience or stellar athletic abilities. But before we explore the rules, equipment, and health benefits of pickleball, you’re probably wondering: Why is it called pickleball?
The History of Pickleball
After finishing a round of golf on a summer Saturday in 1965, Joel Pritchard (a congressman from Washington state) and Bill Bell (a successful businessman) found themselves bored on Bainbridge Island outside of Seattle.
The property had a badminton court, but unfortunately racquets and shuttlecocks were nowhere to be found. In order to keep themselves and their kids entertained, the gentlemen decided to improvise with ping pong paddles and a Wiffle ball. After lowering the net and creating some rules to add structure to their experiment, they had themselves a brand new game.
There was only one problem: They didn’t have a name for it.
Pickleball quickly caught on as the name of the game, but accounts of how the term “pickleball” originated differ.
According to Joan Pritchard (Joel’s wife), she called the game pickleball because “The combination of different sports reminded me of the pickle boat in crew where oarsmen were chosen from the leftovers of other boats.”
Others claim that the game was named after the Pritchards’ dog, Pickles, who would chase the ball and run off with it.
Whatever the case, it’s clear that the name is a catch—and the game itself even catchier.
How to Play Pickleball
As mentioned earlier, pickleball borrows elements of tennis, badminton, and ping pong. If you’ve never played before and need a primer before you take the court, here are the basics.
(Looking for a beginner’s guide to playing pickleball? Check it out here.)
Pickleball Court Setup
A standard pickleball court is 20×44 feet for both singles and doubles. The net is hung at 36 inches on the ends and 34 inches in the middle. The small court size is ideal for players with limited mobility.
The court is striped similar to a tennis court. The inner courts, which extend seven feet from both sides of the net, are non-volley zones. The remainder of the court is divided in half by service lines, creating left and right service courts on both sides.
The Pickleball Serve
The server begins by standing with both feet behind the baseline of the court. All pickleball serves must be done underhanded, making contact with the ball below waist level using an upward arc. The server is not allowed to serve the ball off a bounce—it must be hit in the air.
Just like tennis, the ball must clear the non-volley zone and land in the opponent’s diagonal service court.
Faults
A fault in pickleball is committed if the ball:
- Does not clear the net
- Touches any part of the non-volley zone on the serve (including the line).
- Is hit out of bounds
- Is volleyed from the non-volley zone
- Is volleyed before a bounce has occurred on each side
Scoring
Only the serving player or team is eligible to score a point. The player continues serving until the opposing team commits a fault (see above). When a fault is committed, the opposing team scores a point, and the other side gets to serve. The first to 11 points wins, however the game must be won by two points.
Pickleball is easy as pie, right?
What Equipment Does Pickleball Require?
Aside from finding a court to play on, you’ll only really need two pieces of equipment to play pickleball: a paddle and a ball. Unlike golf or other sports that are rely heavily on equipment, pickleball has a very low barrier to entry because of the minimal equipment needed to get started. Of course, if you want to splurge on more pickleball equipment as you get more advanced, you certainly can.
Here’s a quick overview of pickleball courts, paddles, and pickleballs themselves:
Where to find a pickleball court
USAPA has a Places 2 Play page on its website. All you have to do is enter your location and you’ll see a list of all nearby pickleball courts. You’ll likely find a variety of indoor and outdoor courts, ranging from public parks to private clubs.
Pickleball Paddles
A pickleball paddle is a cross between a tennis racquet and a ping pong paddle. You can buy pickleball paddles at most sporting goods stores or rent them from athletic clubs.
You can also buy pickleball paddles on a variety of online stores, including Amazon. There are thousands of pickleball paddles available for purchase, with prices ranging from $20 to $100 or more.
When shopping for a pickleball paddle, you’ll hear all kinds of terms such as “spin,” “control,” and “power,” but the most important thing is to simply use a paddle that’s comfortable for you. For some of our favorite pickleball paddles for beginners or those on a budget, check out our paddle reviews here.
Pickleballs
While pickleball was originally played with a Wiffle ball, an official pickleball is slightly different.
An outdoor pickleball is harder with smaller holes, while an indoor pickleball has larger holes. Pickleballs come in a variety of solid colors, which are usually chosen based on the color of the court. For example, if you’re playing on a dark court, you’d use a light colored pickleball.
Just like paddles, pickleballs can be bought at sporting goods stores or rented at athletic clubs. Pickleballs usually come in packs of three for around $10.
The Health Benefits of Pickleball
Sure, pickleball is an easy, enjoyable activity—but did you know pickleball is also great for your body and mind? Staying active is a crucial part of a healthy lifestyle, especially for older adults, and pickleball is packed with benefits for your whole body, from your brain to your feet.
Here are a few of them:
Weight Loss
According to Pickleball Portal, a 160-pound adult can burn about 250 calories during a 30-minute pickleball game. Of course, this can vary depending on the intensity of the game. Regardless, pickleball is a fun way to keep off those extra pounds.
If you track your steps, you can expect to take about 2,300 steps playing pickleball for 30 minutes. That’s more than a mile!
Muscle Strength
Pickleball is a full-body workout that involves every muscle of your body. Moving around the court and swatting the ball works your legs, arms, and core. Most people begin to lose muscle mass in their 30s and beyond, but pickleball is an easy and fun way to combat this.
Cardiovascular Health
It won’t take too long to get your blood pumping during a game of pickleball. Chasing after the ball will give your heart a hearty workout, which is a great way to improve your cardiovascular health.
Less Stress On Joints
Compared to higher-intensity sports such as tennis or golf, pickleball gives you a great workout without as much wear and tear on your body.
A smaller court means less running, which will spare your knees, hips, and ankles. Additionally, the light paddles and underhand serves reduce strain on your shoulders, wrists, and elbows.
Brain Health Benefits
Neuroscience shows a direct link between physical activity and mental health. Exercise is known to boost endorphins, combat depression, and reduce stress.
Pickleball also requires strategic thinking and quick reflexes, both of which train your brain.
Pick Up a Paddle and Play!
NBC News called pickleball “The fastest growing sport you’ve never heard of.” But at the rate pickleball’s popularity is growing, it won’t be long before it’s as played as much as tennis or golf—and for good reason.
Pickleball is the perfect combination of exercise and social interaction—not to mention it’s quick, cheap, and easy to play. What more could you ask for?
Question: What got you interested in pickleball? Whether you’re an active player or on the fence about playing for the first time, we’d love to hear your story. Let us know in the comments.
