How to play Pickleball?

Definition of Pickleball

History

Pickleball, a blend of ping pong, badminton, and tennis, was invented in 1965 on Bainbridge Island by Washington State Congressman Joel Pritchard and businessman Bill Bell. They designed the game to entertain their visiting grandchildren. While searching the estate for badminton equipment, they couldn't find a complete set of racquets, so they substituted ping pong paddles and perforated balls. Using a badminton net, they adjusted its height to mimic a tennis court, lowering it to 36 inches at the poles and 34 inches at the center. The following weekend, Barney McCallum joined them, and together, the three established the game's rules. Their primary goal was to create a sport that the entire family could enjoy, regardless of age or skill level. Today, Pickleball is the fastest-growing sport worldwide, boasting approximately 48.3 million players!

Success story of this sport

Pickleball has rapidly become successful for several reasons. Firstly, it’s easy to learn the basics in just a day. You don’t need to be an athlete to enjoy it. While the game is simple to pick up, it is challenging to master, making it engaging for all skill levels. Additionally, its multigenerational appeal ensures that people of all ages can have a great time on the court together.

Pickleball Rules

Pickleball Court Specificities

Pickleball is a mashup of tennis, ping pong, and badminton with a few fun variations, such as differences in court size, paddle equipment, playing formats, and scoring. Beyond your on-court experience, it's helpful to remember the essential rules that simplify understanding and playing the game. Here’s a list of the most important ones.

The dimensions of a pickleball court originate from the size of a badminton court (20’x44’). Its equipment differs from tennis and badminton in that pickleball paddles are solid (no strings like tennis or badminton racquets) and slightly larger and heavier than ping-pong paddles. The sport can be played in doubles (4 players on the court) and singles (2 players) format, but regardless of which one, it's played in the same size court area.

Like tennis, the serve must be hit crosscourt and in the service box. However, unlike tennis, servers receive one serve, and only underhand serves are allowed, which involve contacting the ball below the waist or dropping the serve before hitting it. In addition to how the service is performed, only the serving team (doubles) or player (singles) can score points, and each first serve of each side-out is made from the even side of the court. Also, when a team or player is on serve, they will continue to serve and switch from the left/right side of the court while scoring points until they commit a fault (except for the first service sequence of each new game). Volleying is allowed only if you are positioned outside the non-volley zone (NVZ), also known as “the kitchen,” when the ball is in the air. However, if the ball bounces in the NVZ, you can step in and hit it. The first team to score 11 points wins the game, but you must win by 2 points (i.e., 11-9, 12-10, etc.).

Scoring

In a game of pickleball, doubles scoring is made up of three numbers (i.e., 0-2-1, 6-3-2, etc.). The first number is the serving team’s score. The second number is the receiving team’s score. The third number is the server number, either 1 or 2. Note that when a game begins, the score is 0-0-2 because the serving team only gets one serve. In singles, there are two numbers since there is only one server.

Positioning

The serving team or person should remain behind the baseline until the ball is returned. It’s beneficial to hit deep returns because the rules require the ball to bounce on the return and serve sides before the serving team or server can volley the ball (see the double-bounce rule below). After these bounces, players aim to move as close to the kitchen, or NVZ, line as possible. This positioning is advantageous for striking high balls offensively. In pickleball, ball control, positioning, dinking, and strategy are more crucial for success than pure power.

Double-Bounce Rule

The rule states that when you serve the ball, it must bounce once on the receiver’s side and once on the server's side of the court before taking the ball out of the air. The two-bounce rule eliminates the serve and volley advantage while extending rallies.

Non-Volley Zone (“The Kitchen”)

The non-volley zone, or the kitchen, is the seven-foot area on either side of the net where you cannot step inside to hit a ball out of the air. However, if the ball has bounced, you can step inside and take advantage. When serving, the ball must bounce past the kitchen line to be considered “in.” Similarly, players must stand behind the kitchen line to volley a ball.

Babolat Pickleball Equipment

Pickleball Paddles & Shoes

Choosing the right paddles and shoes is important to perform at your best in pickleball. Babolat offers a range of pickleball paddles tailored to different playing styles and skill levels. The STRKR+, BALLR+, and WZRD paddles are excellent choices for highly competitive players. The MNSTR+, MNSTR, and RBEL paddles are excellent choices for competitive rec players who play several times a week. For beginners looking for a solid introduction to the game, the RNGD and XPLR models are great options. Selecting the right paddle can significantly enhance your playing experience and help you achieve your goals on the court.

In addition to our wide range of paddles, we offer a wide selection of court pickleball shoes designed for performance and injury prevention. It is important to wear footwear that has sufficient lateral support (unlike running shoes) and proper court soles for the ability to quickly change positioning on the court. Extra court shoe benefits to look for are cushioning, durability, and comfort. Check out our Propulse Fury 3’s, Jet Mach 3’s, Jet Tere 2’s, SFX 3’s, and SFX Evo’s.

Pickleball Bags & Accessories

Many players believe that looking stylish and professional on court are just as important as how they perform. Besides offering a selection of pickleball paddles and shoes, we also provide a diverse range of pickleball bags and pickleball accessories. These items complement your gear and enhance your overall appearance and functionality on the court, allowing you to carry your equipment with style and convenience.