Pickleball is a sport that combines elements of tennis, badminton, and table tennis. It is played on a badminton-sized court with a net similar to tennis and a small paddle and plastic ball. The game can be played as singles or doubles and is enjoyed by players of all ages and skill levels. It is a popular sport in the United States and is rapidly growing in popularity around the world.
Pickleball Terms
Here are some common terms used in pickleball:
- Serve: The act of starting a point by hitting the ball over the net to the opponent’s side of the court.
- Volley: Hitting the ball before it bounces on your side of the court.
- Dink: A soft shot that is hit just over the net, typically used to keep the ball in play at the non-volley zone.
- Ace: A serve that is not returned by the opponent.
- Double-bounce rule: A rule stating that players must let the ball bounce on their side of the court before hitting it on the return. This rule only applies to the non-volley zone.
- Kitchen: The non-volley zone located 7 feet from the net on each side of the court.
- Third Shot Drop: A shot that is hit softly and with backspin, so that it falls quickly after crossing the net.
- Paddle: The racket used to hit the ball
- Pickleball: The name of the game. It is said to have come from the family dog of the inventor of the game, named Pickles, who would chase the ball and hide it in the bushes.
What Are the 5 Rules of Pickleball?
Here are five basic rules of pickleball:
- The serve must be hit underhand and diagonally across the net to the opponent’s side of the court.
- The ball must bounce on both the serve and the return, with the exception of the non-volley zone (also known as the “kitchen”).
- Players are not allowed to hit the ball while it is still in the air, and must let it bounce before returning it.
- The ball must be hit with the paddle, not caught or thrown.
- Points are awarded only to the serving team, and the game is typically played to 11 points, with a two-point lead required to win.
These are the basic rules of pickleball, but there are more rules and regulations that may vary depending on the tournament or league you are playing in.
How to Play Pickleball?
Pickleball is a sport that combines elements of tennis, badminton, and table tennis. It is played on a badminton-sized court with a net similar to tennis and small paddle and plastic ball. The game can be played as singles or doubles.
Here are the basic steps to playing pickleball:
- Serve: One player serves the ball underhand and diagonally across the net to the opponent’s side of the court.
- Return: The opponent hits the ball back over the net, trying to keep it in play.
- Volley: Players hit the ball back and forth over the net, trying to keep it in play as long as possible. They can hit the ball before it bounces on their side of the court, but only when they are not in the non-volley zone (also known as the “kitchen”).
- Scoring: Points are awarded only to the serving team, and the game is typically played to 11 points, with a two-point lead required to win.
- Switching Sides: After each point, players switch sides of the court and the next point is served.
- Doubles: In doubles, partners stand on opposite sides of the court and take turns hitting the ball.