Pickleball - basic notions

Friends of Padel Island, today we're going to talk about Pickleball , that sport that is growing like wildfire and is a close cousin of padel and tennis.

Pickleball originated in 1965 in the United States, specifically in Washington state. It was developed by Congressman Joel Pritchard, Bill Bell, Jordan Steranka, and Barney McCallum. Their intention in creating Pickleball was to design a new sport that was fun, challenging, and accessible to everyone.

Pritchard and his friends were looking for a fun activity to play with their families. Not having enough players for a tennis match, they decided to improvise with a lower net and badminton rackets. They also wanted to use a badminton shuttlecock, but since they didn't have one handy, they used a dog ball with holes in it. And just like that, they unwittingly created a new sport!

In the United States there are more than 6 million practitioners and more than 30,000 players are registered with the federation.

It's easy to learn, fast-paced, and great fun to play, with simple rules and less physical exertion than other sports. It can be played outdoors or indoors.

A major advantage over other racket sports is that it is played both in singles (two players) and doubles (four players).

Click on this link if you want to see a short video of an amateur players' match:

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/CDTeVq21zhc

What is the pickleball court like?

Pickleball is played on a court very similar to a tennis court, although smaller. It consists of baselines, sidelines, non-volley lines, a non-volley zone, a center line, and a service box.

The court dimensions are 6.10 m wide by 13.41 m long. The total playing surface should have dimensions of 10.40 m wide by 19.50 m long, leaving a space around the court of 3 m at the end line and 2 m at the sidelines.

What do I need to play pickleball?

Blades : made of wood or a high-tech composite material (usually carbon). Their combined length and width cannot exceed 61 cm.

Balls : These are made of plastic and have small perforations. They measure between 7 and 7.5 cm in diameter and weigh between 22 and 26 grams. They are available in any color. Outdoor balls have 40 holes, while indoor balls have 26 holes.

Net : very similar to the nets used for tennis or padel. Its length is 6.7 m and its height is 91.44 cm at each end and 86 cm in the center.

What are the rules for playing?

It can be practiced one-on-one or in pairs.

The objective is the same as any other racket sport, that is, to prevent the opponent from passing their ball over the net into the opposing court.

Only one bounce is allowed within the playing area. If it bounces out of bounds, the shot is invalid. If it touches the ground twice, the point is awarded to the team that took the shot.

The serve is cross-court and starts from the right.

You cannot hit the ball without it bouncing while you have at least one foot inside the "no volley" zone.

Only the player serving can score points (like in volleyball).

You cannot touch the net with your paddle or your body.

The player or team that reaches 11, 15, or 21 points, with at least a 2-point advantage over the opponent, wins the set or game. Each match consists of a maximum of 3 sets.

At Padel Island, we offer everything you need to get started in this incredibly fun sport: all kinds of packages, rackets, shoes, and accessories. From beginner to pro level. Click on our Pickleball section and see for yourself.

And with all that said, now all that's left is to start playing and tell us about your experience!

Author: Nuria Chávarri (pickleball and padel player)