* A fun sport blending badminton, tennis, and table tennis. Played indoors or outdoors on a badminton-size court with a modified tennis net, two or four players use solid paddles to hit a perforated polymer ball over the net.

How Did Pickleball Originate?

* Invented in 1965 on Bainbridge Island, Washington, by Joel Pritchard, Bill Bell, and Barney McCallum, pickleball began as a game to entertain their kids using a wiffle ball, paddles, and a makeshift court. * Named after the Pritchard family's dog, Pickles, the game quickly gained popularity for its fun and accessibility.

What Are The Basic Rules Of Pickleball?

* **Court Setup**: The pickleball court is 20 feet wide and 44 feet long for doubles, with a 7-foot non-volley zone near the net called the "kitchen." * **Serving**: The serve must be underhand, made diagonally across the court, and land in the opponent's service box. * **Scoring**: Only the serving team can score points, and games are typically played to 11, 15, or 21 points, requiring a 2-point lead to win. * **Double Bounce Rule**: After the serve, the receiving team must let the ball bounce once before returning it, and the serving team must also let it bounce before playing it. * **Volleys**: Players cannot hit the ball out of the air (volley) while standing in the kitchen. They must be behind it. * **Team Play**: In doubles, each player on a team serves until they lose a point, after which the serve switches to the other team.

Essential Pickleball Gear

* **The pickleball paddle:** Your trusty companion in the heat of battle * **Pickleballs:** An important element of the sport (choose wisely!) * **Comfortable shoes:** Your feet's best friends on the court * **Athletic attire:** Dress for success (and sweat) * **A positive attitude:** The most important equipment of all!

Choosing Your Pickleball Paddle

* **Weight matters**: Light for speed, heavy for power (find your sweet spot) * **Material wise**: Wood (budget-friendly), composite (all-rounder), or graphite (premium performance) * **Handle length**: Short for control, long for reach (size does matter here) * **Grip size**: For optimal comfort and control, find the one that's just right * **Shape up**: Wide body for power, elongated for finesse

Indoor vs. Outdoor Pickleballs

* **Indoor balls**: Lighter, larger holes, softer plastic (perfect for quiet, controlled play) * **Outdoor balls:** Heavier, smaller holes, harder plastic (built to brave the elements) * **Color coding:** Usually yellow for outdoor, green for indoor (but not always!) * **Bounce test:** Indoor balls bounce higher, outdoor balls stay low

Shoes for Pickleball Success

* **Court shoes:** The MVP of Pickleball footwear (designed for lateral movement) * **Non-marking soles:** Keep the court clean and your conscience clear * **Cushioning is key:** Protect those joints during intense rallies * **Breathability:** Let your feet breathe (and avoid the dreaded swamp foot) * **Ankle support:** High-tops for the cautious, low-tops for the daredevils

Serving Up The Action

* The game kicks off with a serve, but hold your horses! It's not just any serve. * The server must keep one foot behind the baseline and strike the ball with an upward arc. * Fun fact: Unlike tennis, Pickleball serves must be done underhand. No power serves here

The "Kitchen" - Not For Cooking, But For Strategy

* Picture a 7-foot zone on each side of the net, affectionately called the "kitchen" or "non-volley zone." * Players can't step into it to volley the ball. * Spicy detail: The kitchen got its name because it's where things get hot and players need to stay cool!

Scoring - A Numbers Game With A Twist

* In traditional scoring, you may only earn a point when you or your teammate is serving. * However, in rally scoring, a point is awarded after each rally, regardless of which team served. * Matches are typically played in a best-of-three format, meaning the first player or team to win two games wins the match * Games are typically played to 11 points, but you must win by 2 * Quirky rule: In doubles, each player on a team gets to serve before the serve switches to the opponents.

Serving Rules - It's All In The Details

* The serve must clear the kitchen on the opponent's side. * Double bounce rule: The receiving team must let the serve bounce, then the serving team must let the return bounce. * Interesting tidbit: In doubles, players serve from the right side when their score is even, left when odd.

Faults - The "Oops" Moments Of Pickleball

* A fault occurs when a rule is broken, resulting in a lost rally or serve. * Foot faults: Server must have at least one foot on the ground when serving. No foot can touch the baseline! * Illegal serving motion: Serve must be underhand with contact below the waist * Wrong players serve: Make sure you remember whose turn to serve. * Serve lands out of bounds: Serve must land diagonally on the opponent’s court. * Amusing fact: A serve that touches the net and lands in the correct service court is called a "let" and the play still continues.

Basic Pickleball Shots

* The Dink: It’s used near the net at the kitchen, a gentle but precise stroke that hinders your opponent from returning the shot. * The Drive: Drives are meant to be hard, fast and unstoppable and should be used as a tool and not a shot to use regularly. * The Lob: A shot where you hit it high up into the air and over the heads of your opponents which forces them to turn around quickly to run the ball down in backcourt * The Drop: A soft shot that arc upward then lands softly into the kitchen which will force your opponent to dink the ball instead of drive it

Improving Your Pickleball Serve

* Practice the pendulum swing for consistency * Experiment with spin to add variety * Focus on placement rather than power * Use a continental grip for better control * Visualize your serve landing in the sweet spot

Positioning On The Court

* Start at the baseline for serving and returning * Rush to the non-volley zone line (kitchen line) after serving * Stay side-by-side with your partner in doubles * Cover the middle when your partner is pulled wide * Be ready to retreat for lobs

Practicing Pickleball Solo

* Use a wall or backboard for repetitive shots * Set up targets to improve accuracy * Practice serves with a bucket of balls * Work on footwork drills with agility ladders * Watch pro matches to study strategy and technique

Pickleball FAQ | Sports Direct

Pickleball FAQs

Pickleball is one of the world's fastest-growing sports, blending elements from various racket-and-ball games for a fun and engaging experience. Played on a badminton-sized court with a net similar to tennis and paddles resembling those in table tennis, it's easy to pick up and offers a fantastic workout for all skill levels. Check out our Pickleball guide to learn more!