Pickleball for all!

This page is dedicated to all things pickleball. Here I will point out the key features and "rules" to get you started on the fastest growing sport in the United States, starting with the basics.

So what is pickleball?

Pickleball is a paddle sport that blends elements of tennis, badminton, and table tennis, played on a badminton-sized court with a modified tennis net. Players use solid paddles to hit a perforated polymer ball over the net in singles or doubles matches. The game is easy to learn, accessible to people of all ages and skill levels, and known for its social and fun atmosphere.

Whether you’re a seasoned pro or a first-time dinker, pickleball is a sport that doesn’t take itself too seriously—and neither should you. So grab your paddle, gather your friends, and remember: in pickleball, laughter is just as important as the score.

The court and equipment

A standard pickleball court measures 20 feet wide by 44 feet long, which is the same size as a doubles badminton court. This playing area includes the boundaries for the sidelines, baselines, and the 7-foot-deep non-volley zone (kitchen) on both sides of the net.

Tidbit: The original pickleball court was indeed an old badminton court the owners of the house repurposed to entertain visitors.

The net dividing the two sides of the court should be 36 inches tall at the sidelines, and 34 inches tall in the center. This is important to understand as knowing the center of the net is slightly lower can help you optimize the slow game and the side-to-side shots.

Pickleball balls are categorized as either indoor or outdoor, with indoor balls featuring larger holes, thinner plastic, and a lighter, softer feel for extended rallies, while outdoor balls have smaller holes, thicker plastic, and a heavier, harder construction to withstand wind and endure hard court surfaces. Other factors such as color for visibility and overall durability are also important considerations when selecting a pickleball ball.

Tidbit: The most important factor is the playing surface; use an outdoor ball on a hard court, even if it's indoors, and an indoor ball on a softer indoor surface. I only use outdoor balls.

Pickleball paddles (please don't call them rackets) are categorized by player style into three main types:

Control paddles, offering precision and feel;
Power paddles, designed for aggressive, strong shots; and
All-Court paddles, which provide a balance between the two.

Tidbit: Consider paddle materials like carbon fiber, fiberglass, and composites, as well as factors like shape, weight, and handle length, to find the best fit for their game and preferences. Bottom line - test a few until you find your best fit. I wouldn't go too expensive unless you want to engage in formal competition.

The "complex" terms

Ace: A serve that the opponent cannot return, resulting in an immediate point for the server.
Approach Shot: A shot hit while moving forward toward the net. I don't recommend hitting the ball while moving - it's better to anchor your feet to allow for better control.
Dink: A soft, gentle shot that arcs over the net and lands in the opponent's kitchen (non-volley zone). My favorite shot; and what I believe makes this sport a mental as well as a physical game. statistics show that the use of a third-shot drop, a shot designed to set up a dinking exchange, is a major differentiator between competitive levels.
Drop Shot: A soft shot that lands just short of the opponent, often designed to be unreturnable.
Lob: A high, arcing shot hit over the opponent's head, intended to land near their baseline.
No-Volley Zone (NVZ), a.k.a. the Kitchen: The area near the net where players are not allowed to volley (hit the ball in the air).
Paddle: The flat-surfaced equipment used to hit the pickleball.
Poach: In doubles play, a player crosses into their partner's side of the court to hit a shot. I clarify this is only when your partner has a clear chance to return the ball.
Rally: A series of shots exchanged between two teams after the serve, before the ball becomes dead or a fault occurs.
Third Shot Drop: A common strategy where the player hits a soft, high, arcing shot after the opponent's return of serve, aiming to give their team time to advance to the net.
Volley: A shot where the player hits the ball in the air before it bounces.

Fundamental rules

(Now with Extra Zest!)

Serving: Time to unleash your inner ninja! The serve must be underhand (no baseball pitches, please), and you’ve got to hit the ball below your waist—think limbo, but with more athleticism. The ball must soar majestically over the “kitchen” (that’s the non-volley zone, not where you keep your snacks) and land in the diagonal service box. You get one shot at glory per serve—unless it’s the very first serve of the game, then you get… still just one shot. No pressure!

Serving Rotation: In doubles, if you mess up (oops!), the serve switches to your partner. If they mess up too, the serve goes to the other team. It’s like musical chairs, but with more running and less sitting.

Double Bounce Rule: After the serve, the ball must bounce once on each side before anyone can start smacking it out of the air. It’s like a polite handshake before the chaos begins.

Non-Volley Zone (the Kitchen): No volleying in the kitchen! If you’re standing in the kitchen or touching the kitchen line, you must let the ball bounce before you hit it. The kitchen lines are part of the kitchen, so don’t try any sneaky toe tricks. Remember: If you’re in the kitchen, you’re not allowed to cook up any volleys!

Scoring:

Calling the score: Only the serving team can score points. If you win the rally, you get a point and keep serving, but you have to switch sides—because who doesn’t love a little cardio with their competition? The server verbally announces the score before each serve using three numbers:

The serving team's score.
The receiving team's score.
The server number, which indicates if it's the first or second server on the team.

Tidbit: So, here’s the scoop: when you hear a score like **2-3-2** in pickleball, it’s not someone’s locker combination or a secret code. It means the serving team has 2 points (they’re currently trailing, but hey, underdogs are cool), the receiving team has 3 points, and it’s the serving team’s **second serve**—because apparently, one serve just isn’t enough drama.

And when the game starts, the server can call out **0-0-2** or, if they’re feeling spicy, **0-0-start** to let everyone know it’s go time! Why only one serve at the start? Because pickleball likes to keep things mysterious.

Game End: Games are usually played to 11 points, but don’t get too excited—just reaching 11 isn’t enough! You have to win by two points, because pickleball likes a little suspense. So if you’re at 11 and your opponent is at 10, congratulations: you’ve unlocked bonus drama! Keep playing until someone finally gets that two-point lead and can do their victory dance.

Playing the game (Finally)!

But I'm only talking about doubles as the game is easier to play)

Serve and return: Choose who is going to be the first serving team; a coin toss is easier, but you can do it anyway. The player on the right serves to the right service area of the opposing team, and the opposing player returns it after one bounce.

Tidbit: All lines touching the kitchen are part of the kitchen, so it is a fault if the ball touches those lines on serving.

Tidbit: You can volley the ball or let it bounce only once, except as described by the two-bounce and Kitchen rules.

Serving team's return: The serving team must let the return bounce before hitting it back.

Advance to the kitchen: After the initial bounces, players try to move toward the kitchen line to gain an offensive advantage.

Dinking and volleys: From the kitchen line, players often engage in a "dink" battle—soft shots that land just over the net and in the opponent's kitchen. Players also try to hit aggressive volleys and smashes when opportunities arise.

Scoring and switching: If the serving team wins the rally, they get a point, and the server switches sides to serve to the other opponent.

Side out: If the serving team loses the rally, they lose the serve. In doubles, the second partner then serves. If they also lose the rally, it's a "side out," and the other team serves.

Governing bodies

As in any serious sport, Pickleball also has governing bodies

In the United States that is USA Pickleball
Internationally, rely on the International Pickleball Federation

Hope this is enough to get you started. Don't fret, it's not as complicated as it seems; hopefully you'll get the hang of it soon.

Tidbit: My biggest issue when I started was waiting for that darn two-bounce rule.

The second issue (which persists today) is remembering the score 😂. I've tried a scoring app on my iPhone (Side Out) as well as one on my Garmin watch; but those have failed me because I need to pause the game to use them.

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