How to play pickleball: Rules for beginners | Points, serve, court dimensions...

From LeBron James to Leonardo DiCaprio, there is a growing list of celebrities who are taking an interest in the sport of Pickleball as it continues to increase in popularity. Indeed, the NBA star himself recently bought a pickleball team. Yet, what’s up with this new sport? Let’s find out!

Introducing Pickleball

Though it is indeed a relatively new sport, Pickleball has developed a strong and devoted following in the short time that it has been around. Developed in 1965, pickleball can be described as a sport that is similar to tennis in that it involves 1 court, 1 net, people on opposing sides of that net, and a ball. With that said, there are some discernable differences between the sport and those that belong to the same ‘family’ such as the aforementioned tennis as well as volleyball, ping pong, and badminton.

So, what is it about this sport that continues to garner the interest of people after more than 50 years? Let’s start at the beginning. Pickleball was actually created in Seattle, by a group of fathers who wanted to enjoy a game with their sons. To that end, it’s worth mentioning that the game is primarily played in the U.S. and Canada, with more than 15,000 pickleball courts in the U.S. alone. Yet, it’s got to be said that the sport has gained immense traction outside of North America over the last few decades. Today you can find pickleball players in Europe and Asia. Where the name of the game itself is concerned, there continue to be debates about its origin but what is certain, is that more and more people are beginning to love playing it.

So, let’s start with the Pickleball court

If you think it looks like a tennis court, then we understand - it does to a point - but in truth it’s actually closer to that which is used in badminton. Where dimensions are concerned, a Pickleball court measures 44 feet in length and is 20 feet wide. Then you’ve got the net which sits as you can imagine in the middle of the court and is equal to the width of the court (20 feet) and stands at 36 inches high. Interestingly, sagging of the net is allowed as long as the center of the net doesn’t drop below 34 inches.

We’ve also got the lines of the court. For starters, there is a line on either side of the net which sits at exactly 7 feet from the center of the court. These lines mark what is known as the “no volley zone” i.e., a player must allow the ball to bounce if stood inside the area before he/she can return it. Interestingly, the ‘no volley zone’ is commonly referred to as ‘The Kitchen.’ Where the rest of the court is concerned, it is separated into two halves - width - and designates the ‘left service area’ from the ‘right.’ These two areas are 10 feet wide.

Pickleball basics

Like tennis, pickleball is a game that can be played as both doubles or singles. Each player is equipped with a paddle that is similar in nature to that which is used in ping pong but is somewhat bulkier and bigger in size. One ball is in play at a time and it must be said, it’s a ball that is distinctly different from what you might expect. Fashioned out of plastic, the ball has holes in it and looks similar to a Wiffle ball in appearance. Where specific weight and dimensions are concerned, the pickleball is typically yellow and must weigh between .78 and .935 ounces, while its size must fall between 2.874 and 2.972 inches in diameter. It’s worth noting that there is a difference between balls used to play in outdoor matches and those used for indoors. Typically, indoor balls are lighter, softer, and have a harder plastic. Outdoor balls on the other hand, are heavier in order to compensate for wind. Additionally, outdoor balls often feature more holes than those used indoors.

Pickleball rules

OK, so we know the court and we understand the paddle and the ball, but what about the actual rules of the game? To begin with, the service operates in much the same way as tennis. That’s to say that the ball is put into play from the right side of either player(s)’ court and must travel diagonally across the net, and clear the opponent’s kitchen before landing on the respective right side of the court. An interesting aspect of the game is that a service can only occur after the score is announced. At that point, the player in question must hold the paddle below the waist, with both feet behind the baseline. Should the ball land anywhere other than the opponent’s corresponding diagonal box, the service is considered a fault. The server is only allowed one fault at the start of a new game. Should the ball make any contact with the net after it’s served, the server is granted a do-over.

What is a fault?

Though we imagine you get the idea, here are the ways in which one can commit a fault in pickleball:

How does scoring work in Pickleball?

Unlike tennis, pickleball does not use a scoring system that involves terms like “love” or 15-point increments. 1 point accumulated at a time, it’s a simple count. The scoring team continues to serve as long as they can continue without committing a single fault. As mentioned before, the score increases by one point at a time, with the first team or individual who reaches 11 points being declared the winner. Keep in mind, one can only score a point when serving. With that said, there is of course the “win by 2″ rule which means that scoring continues in so far as a team does not have a total of 11 points or higher but also 2 points higher than the opponent. Once that objective is achieved, the match ends. This is key when it comes to doubles as you will hear the announcing player call the score as 7-4-2 for example. What this means is that the serving team has 7 points, the opposing team 4, and the second server of the team is currently serving.