Pickleball combines elements of tennis, badminton and table tennis to create a fun, fast-paced game suitable for all ages. Here are the five basic rules to get started:
playing field and equipment
Pickleball is played on a 6.1 by 13.4 meter court, similar to a badminton doubles court. On each side of the net is a 2.13 meter long non-volley zone, also called a "kitchen". The net height is 91.4 centimeters on the sidelines and 86.4 centimeters in the center. Players use solid pickleball paddles and a perforated pickleball ball , similar to a floorball ball.
point allocation
Games are usually played to 11 points and the winning margin is 2 points. Only the serving team can score points. Points are awarded when the opposing team makes a mistake, such as hitting the ball out of bounds or into the net .
surcharge
Serves must be underhand and hit below the hip. The server stands behind the baseline and serves diagonally to the opponent's service court. In doubles, both players from each team serve before the server changes ends. In singles, the server changes ends after scoring a point.
double bounce rule
After the serve, each team must let the ball bounce once before hitting it. Once the ball has bounced on both sides, players can hit the ball out of the air (volley) or play it after it bounces.
non-volley zone (kitchen)
The Kitchen is a 2.13-meter area on either side of the net where players cannot play the ball in the air. Entering the Kitchen to play a ball in the air is a fault, but players can enter the zone to play a ball after it has bounced.
Conclusion
Pickleball is an exciting and accessible sport that is suitable for people of all ages and skill levels, both recreationally and competitively. If you understand these basic rules, you'll be well on your way to enjoying this fast-growing game.
If you're just starting out, check out these resources:
